Biography and Mission
Russ Livesay is the founder and owner of Catchsunlight. He holds Professional Engineer (PE) licensure in both Mechanical Engineering (ME) and Fire Protection Engineering (FPE) — a distinction held by very few engineers nationally. Fire Protection Engineering is the discipline concerned with structural performance under thermal and fire conditions, and together with Mechanical Engineering, it encompasses advanced study of heat transfer principles within built structures.
Beyond his dual PE licensure, Mr. Livesay is one of only two individuals in the State of Idaho to hold the Master Code Professional (MCP) designation, issued by the International Code Council (ICC) — the governing body responsible for the model building codes including the IRC, IBC, IFC, and IEBC, among others. The MCP represents the highest certification conferred by any building or fire code development organization, including the ICC and NFPA, and demonstrates comprehensive expertise across all domains of construction practice. Earning the designation requires completion of approximately 18 proctored examinations — each two to four hours in duration — spanning specialized fields of construction and code application. Combined with two Master of Science degrees in engineering disciplines and over three decades of applied professional experience, Mr. Livesay's credentials position him as one of the foremost regional experts in thermal energy transfer and performance-based structural design.
Mr. Livesay's work with Catchsunlight is grounded in an informed understanding of the intersection between climate science, agricultural policy, and energy engineering. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is uniquely distinguished from the three primary constituents of Earth's atmosphere — nitrogen, oxygen, and argon — by its strong absorption of infrared radiation. While the primary atmospheric gases are effectively transparent to infrared energy, CO₂ absorbs and retains that energy, forming the physical basis of the greenhouse effect and atmospheric warming. Atmospheric CO₂ concentrations have risen from approximately 280 parts per million (PPM) roughly 160 years ago to approximately 425 PPM today — an increase of roughly 50% — with corresponding implications for long-term radiative forcing and global climate patterns.
Agriculture currently accounts for approximately one quarter of total U.S. carbon emissions and roughly one third of global emissions, placing it at the center of international climate policy discussions. These dynamics, combined with the potential for regulatory changes affecting food production systems, underscore the importance of resilient, decentralized food production infrastructure. Catchsunlight was established with the mission of addressing this challenge through market-driven solutions: optimizing greenhouse design, accessibility, and cost to make high-performance greenhouse growing viable for households in northern climates. The goal is to meaningfully reduce agriculture-related carbon emissions at the household level while empowering families with greater food independence and security in an uncertain policy environment.