After a 21 year Naval Career and a Naval Flight Officer, I decided to follow my interests in houses and buildings which had been instilled in me by my Dad through years of what I remember seeing as a violation of child labor laws! As is so often the case in acquiring life experiences, the true value of all that practical and priceless information was lost for many years until it was reawakened in a panic when trying to decide what to do with the rest of my life. 
Growing up in small town Mississippi and in the ’50’s and ’60’s provided daily lessons in living which often seem to be overlooked or missing in our modern Technically oriented fast paced world. Those were the days when Dads just seemed to know how to do the things that needed to be done, and if they didn’t then a relative or neighbor did. There always seemed to be some project going on from rehabbing the house to building a greenhouse to putting on a roof, etc, etc. And since there was little governmental oversight in those days, work just got done, and guess what…it was safe and didn’t fall down. As a building inspector I have built my business on taking a practical and logical look at houses and trying to keep things in the proper perspective.
Over my more that ten years as a home inspector, I have had the opportunity to see many commercial and residential properties. Although my focus was never on environmental or energy issues, I have been faced with constant examples of inefficiencies, poor designs and often downright hazardous situations. If I bring up the topic, the inevitable question is always, “What can I do about it?” or “Who can I call?” With that in mind I hope to provide some information or links to information which can help!
Tom Rinicker
ASHI Certified Inspector
NAHB Certified Green Professional
ICC Residential and Electrical Code Certified
