SolarFool promotes open-source passive heating and cooling systems based on Steve Baer's Cool Cell technology as sustainable alternatives to conventional HVAC systems. We're renaming this technology CoolSky.
- Concepts — People, products, publications, and the engineering behind the work
- Topics — Era-based source bundles and cross-page syntheses
- Archives — Primary source documents and photographs (date-organized, 1964–2026)
- Books — Sunspots and Zome Primer
- Reading List — Suggested reading
- Antarctic heat collector — A chapter from Steve Baer's serialized solar energy book in the Tribal Messenger (April 1973, page 13), with drawings by Ellie McGilly. Part technical primer on collector orientation, part
- Clark Richert — Clark Richert (1941–2021) was a painter, pattern theorist, and educator born in Wichita, Kansas. He is most relevant to this archive as co-founder of Drop City and as the figure who introduced
- David Wright — David Wright is a Californian architect described in the 1980 Rocky Mountain News profile of Karen Terry as one of the leading passive solar architects in the country. While living in New Mexico in
- Ed Heinz — Co-founder of Zomeworks Corporation with Steve Baer and Barry Hickman in 1969. Beyond the founding, his specific contributions and later role are not documented in the archive.
- Harold Hay — Harold Hay (1909–2009) was an American chemist and inventor who developed the Skytherm roof pond passive cooling system — the earliest documented large-scale application of night-sky radiation to
- Jose Baer — Son of Steve and Holly Baer. Estate executor following Steve Baer's death on May 17, 2024. Solar Fools member.
- The Karen Terry House — The Karen Terry House (Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1974) was the second passive solar house built in New Mexico and became one of the most widely publicized homes in the state. Karen Terry commissioned it,
- Karen Terry — Karen Terry is a Santa Fe–based builder and contractor, best known for her own 1974 passive solar house in Santa Fe — the second passive solar house built in New Mexico and, by the late 1970s, one of
- Night sky radiant cooling potentials in New Mexico — A 2006 state-funded report by Mark Chalom Architect (with Bristol Stickney and Kate Snider) for Governor Richardson's Water Innovation Fund. The report quantifies the potential of night sky radiant
- Overhead thermal shutters — Bare aluminum shutters below ceiling water storage, tested in the Andy Shack (March 2001). They control radiant heat flow from 8″ PVC pipes on 12″ centers to the room below — open for heat delivery,
- Extreme weather increases heating and cooling demands while conventional systems contribute to global warming.
- SolarFool aims to replace polluting HVAC systems with elegant, affordable, passive alternatives.
- The initiative is based on Steve Baer's pioneering Cool Cell technology for passive solar design.
- Christina Hildebrandt works to bring Baer's passive designs into production for global benefit.
- Jose Baer, Steve's son, seeks to share his father's brilliant designs with the world.
- Paul Hildebrandt, Zometool CEO, dreams of building houses with Baer's passive technology.
- The platform encourages collaboration among like-minded individuals to exchange ideas about passive solutions.
- Members can access tools and resources to develop their own innovative designs.
- The community emphasizes open-source innovation to address climate change challenges.
- SolarFool creates a community for sharing passive solar design innovations and solutions.