Tristan Haynes is the Technical Advisor for at MEA and has worked at MEA since July 2004 on a diverse range of projects. He began with specialising in biofuel projects; with particular regard to transport. Bioenergy remains an area of active ongoing interest through projects such as the European 'RADAR' project which is looking at the viability of an on-farm/community collaborative Anaerobic Digester project in South Shropshire.

The significant technical skills he has developed have led him to specialise in the analysis of energy use in non-domestic buildings. Recent projects have included looking at optimising the re-design of the Shrewsbury Fire Station to minimise fossil fuel energy requirements through energy efficient design and consideration of options such as Combined Heat & Power generation.

Professional Interests: The land-use sector and non-domestic buildings.

Qualifications: BSc (Hons) Land Management, University of Reading. MA (Profesional Practice) Sustainable Development, University College Worcester. Competent Person for provision of Part L Calculations.

Skills: Energy auditing and data management. Pushing Excel to its limits! Press Releases and organising technical seminars.

Where I've come from: Deepest, darkest Dorset.

I like: Horrendous hiking challenges (the 'across wales walk'), wild camping, playing the guitar, finding good country pubs and as much mountain biking as possible.

A moral I live my life by: "We cannot solve a problem from the mindset that created it." Albert Einstein.

How I'm trying to live more sustainably: Eating more vegetarian and local, organic food, growing my own veg, hardly ever flying (especially if there's other options) and not owning a car at all.

I believe the greatest threat to our current society and environment is...Land being removed from production (of food or energy).

My 'dirty secret' (nothing lude or personal here please - from a sustainability point of view only!): I recently flew to Costa Rica, the most fantastic eco tourism destination ( but yes it did create 2.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide which is not very eco-friendly! This will require the replacement of 6 x 100 watt currently incandescent bulbs with 20 watt CFL bulbs - this will save this much carbon dioxide over 12 years, which is more meaningful an offset than planting trees! I have made the appropriate donation to projectcarbon.org and will not be taking any flights again for a while!)

It may suprise you to know but...I once fought wild fires in Australia.

If things had turned out differently I might have been...a Rural Surveyor or a farm manager.