Rick & Dave Robson
We’re Rick and Dave Robson, a father and son team with 30 years experience in solar building in the greater Kansas City region.
We care deeply about the environment and have a passion for building homes that reflect your desires, your vision and your values. Solar homes combine sophisticated technology and natural, sustainable materials to create environments that enable you to live your vision comfortably and economically, with style and a sense of responsibility to the world we live in.
Green and Sustainable isn’t just one of our building options – it’s our only building option. Why green construction? Because we believe in reducing the impact on our environment and we have a commitment to ethical sourcing and reduced dependence on fossil fuels and non-renewable resources.
Our Science Background fuels our passion for technological solutions that integrate the beauty and elegance of natural solutions. We have deep respect for the complexity that goes into designing the simplicity that serves us best.
Solar is a complex field not well understood by most builders. We have a long history working with solar and the technical expertise and scientific training to keep current on the extensive information and changes that occur in our field.
Our on-the-ground experience allows us to test theories and gain more and more practical experience so we can implement the best and most efficient practices and techniques. Benefit to you: you get passionate science geeks with a commitment to the environment who love what they do and have years of experience making it reality for happy homeowners throughout the region.
Our Work
Our primary focus is energy efficiency using passive solar techniques. We use Structural Insulated Panels for exterior wall construction. These provide an air tight system with a very high R-value. Because our homes are so tight we always install a Heat Recovery Ventilator that provides fresh air while extracting the energy from exhausted stale air. We insulate foundations on the outside and below concrete slabs.
Depending on the project and our client’s goals, for heating and cooling we offer radiant heating, radiant cooling, Ground source heat pumps (often called Geothermal), mini-split systems, heat pump hot water tanks, and more. Our homes are so energy efficient it’s a much smaller task to do them off grid or as a net zero home. Energy costs are always less than with conventional construction. Reductions range, depending on a number of factors of your choosing, to easily half or 20% of conventional homes
In the 1980s Rick was a partner in Craig Wolfe Solar Design and Construction. Where he completed more than 43 passive solar, energy-efficient homes. They also completed several passive solar remodels and home additions.
While employed full time at Hallmark*, Rick designed and built three homes including the Robson’s own home which was designed and built by Rick and his wife Kelly combining cutting edge technologies with old materials.
Says Rick, “We used 100 year old reclaimed timber from a building in the west bottoms of Kansas City. We sourced natural clay tiles and wall coverings and used beautiful wood that was destined for the scrap pile, for our floors. We combined those materials with radiant heating and cooling powered by a ground source heat pump. We love our home and get huge satisfaction from it, every single day.”
Dave’s interest in sustainability and his love of building with his hands is why he partnered with his dad in Robson Custom Homes. Dave gets great satisfaction from the creation of tangible projects that have meaning for the end user. To that end, Dave’s goal is to further Robson’s reputation as premier builders in the Kansas City region, building homes that are custom designed for the way you live and the values that are important to you.
Rick and Dave use a turn-key approach to creating custom energy efficient homes that meet client’s needs exactly. This includes personal touches throughout the space as well as helping clients determine what they want, need and value in a home.
You may already have a detailed vision, or just some ideas of what you might like. Our process is designed to understand and realize your ideas so you get a home that fits your vision, your viewpoint and your needs.
* In a 23 year career at Hallmark, Rick worked exclusively on environmental sustainability issues for that corporation. His work included reducing environmental impacts from corporate operations including creating supply chain strategies for procuring raw materials and finished goods as well as product development, green labeling, packaging and shipping.
Why Green?
Your home is often your biggest investment. For most of us, it’s where we find refuge and peace. It’s a place of security and safety. How you feel at home matters. Living your values and experiencing the beauty and comfort of a soundly built solar home is something you’ll feel good about – every single day.
In addition to being a smart and sustainable choice, there’s a comfort in living in a tightly constructed green home that can be difficult to describe. There’s a quiet, a sense of belonging to the environment, a sense of solidity and permanence. Your windows are warm to be near – even in our Kansas City winters. Your house feels ‘hunkered down’ into the environment, quiet and cozy even while the weather rages around you.
You’ll save money on operating costs using energy efficient features like extra insulation, more efficient water heaters, lighting and appliances, and natural daylighting techniques.
You’ll contribute to saving old-growth forests using rapidly renewing materials that can be grown sustainably using ecologically sound practices.
Green materials are also healthier. Many common construction materials contain compounds that are proven health hazards and emit VOCs (volatile organic compounds) including formaldehyde, a possible carcinogen and PVC (poly vinyl chloride) which occur in flooring, carpet and wall coverings and releases a variety of hazardous additives including endocrine disrupting phthalate plasticizers and heavy metal stabilizers.
Yes, that’s a mouthful, but it matters. You’ll live happier and healthier in a home free of dangerous chemical compounds. You’ll breather better air and perhaps suffer fewer allergies.
Bottom line is you’ll live in a more comfortable energy efficient home, that’s healthier for your family and for our planet. Going green is a 100% winning proposition.
