top of page
Electric Charging Station

CHRIS PRELITZ

Laguna-Beach-Chris.jpg
CHRIS PRELITZ: CSO & Director of Energy Projects, Principal of Prelitz Design Build
​

Chris Prelitz is an accomplished sustainability consultant, solar architect, published author, visionary thought leader, and fervent advocate for sustainable living. A graduate of Duke University Energy and Environment program, he is also a licensed general contractor, which equips him with practical experience and hands-on knowledge critical for infrastructure-related sustainability projects. With over four decades of experience in the green building and sustainability sector, Chris has emerged as a trusted guide for organizations navigating the complex and rapidly-evolving world of sustainability and green practices.

​

Chris has made substantial contributions to the field of sustainability, with his work recognized by numerous awards, including the Chipko Award and Global Green Business Award. He has been invited to deliver keynote speeches at high-profile events such as the AIA and USGBC Earth Day Conference. Throughout his career, Chris has consistently demonstrated an uncanny ability to forecast sustainability trends and provide effective strategies for companies to leverage these opportunities. His solutions have helped businesses decrease their environmental footprints while increasing profitability and improving stakeholder relationships. Over the past four decades, Chris has led sustainability projects at corporate, federal, state, and city levels across the US. A few noteworthy projects include:

  • Mercedes-Benz LEED-certified dealership in Peoria, Arizona, featuring a solar carport roof, underground stormwater system, and passive solar design with sweeping roofs for shading and cooling.

  • Host for Discovery Channel’s ‘Greenovate’ Show.

  • Design/build of Southern California's first permitted solar-powered residence in 1993.

  • Off-Grid Solar community in Taos, New Mexico

  • Co-founding the California Straw Builders Organization (CASBA) in 1996, an NGO that significantly impacted building codes and promoted straw bale construction in California. (At the time, burning rice straw was the #1 cause of air pollution in California.)

  • City of Lancaster solar/strawbale Interpretive Center, first publicly funded strawbale project

  • In 2010, Chris was selected as a juror for the International Land Art Generator Initiative in the United Arab Emirates. The Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) is a renowned international competition that merges art, architecture, and renewable energy technology, creating large-scale public art installations that function as clean energy sources.

  • Note: Some past engagements with Fortune 500 companies and the U.S. military are confidential due to NDA’s.


Committed to embodying the principles he promotes, Chris resides in a solar home of his own design in Laguna Beach, California. In his spare time, he enjoys harvesting from his permaculture forest-garden, hiking, and body-boarding. He is an avid outdoorsman and yoga practitioner, a hobby that fuels his drive for balance and harmony in life. His introductory guide to sustainable living, ‘Green Made Easy’ is available on Amazon.

bottom of page