Dr. Richard Haut is currently a Senior Research Scientist at the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC). He serves as the Principal Investigator for various projects associated with securing energy for the future. A major effort is participation in the Environmentally Friendly Drilling program headed up by Texas A&M and Noble Corporation with the objective of integrating advanced technologies into a drilling rig system that significantly reduces the environmental impact of petroleum drilling and production. Dr. Haut is also involved in implementing the New Technology Research and Development Program under the aegis of the Texas Environmental Research Consortium, a program dedicated to reducing diesel engine emission.

Dr. Haut served as the Director of the Sustainable Technologies Group at the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) from 2002 to 2006. In the position, he was responsible for directing various HARC teams associated with high performance green building systems and materials, trace chemical detection, offshore technologies, cryogenics/superconductivity and air emissions reduction technologies - moving knowledge to action in supporting policies and technologies that improve human well-being and the environment. Dr. Haut also served as Principal Investigator for various projects associated with ecologized building systems, and represented HARC on various committee and organizations, including the EPA’s Regional and Local Land Revitalization Team. During his tenure, the Group won a variety of awards, including the Innovative Technology Award for Wood Treatment Processing, the Citizen’s Environmental Coalition President’s synergy award and an honorable mention for the Keep Houston Beautiful award.

Dr. Haut’s technical background includes a Masters degree and a Ph.D. in Engineering. He has over 25 years of industry technical and management experience prior to joining HARC in June 2002, having been responsible for analyzing offerings for key technologies or niche capabilities and developing synergistic, strategic relationships in the energy industry. He also was instrumental in establishing joint ventures and other joint industry programs, including the start-up of Enventure Global Technology where he was the Chief Operating Officer. Over a two year time period, Dr. Haut was involved in the successful development of Enventure, taking it from conception to profitability during this time period. In 1999 he received Hart Publication’s Meritorious Award for Engineering Innovation and in 2002 received the Natural Gas Innovator of the Year Award from the Department of Energy.

Dr. Haut has been invited to speak at various conferences, has authored numerous papers, has been awarded various patents and has several patents pending. He has frequently been asked to speak about sustainable development, the built environment and the offshore/energy industry. In addition, he has given testimony to the Department of Energy concerning the future of energy security in the US. He also serves on the US Green Building Council – National Research Committee where he represents all non-profits across the U.S., and on the board of the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA), where he chairs the Environmental Advisory Group.