Resume of Al Nichols, President

C. ALAN NICHOLS, P.E., C.E.M., B.C.F.E., LEED AP

Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical Engineer & President of ANE, Inc.

 

EXPERIENCE:

Al Nichols, a native of Tucson, Arizona, began work at age 14 in the family business and worked through high school apprenticing on HVAC installations, controls, gas piping, energy devices, plumbing, refrigerant lines, high voltage systems, troubleshooting and service.  He earned his degree from the University of Arizona in Mechanical Engineering while working at a reliability engineering laboratory testing metal fatigue for the Navy.

After graduation, Al worked as a Project Engineer at Western Electric (The Safeguard Missile System) in North Carolina and California, Plant Engineer for Ponderosa Paper in Flagstaff expanding their paper recycling plant, and W. L. Gore (Wire and Cable Division) developing high tech cable for the aerospace industry. After moving to Phoenix, he developed fiber optic drawing equipment for Maxlight (fiber optic manufacturing facility), then was Project Engineer for Tierney Manufacturing, helping design and build turbine-powered ground support air conditioning equipment for the Air Force to cool jets during servicing.

After returning to Tucson, Al began his career as a mechanical design professional and energy engineer.  He received his Arizona professional registration and established Al Nichols Engineering, Inc. (ANE, Inc.) in 1995. As a member of the Tucson Metropolitan Energy Commission, he was instrumental in writing the sustainable energy standard (SES) for the City of Tucson for the Civano development. He was also part of a volunteer group that developed the building code guidelines resulting in Civano's 50% reduction of heating and cooling energy and 60% reduction in potable water usage. In 2002, he received the Energy Users News Award, Best Mixed-Use Facility for the Civano project.

Al moved temporarily into a Civano straw bale home and moved his office into the Civano neighborhood I center.  In 2003, Al modified plans for a home/office mixed use building being built in Civano which became the ANE, Inc. facility. It is zoned live/work: the office downstairs is permitted as a business for up to 6 employees and upstairs is Al’s residence.  It includes 2,000 Watts of solar photovoltaic power; solar hot water; solar water stills and a solar oven.  ANE, Inc. continues to uphold the SES guidelines in Civano to ensure it develops as it was intended.

Al is a 15 year member of the Tucson-Pima County code committee, chairing the Energy Code sub-committee recommending local modifications to the national energy codes for our region.

 

LEGACIES:

The “Enhanced Solar Water Still”, patent pending.

The Nichols Tracking Solar Cooking Oven.

The Nichols Tomato.

Inside the Civano Project, McGraw-Hill, 2009 the Green Series.

 

 

ACTIVE REGISTRATION:

USGBC LEED Accredited Professional, 2004.

Mechanical Engineering, Arizona & California, 1995 to Present.

Board Certified Forensic Examiner - American Board of Forensic Examiners, 1997.

Association of Energy Engineers Certified Energy Manager, 1992.

Technical Assistance Analyst, Arizona Institutional Conservation Program, 1987.

 

AFFILIATIONS:

Association of Energy Engineers Senior Member, Past President and Founder, Southern Arizona Chapter.

American Board of Forensic Examiners. Life Fellow Board Certified Examiner.

American Society for Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers Inc. Tucson Chapter, Past President.

American Society of Plumbing Engineers.

Tucson/Pima County Metropolitan Energy Commission, Past Chairperson.

Building Code Committee to review Tucson/Pima County Building Code.

Arizona Solar Energy Association.

Tucson Citizens for Solar, Member. Solar Chiefs of Arizona.

 

 

EDUCATION

BSME, University of Arizona. Tucson, AZ. Emphasis on Reliability Engineering. 1969.

Graduate Studies, Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Systems Engineering, Environmental Engineering

and Operations Research.1972

Dale Carnegie Training. 1988. Graduate Assistant. 1989, 1990, 1991.

 

HONORS:

Energy Users News Award, Best Mixed-Use Facility for the Community of Civano, 2002.

Electric League of Southern Arizona Leadership Award Recipient. 1994.

American Consulting Engineers Association "Clifford C. Sawyer Achievement" recipient for individual technological achievement in application of engineering principles in the field of solar energy and evaporative cooling processes. 1991, 1993.

American Consulting Engineers Association "Engineering Excellence Award" for photovoltaic lighting. 1992.

Arizona Governor's Award, Exceptional Design Recognition for Nichols residence.1986.

University of Arizona Scholastic Honors. 1969.

AIA Corner Stone Award Nominee for Skill, Responsibility and Integrity in the Construction Industry. 1995-97.

Marquis Who's Who in Science and Technology.

Over sixteen energy and engineering excellence awards, including one national award for energy conservation and energy awards presented by the Governor to School and Cities for Nichols Projects.

 

PUBLICATIONS

The Easy Does It Solar Water Still,

The Tracking Solar Cooking Oven.

Reflections on a Solar Cooker.

Case Studies of Indoor Air Quality.

AEE and ASHRAE Newsletter (Southern Arizona Chapters) Past Editor.