Although Orlo pursued a degree in chemical engineering for three years, a summer internship rekindled his childhood passion for biology. Fascinated by the delicate chemical and physical balance required to sustain life, he changed his major and graduated with a degree in botany with an emphasis on ecology. He continues to be intrigued by the laws of nature, the miracle of life, and the eco-balance between species–both plant and animal–even today.

In 1971, while in Canada helping pulp and paper mills recycle waste and reduce pollution, he and his wife, Mary (with two of their children, David Stitt and Jennifer Stitt), with much of their own labor, designed and built a highly efficient passive solar home in Ville L’Île-Cadieux near Montreal. The home was featured on prime-time Canadian and U.S. television during the 1973 oil embargo and led to their developing an energy-planned passive solar subdivision called Village du Soleil.

After moving to Arkansas in 1978, Orlo developed “South Sun Estates on the Lake,” a second energy-planned, passive solar subdivision. South Sun covenants define orientation and energy efficiency specifications for each home, as well as protection for trees, terrain, and wildlife.

The Stitt Group’s employees currently work in two energy-planned passive solar buildings. The first was built in 1978 as a demonstration show home; and the second, which was originally built in 1946, was renovated in 2008 to accommodate the company’s expansion. This building renovation was commissioned LEED Platinum by the U.S. Green Building Council in 2009.

In 1999, Orlo’s company won the EnergyValue “Builder of the Year.” In addition to this prestigious award, his company has also won 18 other EnergyValue housing awards, two “People’s Choice” awards, and two “Sustainability Awards” for the city of Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Orlo and his staff have made technical presentations at the National Association of Home Builders International Builder’s Show, at the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) Annual Conferences, and to the Energy and Environmental Building Association. In 2017 at the Annual ASES Conference in Denver, he and three others made presentations on “Net-Zero PLUS Homes.” He has also been a guest environmental studies instructor at various universities.

Today Orlo and Mary “walk the talk” by living in an energy efficient, passive solar home in South Sun Estates. Their home includes a solar water heater, and a 10kw photovoltaic array, which allows them to be “Net Zero PLUS.” Both Orlo and Mary drive plugins–Orlo drives a Chevy Volt, and Mary drives a Prius Prime.