Andrew wears solar panels. His solar backpack accompanies him to local meetings with the Via Verde design team on improving building efficiency and across the globe when he talks with clients in Dubai about designing the world's next great solar system. While charging his phone, the backpack often sparks questions which he is well-qualified to answer, as he helps our clients understand where and how solar power can be applied, and manages the installation of viable, productive solar systems on their buildings. However, Andrew is most proud of the buildings in which he and his team work to provide an integrated solution - a building in which energy efficiency, green technology, and solar energy are formed into a comprehensive energy package. As head of our new construction and LEED projects, he consults with design teams and owners regarding energy-saving opportunities, and conducts whole-building and technology-specific energy simulations using eQUEST, TREAT and TRNSYS software.

Andrew came to Bright Power through his work at BASIC Solar, where he developed a solar modeling tool and contributed research to “Analysis of PV System Performance versus Modeled Expectations across a Set of Identical PV Systems” for the ISES 2005 Solar World Congress. Not limited to PV, he has worked on some of New York City's largest solar thermal systems and spearheaded research on the Solar Domestic Hot Water Technologies Assessment for NYSERDA, which was included in the solar thermal roadmap for New York State (published in May 2010). He is currently on the adjunct faculty at New York University and the Center for Sustainable Energy at Bronx Community College. Andrew is Founder and Vice President of the New York Chapter of the International Building Performance and Simulation Association (IBPSA-NY). He is a member of AEE-NY, USGBC-NY, and ASHRAE.

Andrew takes every on-site opportunity to oversee projects and manage the complications that invariably appear as plans transfer to construction. The first solar PV installation that he managed start-to-finish reduced the site's electric bills by 30% in the first month. By giving clients a good understanding of their projects and carefully completing them, he delivers some high quality peace of mind. That's his sales and marketing strategy in his grand plan to deliver solar and energy efficiency to as many building owners and developers as possible.

Andrew is a Certified Energy Auditor, Certified Energy Manager, and LEED AP BD+C (Building Design + Construction). He has a B.A. in Physics and B.S. in Optical Engineering from the University of Rochester.

Recent Publications:

• A. McNamara, J. Perlman, S. Pilling, L. Audin, & D. Huang. “Solar Real-Time Pricing: Is Real-Time Electricity Pricing Beneficial to Solar PV in New York City?” New York City Economic Development Corporation & US DOE Solar America Cities sponsored study.  July 16, 2009.
• A. McNamara, J. Perlman, R. Perez. “Simulated Performance of Solar Domestic Hot Water Systems in New York State” International Building Performance and Simulation Association SimBuild 2008 Conference.  July 30 – August 1, 2008.
• A. McNamara, J. Perlman.  "Solar Domestic Hot Water Technologies Assessment." NYSERDA Report 08-09.
• J. Perlman, A. McNamara, D. Strobino. “Analysis of PV System Performance versus Modeled Expectations across a Set of Identical PV Systems” ISES 2005 Solar World Congress.
• S.G. Lukishova, A.W. Schmid, A.J. McNamara, R.W. Boyd, and C.R. Stroud. "Room-temperature single-photon source based on single-dye-molecule fluorescence in liquid crystal host" IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, special issue in the area of Quantum Internet Technologies, Vol. 9, No. 6. November/December 2003.
• S.G. Lukishova, A.W. Schmid, A.J. McNamara, R.W. Boyd, and C.R. Stroud. "Demonstration of a room temperature single-photon source: laser control of single dye molecule fluorescence in photonic-band-gap cholesteric liquid crystal host" Optical Society of America Technical Digest Series, Joint Session of CLEO/Qels'2003, Photonic Bandgap Materials. June 1-6, 2003. Baltimore, MD.
• A.W. Schmid, S.G. Lukishova, A.J. McNamara, R.W. Boyd, and C.R. Stroud. "Demonstartion of a room temperature single-photon source for quantum information: single-dye-molecule fluorescence in cholesteric liquid crystal host", 11 pages, 14 Figures. Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, LLE Review. March-April 2003.
• S.G. Lukishova, A.W. Schmid, A.J. McNamara, R.W. Boyd, and C.R. Stroud. "Dye-doped cholesteric-liquid-crystal single photon source" Workshop on Single-Photons:  Detectors, Applications and Measurement Methods. NIST, Gaithersburg, MD. (March 31-April 1, 2003), talk.