Ron MacKinnon ( AKA - Rmac )

As a child growing up I had an obsession with how things worked – and that obsession continues today. From dismantling and putting back together my first watch - to designing and engineering alternative energy systems. Awareness of renewable energy solutions is essential to a long term sustainable approach to our energy needs. This is my passion.

My wife Brenda and I moved from our native Canada in late 1994 to Wisconsin with no idea of what our future held for us. Brenda is a registered nurse (RN) and was easily able to gain employment at our local hospital and has been there since. My situation was slightly more complex. My background is rooted in Avionics Engineering. Cryogenics (liqufied gases) led me to the HVAC industry. With these skills I took employment in 1996, after receiving my working documents at a local HVAC company.

I worked in all capacities while there. I was employed as an installer, HVAC system designer, and as the Business Manager responsible for the everyday activities that make a business run smoothly. Finally I spent the last 3 years at the company as the General Manager before moving on. During the summer of 2005 I enjoyed personal time off and starting Can-Am Consulting. This Consulting venture was and is based on the principle of educating consumers about renewable technologies and how they could look to alternatives for their homes and businesses.

However, shortly after starting my consulting firm I accepted a position with an HVAC distributor in Wisconsin so Can-Am Consulting was put on hold for awhile. I established dealer programs for HVAC contractors, and developed and conducted numerous educational and training sessions on Geothermal and Hydronics for 4 years. I also provided and still do technical services to contractors in the field.

I’m still employed with this company supporting renewable technologies that they offer to their dealer base specifically Geothermal. However my knowledge base is not specific to Geothermal alone. Solar thermal, solar PV, wind, biomass, hydro electric, and biofuels are all technologies that interest me.

Today, I have resumed my Can-Am Consulting business and my new web based business Who Knows This Stuff.Com – the ultimate classroom dedicated to inform and educate consumers about renewable and alternative energy and how to incorporate these technologies into their lives.

I’ve acknowledge that the renewable industry has done very little to improve the average consumers level of comfort with alternative energy systems available to them, the best systems available to fit their lifestyles, the available rebates and tax credits and the like. Much of the technology is over the head of the average consumer and much of the information available is perceived as way too technical. This can sometimes discourage that consumer to pursue the technology. Or the system, once installed, is flawed from either design or installation.

So how do you find that qualified dealer? What alternatives and renewable options are available for me? What questions should I ask? Where do I find credible information? How do tax credits and rebates work?

That is why Who Knows This Stuff was created – as we have dedicated ourselves to getting simplified and easy to understand information to you. And we do that by using short, 6-9 minute HD video segments. They’re informative, fun and easy to understand. We’ll seek out industry experts and they’ll assist us to simplify their technologies. The web site will supply you with industry proven resource links, you can participate in our blog, advertise with a banner ad, be part of our dealer locator network, send us story ideas, and much more.

In my free time, I love to play the game of Golf and can be found on a course somewhere in the Midwest during the Golf Season. I also enjoy coaching PeeWee youth Hockey, as well as playing adult recreational hockey. What do expect "I’m Canadian Eh!!".

Finally our dependence on fossil fuels needs to be addressed. We have the technology to make a difference now and for the future. We invite you to visit our site frequently for new stories and resources. Who Knows This Stuff! We Do. Simplifying Renewable Energy!