About Jon
Welcome to jonstarbuck.co.uk
I am Jon Starbuck and I live with my wife in San Francisco, prior to this we lived with near Machynlleth in Mid-Wales. Amanda is currently working in SF and I spend my time studying for an MSc. and working as a freelance renewable energy engineer and technical author.
About this web site:
This website has several purposes, it provides me with a public space to; promote myself to potential employers, rant about things with bother me and to provide useful information on the internet which I hope others will find helpful…
It has two sections, “Pages” which are permanent web-page style pages (like this one) and “Posts” which are blog-style web pages separated into “Categories”. See left-hand menu for Pages and Posts.
If you do find anything useful on this site, or are just feeling generous, then please use the links on the right-hand menu to help out with web-server costs. Thanks!
Jon’s Work:
Primarily I work as an engineer on renewable energy projects. Most recently I have been working with Perpetual Energy in the UK on a very large solar PV project of theirs.
I am pleased to say I am legally allowed to work in the USA.
Download a copy of my resume / CV [I had to remove this due to scams - please email me for a copy]
Jon’s Book:
“the long awaited replacement Tickel’s long outdated book”
I spent a lot of 2008 co-authoring a book, Run Your Diesel Vehicle on Biofuels, for McGraw Hill - it is a practical, empowering, heavily illustrated D.I.Y. guide. Unlike similar books available it tries to be unbiased, apolitical an un-evangelical; it shows you everything from from making biodiesel at home to converting your engine to run directly on vegetable oil, all in the one book.
It is available to buy on-line now and should be in shops any day!
Jon’s Study:
I graduated from university in 2000 with an undergraduate degree in physics. I am currently studying on an MSc in Renewable Energy Systems Technology, the course is based at Loughborough University in the UK but I study from home.
Other work Jon has done:
I also work as a Barista on occasion, work on peoples’ houses and other construction projects as a labourer, 
carpenter’s mate, roofer, plumber; I spent several season on the road as a roustabout erecting big tents and marquees; I worked as a technician at the Centre for Alternative Technology; I build the occasional website; I worked in retail for several years… I also mend hippy’s trucks, paint window-frames, fix computers and just about anything else which helps me fund my way through college.
More about Jon…
I spend a lot of my time cycling, drinking coffee, taking photos, travelling and building things (I’m always making something).
I have an odd interest in the debunking of voodoo science, frauds, scams and the grey-area in-between; applying a strong sense of rational scepticism to the “the science of things that aren’t so”.
I’m getting better at poker too.
