Business Details
Expert Sustainable Building Education Resources
Syncronos Design promotes the integration of appropriate technology and sustainable design in the built environment, emphasizing the balance between materials, user needs, and environmental considerations. Founded by Ted Owens and Rick Perkins, childhood friends with a shared passion for alternative energy solutions, the company has dedicated decades to advancing sustainable living through educational resources. Our flagship product, the Building With Awareness DVD and guidebook, represents over 30 years of combined expertise in green building techniques, solar design, and resource-efficient construction. We pioneered the first commercially available cylindrical solar oven in 1990 and have since focused on creating comprehensive educational tools that empower individuals to build energy-efficient homes using natural materials like straw bale and adobe.Our team combines formal design education, film production expertise, and engineering innovation to deliver authoritative, practical knowledge that bridges high technology with low-impact building methods. With recognition through multiple Telly Awards and industry accolades, we maintain a commitment to transparency, environmental stewardship, and community-driven education that has defined our work since our establishment.
Services
Straw Bale Construction Guides
Solar Design Education
Green Building DVDs
Online Video Streaming
Sustainable Home Workshops
Highlights and features
- We offer 30+ years of combined experience in sustainable design and alternative building techniques
- Our educational materials have received 3 Telly Awards for production excellence
- We pioneered the first commercially available cylindrical solar oven in 1990
- Our team includes formally trained designers and filmmakers with environmental expertise
- We provide cross-referenced multimedia resources combining visual and textual learning
Services
Straw Bale Construction Guides
Our comprehensive guidebooks provide detailed instructions for straw bale home construction. With over 400 full-color photographs and diagrams, these resources cover foundation techniques, wall assembly, and finishing methods. Each guidebook is cross-referenced with our video content to ensure complete understanding of sustainable building practices.
Solar Design Education
We offer specialized educational materials on integrating solar technology into residential construction. Our resources demonstrate photovoltaic panel installation, passive solar design principles, and energy-efficient system integration. These materials combine technical specifications with practical implementation guidance for both homeowners and professionals.
Green Building DVDs
Our award-winning DVDs provide visual instruction on sustainable building techniques. Featuring over five hours of content, these videos demonstrate straw bale wall construction, adobe wall systems, and solar panel installation. The content includes expert commentary and detailed construction sequences for comprehensive learning.
Online Video Streaming
We provide free streaming access to our core educational content through YouTube and Vimeo. This includes complete video presentations on sustainable building techniques, with options to access specific construction segments. Our digital platform enables global access to critical green building knowledge.
Sustainable Home Workshops
Our educational resources support hands-on learning experiences for sustainable home construction. Materials include workshop guides, demonstration techniques, and community-building strategies. These programs emphasize practical skill development and community collaboration in green building projects.
People
Ted Owens
President and Co-Founder
Ted Owens, co-founder of Syncronos Design, is a graduate of Art Center College of Design with over 30 years of experience in sustainable design. He developed the first commercial cylindrical solar oven in 1990 and has focused on energy-efficient building design since 1996. Ted combines formal design training with practical construction expertise to create comprehensive educational resources.
Anneliese Varaldi
Videographer
Anneliese Varaldi brings extensive film industry experience to Syncronos Design, having worked with French television and aerospace industries. Her award-winning cinematography skills contribute to the high-quality visual documentation of sustainable building techniques. She has produced over 30 training videos and continues to develop educational content for green building initiatives.
Rick Perkins
Co-Founder
Rick Perkins, co-founder of Syncronos Design, graduated from USC in film production and worked in special effects before focusing on sustainable technology. His engineering expertise contributed to early solar oven development and continues to influence the company's approach to practical green building solutions. Rick's background in materials science remains valuable to our educational content.
Questions
What educational resources do you offer for green building?
We provide the Building With Awareness DVD and guidebook covering straw bale construction, solar design, and sustainable materials.
Can I access your materials internationally?
Yes, we offer worldwide shipping and free streaming options for our video content.
Are your educational materials available in digital format?
Our DVD content is available for free streaming on YouTube and Vimeo.
What shipping options do you provide?
We offer Media Mail and Priority Mail within the US, with international shipping options available.
How does your content help with straw bale home construction?
Our resources provide step-by-step guidance on foundations, wall systems, solar integration, and natural plasters.
