Sherri Shields – Page 12 – The Energy Chronicle

WARNING: SCAMMERS Posing as Florida Solar Energy Center

Sherri Shields Energy News June 26, 2018October 2, 2019complaints, fraud, scammer, solar 1 Comment

Warning sign, red outline triangle with black exclamation point in middle, cludy blue sky background — WARNING! Scammers posing as FSEC.

WARNING: SCAMMERS are posing as the Florida Solar Energy Center. FSEC^® has received several reports from consumers that they are receiving multiple calls (from different phone numbers) from a telemarketer posing to be the Florida Solar Energy Center. In some cases, they are even being referred to the FSEC website. FSEC is a research institute of the University of Central Florida (UCF). FSEC will not call consumers to offer help with an electric bill, offer a free estimate, or solicit information for a purchase.

UCF recommends you file a complaint at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC): https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/stop-unwanted-calls-and-texts.

You can also visit the Florida Office of the Attorney General website for Consumer Protection.

Solar contractors must be licensed to do business in the state. You can check licenses at: http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/

Learn how to protect yourself from robocalls: https://consumersunion.org/end-robocalls/

UCF has trademark registrations for FSEC^® and other related FLORIDA SOLAR ENERGY CENTER marks. Unauthorized use is a violation of federal and state laws.

Cloudy Skies Add to Real-World Learning Challenges at EnergyWhiz

Sherri Shields Awards, Feature Story, Media Advisory May 21, 2018May 14, 2021Critter Comfort Cottage, Energy Innovations, Energy Transfer Machine, EnergyWhiz, JSS, Junior Solar Sprint, Solar Energy Cook-off 1 Comment

By Sherri Shields

COCOA, Fla., May 21, 2018—A blanket of cloud-covered skies can be a real challenge for students to race Junior Solar Sprint (JSS) cars and keep solar oven temperatures sufficient for cooking.

Sam’s Speed Shop from McLane Middle School in Brandon, FL won first place in Race competition, second place in Most Innovative Design, and third place in the Best Design competition in the Blue Division (grades 7&8). *Photo: Liza Robles*

Although the sun never peeked through the clouds for the EnergyWhiz competitions on Saturday, May 12^th, at the University of Central Florida’s Florida Solar Energy Center in Cocoa, the JSS cars were still able to race. “One thing we’ve learned since hosting EnergyWhiz for the past 15 years is that if you want to stay on schedule, you need a backup plan in case the weather doesn’t cooperate,” said Susan Schleith, K-12 Education program director. “Battery backup is now an essential part of the car design, for situations like this.”

Female student from Saturn Elementary School and a male student prepare to race their Junior Solar Sprint cars, which were modified to run on batteries instead of solar due to the cloudy sky. — Female student from Students prepare to race their Junior Solar Sprint cars, which were modified to run on batteries instead of solar due to the cloudy sky. *Photo: Leon Flowers*

2018 EnergyWhiz Awards

Sherri Shields Awards May 18, 2018July 23, 2018EnergyWhiz 0 Comment

C3, Middle, 2nd

Critter Comfort Cottage

Elementary Division

1^st Place – In Spike of it All (Hedgehog) – Lawton Chiles Elementary, Tampa

2^nd Place – Florida Ducks (Duck) – Ocean Breeze Elementary, Indian Harbor Beach

3^rd Place – Lil’ Peeps (Chickens) – Hans Christian Anderson Elementary, Rockledge

Middle School Division

1^st Place – The Mighty Midnighters (Cat) – Lake Nona Middle, Orlando

2^nd Place – The Happy Hoppers (Bunny) – Milwee Middle, Longwood

3rd Place – Chipmunk Chicks (Chipmunk) – Milwee Middle, Longwood

High School Division

1^st Place – The Bog Frogs (Bog Frog) – Edgewood Jr/Sr High, Merritt Island

2^nd Place – Marley’s Habitat (Leopard Frog) – Rockledge High, Rockledge

WOW! Award Elementary Division

Lil’ Peeps (Chickens) – Hans Christian Anderson Elementary, Rockledge

WOW! Award Middle Division

Nature Gals (Squirrel) – Innovation Middle, Orlando

Energy Innovations

Middle School Division

1^st Place – Corn Snake Habitat – Milwee Middle, Longwood

2^nd Place – Solar Powered Water Fountain – Milwee Middle, Longwood

High School Division

1^st Place – T.I.M. (Disaster Assistant Robot) – Lyman High, Longwood

2^nd Place – Charge Barge – Edgewood Jr/Sr High, Merritt Island

3^rd Place – Country Roads Putt Putt – Edgewood Jr/Sr High, Merritt Island

WOW! Award Middle School Division

Solar Powered Water Fountain – Milwee Middle, Longwood

WOW! Award High School Division

Charge Barge – Edgewood Jr/Sr High, Merritt Island

Energy Transfer Machine

1^st Place – Mission: Feed Sheldon – Edgewood Jr/Sr High, Merritt Island

2^nd Place – Phoenix Engineers – Innovation Middle, Orlando

3^rd Place – Floridian Fan – Lyman High, Longwood

Precision Award – Phoenix Engineers – Innovation Middle, Orlando

Junior Solar Sprint

Best Design – Green Division (Grades 4 – 6)

1^st Place – Shelby Racing Team – Lithia Springs Elementary, Valrico

2^nd Place – Mavericks by MAV – Pinewood Elementary, Stuart

3^rd Place – Tie – Thunderbird 1, North Broward Preparatory, Coconut Creek

3^rd Place – Tie – USchool Tiger Sharks, Nova Southeast University School, Davie

Best Design – Blue Division (Grades 7 & 8)

1^st Place – Beast Mode – Innovation Middle, Orlando

2^nd Place – Solar McQueen – Milwee Middle, Longwood

3^rd Place – Sam’s Speed Shop – McLane Middle, Longwood

Most Innovative Green Division

1^st Place – Wonderful Wildebeasts – Corbett Preparatory, Tampa

2^nd Place – 3 Headed Phoenix – Innovation Middle, Orlando

3^rd Place – Solar Squad – McLane Middle, Brandon

Most Innovative Blue Division

1^st Place – Solar McQueen – Milwee Middle, Longwood

2^nd Place – Sam’s Speed Shop – McLane Middle, Brandon

3^rd Place – Solar Vikings – McLane Middle, Brandon

Race – Green Division

1^st Place – Solar Squad – McLane Middle, Brandon

2^nd Place – Shelby Racing Team – Lithia Springs Elementary, Valrico

3^rd Place – California Kings – Martinez Middle, Lutz

Race – Blue Division

1^st Place – Sam’s Speed Shop – McLane Middle, Brandon

2^nd Place – Double Two – Hidden Oaks Middle, Palm City

3^rd Place – The Cringe Crew – Hidden Oaks Middle, Palm City

Solar Energy Cook-off

Best Design – Yellow Division (Grades 4 – 6)

1^st Place – Sun Food – Martinez Middle, Lutz

2^nd Place – Sunday Chefs – East Elementary, Punta Gorda

3^rd Place – Three Amigos – Martinez Middle, Lutz

Best Design – Orange Division (Grades 7 & 8)

1^st Place – Sabores Grill – Lake Nona Middle, Orlando

2^nd Place – Solar Express – Milwee Middle, Longwood

3^rd Place – Solar Sharks, Hidden Oaks Middle, Palm City

Best Design – Red Division (Grades 9 – 12)

1^st Place – The Hot Pockets – Lyman High, Longwood

2^nd Place – Mango Marauders – Edgewood Jr/Sr High

WOW! Award Yellow Division

Sun Food – Martinez Middle, Lutz

WOW! Award Orange Division

Sabores Grill – Lake Nona Middle, Orlando

WOW! Award Red Division

Mango Marauders – Edgewood Jr/Sr High

Culinary Award – Yellow Division

1^st Place – Sunday Chefs – East Elementary, Punta Gorda

2^nd Place – Three Amigos – Martinez Middle, Lutz

3^rd Place – Tiki Troop – Atlantis Elementary, Cocoa

Culinary Award – Orange Division

1^st Place – Sabores Grill – Lake Nona Middle, Orlando

2^nd Place – Solar Express – Milwee Middle, Longwood

3^rd Place – Sunny Side Up – Milwee Middle, Longwood

Culinary Award – Red Division

1^st Place – Mango Marauders, Edgewood Jr/Sr High, Merritt Island

2^nd Place – The Hot Pockets, Lyman High, Longwood

Fresh From Florida Award Yellow Division

Sunday Chefs – East Elementary, Punta Gorda

Fresh From Florida Award Orange Division

Solar Express – Milwee Middle, Longwood

Fresh From Florida Award Red Division

Mango Marauders – Edgewood Jr/Sr High, Merritt Island

Electrathon

MediaContact: Charles Harrison, charlie@electrathonoftampabay.org

High School Division

1st place, Brandon HS car 14 with 121 laps

2nd place, Brooks DeBartolo car 55 with 87 laps

3rd place, Brandon HS car 9 with 76 laps

4th place, Simmons Career Center car 35 with 24 laps

5th place STEMTECH car 823 with 14 laps.

Open Division

1st place, Tiger Racing car 4 with 153 laps

2nd place, Silver Bullet Racing car 94 with 149 laps

3rd place, RYNO Racing car 13 with 49 laps

4th place, Seminole State College car 314 with 40 laps

5th place, Hillsborough Community College car 30 with 3 laps.

Advanced Battery Division

1st place, Pro EV car 39 with 171 laps

2nd place, University of South Florida car 132 with 121 laps

3rd place Titan Racing car 242 with 80 laps.

Electrathon of Tampa Bay End of the Year Awards, 2017-2018 Race Season.

Season Points Winners:

High School Division

1st place, Simmons Career car 35 with 348 points

2nd place, Brandon HS car 14 with 328 points

3rd place Simmons Career Center car 53 with 324 points.

Open Division

1st place Tiger Racing car 4 with 464 points

2nd place Silver Bullet Racing car 94 with 228 points

3rd place Hillsborough Community College car 30 with 214 points.

Advanced Battery Division

1st place, University of South Florida car 132 with 404 points

2nd place, Pro EV car 39 with 330 points

3rd place, Titan Racing car 242 with 158 points.

Volunteer of the Year: Aditya Chelikani

Executive Board Member of the Year: Brady Weber Team

Sponsor of the Year: Mark Knowlton (Brandon HS)

“I Broke Mine” Award: Dustyn Clark (Brandon HS)

Fastest Lap per Division:

High School Division Mulberry HS car 38 at the HCC Race with a lap time of 30.774.

Open Division Tiger Racing car 4 at the HCC Race with a lap time of 30.69

Advanced Battery Division University of South Florida car 132 at the HCC Race with a lap time of 26.471.

Most Laps for the 2017-2018 Race Season:

High School Division: Simmons Career Center car 53 with 729 laps,

Advanced Battery Division: University of South Florida car 132 with 790 laps

Open Division: Tiger Racing car 4 with 1,141 laps.

Smart Vent Tech Improves IAQ and Saves Money, Energy

Sherri Shields Energy News February 22, 2018February 26, 2018Building America, IAQ, indoor air quality, mechanical ventilation 0 Comment

By Jennifer Josey
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
February 22, 2018

How many times have you completed a system upgrade for a device only to find that it’s glitchy? No one wants to “upgrade” to downgrade, and we don’t like being inconvenienced as things get “smarter.” This is just as true for our homes. Reducing energy consumption (thereby saving money) is a key driver for smart, integrated tech (think smart thermostats); however, adoption is lower if an upgrade risks compromising resident comfort.

Whole-house, smart ventilation is one such up-and-coming “smart” technology. But before it takes off, there are a couple of hurdles to jump: integration with standard heating and cooling systems, and proving the risks are limited and the benefits are many. Researchers with the University of Central Florida’s Florida Solar Energy Center® (FSEC®), in partnership with Washington State University, are tackling smart ventilation systems head on.

UCF/FSEC researchers Chuck Withers and Dave Chasar installing a mechanical ventilation control unit on a flexible duct. — UCF/FSEC researchers Chuck Withers and Dave Chasar installing a fan on a flexible duct to test an energy-efficient mechanical ventilation control design.

In a first-of-its-kind report, “Field and Laboratory Testing of Approaches to Smart Whole-House Mechanical Ventilation Control,” FSEC documented research on lab and field testing of smart ventilation control (SVC) systems. The report explains that whole-house mechanical ventilation is a critical component to a comprehensive indoor air quality (IAQ) strategy. In addition, these systems can help the residential sector more reliably design, install, and operate mechanical ventilation systems to achieve best-practice IAQ while saving energy and improving comfort, moisture, and peak load impacts.

Installing Solar Electric (Photovoltaic) Systems – An Instructional Program for Contractors, Utilities, Engineers and Code Officials

Sherri Shields Energy News January 12, 2018January 12, 2018continuing educaton, course, installation, PV, solar electric 0 Comment

Adults students in the Installing Photovoltaic Systems course receive hands-on instruction and install PV panels on mock residential roof systems. — Students participate in hands-on lab at FSEC’s Installing Photovoltaic Systems workshop.

The Florida Solar Energy Center® (FSEC®) is offering its five-day course covering the design and installation of photovoltaic (PV) systems January 22-26, 2018, in Cocoa, Florida. This course is intended for technicians, electricians, engineers and other practitioners in the solar, construction, and electric utility sectors. The overall goal is to develop “system-knowledgeable” professionals to help ensure the safety and quality of PV system installations.

Hands-on – The course format includes a balance of classroom instruction and actual hands-on work with PV systems and equipment.’s
Student-interactive – Demonstration and lab exercises simulate the process of designing, installing and commissioning of residential and small commercial grid-connected PV systems.
State-of-the-Art – Emphasis is placed on code compliance and accepted state-of-the-art industry design and installation practice.

The course fee is $995 and registration can be completed online at the FSEC website: https://secure.fsec.ucf.edu/fsecstore/do/product/InstallPV. Each participant receives a copy of the textbook Photovoltaic Systems by Jim Dunlop as well as all instructional materials. Participants successfully completing the course will be awarded a certificate of completion from FSEC and will be eligible to take the North American Board of Certified Practitioners (NABCEP) Photovoltaic Associate Program examination (see below). This course is approved by the Florida Construction and Electrical Licensing Boards for 18 continuing education credits.

FSEC is an approved provider of the PV training that is a prerequisite for the NABCEP Photovoltaic Associate Program examination. Students may register for the Computer Based Test (CBT) after completing the FSEC Installing Photovoltaic Systems workshop. The examination fee is $150. Interested participants will be able to sign up for this exam within two years of completing the workshop. For further information on the NABCEP PV Associate Program, please visit http://www.nabcep.org/associate. FSEC has also achieved the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) Continuing Education Provider Accreditation for the FSEC Installing Photovoltaic Systems course.

For questions or more information, please contact Colleen Kettles at 321-638-1004 or ckettles@fsec.ucf.edu.