Paul Westbrook, TI’s manager of sustainable development, spends his days at work looking for ways to keep Texas Instruments at the forefront of being a good steward of the environment.

And what does Westbrook do when he leaves the office? That’s easy – he does more of the same … except turning the focus to what he and his family can do for Mother Nature.

Westbrook said his passion for the environment dates back to his days in high school, when he would tinker with products to see how he could make them more eco-friendly. But his greatest project to date is his home in Fairview (near Allen), which he designed to be a true testament of Earth-consciousness.

The home, which Westbrook completed in 1996, is a mainstay on the annual International Tour of Solar Homes. But what makes it so unique? Consider these features:

  • Passive solar design
  • Structural insulated panel walls
  • Geothermal heat pump
  • Active solar water heating
  • 1.8 kW wind turbine

TI executives took note of how Westbrook designed his home and its environmental benefits when the company constructed RFAB, the world’s first LEED gold-certified fab.