Sherri Shields – Page 37 – The Energy Chronicle

Building Science Experts Offer Green Building Courses

Sherri Shields Energy News, Press Release January 21, 2009air conditioning, building, building code, building envelope, buildings, charrette, commercial, courses, design, Designing and Maintaining the High Performance Green Building, education, energy efficient, EnergyGauge, green building, humidity control, HVAC, indoor air quality, LEED, mold, pressure imbalances, research, Rob Vieira, Summit, training, vapor barriers, ventilation, window 3 Comments

The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), a research institute of the University of Central Florida, is offering a series of five courses on “Designing and Maintaining the High Performance Green Building” for architects, engineers, mechanical contractors, building inspectors, facility managers and indoor air quality specialists. Initial course offerings will be held at FSEC in Cocoa starting Feb. 4.

This series of courses will demonstrate:

How to design and maintain a green building that has good indoor air quality
How to make a building durable, comfortable and energy efficient
How to protect buildings from mold
What types of air-conditioning systems will cause mold problems
What advanced dehumidification technologies are available for use in buildings.

“A recent study finds about 25 percent of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified green buildings use more energy than expected and about 12 percent use more energy than allowed by the building code. Our courses will provide the knowledge to address these issues,” said Rob Vieira, director of buildings research at FSEC.

The courses will focus on problems in commercial buildings, although the principles discussed will be applicable to all buildings. The FSEC buildings researchers will discuss such areas as ventilation requirements, humidity control, building envelope design, pressure imbalances, HVAC systems, window selection, vapor barriers and related issues.

Students who attend all five courses in the series and pass the exam in Courses one, two and three will earn an FSEC Green Commercial Building Design and Maintenance Certificate.

The courses and schedules are:

Course 1: “Designing Building Envelopes to Control Air and Moisture in High Performance Green Buildings,” Feb. 4

Course 2: “Designing and Maintaining Building Air Flows in High Performance Green Buildings,” Feb. 5

Course 3: “Designing and Maintaining HVAC Systems for High Performance Green Buildings,” Feb. 18

Course 4: “Design Charrette — Practice Design of a High Performance Green Building,” Feb. 19

Course 5: “Commercial Energy Code and Green Building Modeling Using EnergyGauge Summit,” Feb. 26

The cost of each course is $269. For more information about the courses or to register, visit: www.floridaenergycenter.org/go/courseschedule.

FSEC to Support Solar-Powered Monorail System Development

Sherri Shields Energy News, Press Release November 26, 2008alternative transit, demonstration model, DOE, energy efficiency, mini charging station, monorail, MOSI, Sky Train, solar, STC, Tampa, transportation, U.S. Department of Energy, University of Central Florida, William Young 6 Comments

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded Sky Train Corporation (STC) and the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) at the University of Central Florida a $100,000 renewable energy collaborative grant. The grant’s primary focus is to fund the development an innovative solar interface to power a next-generation high-speed monorail that will be 80 percent more efficient than rubber-tired monorails in the U.S.

Florida Solar Energy Center Accepting Applications for 2008 Energy Awards

Sherri Shields Energy News, Press Release November 21, 2008alternative fuel vehicles, Ann C. Wilkie, award, conservation, energy conservation, energy education, facilities, Florida, Florida Energy Achievement Award, Florida Solar Energy Center, Florida utility companies, Florida Utility Energy Achievement Award, reducing pollution, renewable energy, renovations, retrofits, Sarasota County Government, University of Central Florida, Walt Disney World, water conservation 5 Comments

The Florida Solar Energy Center at the University of Central Florida is accepting applications for the 2008 Florida Energy Achievement Award and the Florida Utility Energy Achievement Award. The two awards recognize significant achievements in the efficient utilization of energy, energy conservation, energy education or renewable energy in facilities or programs.

A Florida utility and a Florida company, organization or individual that demonstrate statewide leadership and significant accomplishments in sustainability and energy savings will be honored. Last year’s recipient was Ann C. Wilkie, associate professor at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS). She was recognized for her extensive work in alternative energy – creating bio-energy from animal waste – and her leadership in promoting awareness and understanding of renewable energy and sustainable practices. Previous award winners also include Walt Disney World and Sarasota County Government. There were no applicants last year for the Florida Utility Energy Achievement Award.

Results recognized through the awards could include reducing energy use, water conservation, renewable energy generation, the use of alternative fuel vehicles and renovations or retrofits with energy-saving measures. Other results could include reducing pollution, innovative energy-saving performance contracts or utility energy services contracts, having a major impact on public education regarding energy issues or playing a prominent role in educating or disseminating information related to energy conservation.

Applications for the 2008 awards must be received at the Florida Solar Energy Center by January 16, 2009.

EnergyGauge® Summit Premier 3.15 Saves Energy Modelers Time

Sherri Shields Energy News, Press Release November 7, 2008ASHRAE, building analysis, building code, calculations, commercial, construction, DOE, energy, EnergyGauge, Florida, GreenBuild, LEED, modeling, professionals, software, Summit, tax deduction, University of Central Florida, USGBC 9 Comments

This easy-to-use, state-of-the-art software offers construction-industry professionals substantial time savings while completing required energy modeling calculations for LEED® projects.

The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), a research institute of the University of Central Florida, today released EnergyGauge Summit Premier 3.15. FSEC will be exhibiting the software at the Greenbuild conference in Boston Nov. 19 – 21. This state-of-the-art software provides construction-industry professionals with the opportunity to substantially reduce the time required to complete energy modeling for the commercial construction LEED® rating system. It also offers a time-saving automatic federal tax deduction qualification feature.

Alternative Fuel Workshop Hosted at FSEC

Sherri Shields Energy News October 23, 2008alternative fuel, alternative fuels, Amber Station, American Lung Association, Bill Young, biodiesel, Clean Cities, David Winslow, Department of Energy, environmental, fleet managers, hybrid-electric, John Parker, National AFV Odyssey Day, Orange, Orange County Government, park, research engineer, sustainability, training, Universal Studios, vehicle, water taxi 3 Comments

The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) hosted an alternative fuels workshop on October 3, 2008, as part of the National Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Odyssey Day.

The National AFV Odyssey Day is a nationwide event that was held in 90 different locations throughout the U.S. this year. Coordinated by the National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Training Consortium (NAFTC) in a partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Clean Cities Program, the goal of this national program is to promote the awareness and use of AFVs, as well as promote energy conservation and independence for the U.S.

The Space Coast Clean Cities Coalition, a Florida chapter of the (DOE) Clean Cities Program, coordinated and organized the Advancing the Choice alternative fuel workshop, locally, as part of this national event.

Attendees view a presentation. — Attendees view a presentation on biodiesel.

More than 75 students, educators, government officials and fleet managers were on hand to receive valuable tips on biodiesel production, learn about the benefits of alternative fuels, and view the several hybrid-electric and General Motors ethanol vehicles that were on display. After an introduction by Bill Young, a senior solar energy research engineer at FSEC and host of the event, the day began with a biodiesel production demonstration by Amber Station.

A number of real-world success stories were presented throughout the day from a variety of different organizations. John Parker, from Orange County Government discussed the use of biodiesel within their fleet of diesel vehicles, and the success using alternative fuels has brought them in meeting the county’s clean air goals.

David Winslow, the senior director of engineering and environmental sustainability technical services for Universal Studios, pointed out the use of biodiesel fuel in every diesel vehicle throughout the theme park. This includes the resort water taxis and the 50-plus ground-based vehicles already running on the B20 blend – 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent diesel fuel – as well as the engines used to run the theme park ride, Jaws.

The overalll public health benefits of using alternative fuels was presented at The American Lung Association’s exhibit.

About National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium

The National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC) is a national leader in promoting programs and activities that will lead to energy independence and the greater use of cleaner transportation in the U.S. The NAFTC is the only nationwide alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) and advanced technology vehicle training organization in the nation. Their mission is to provide the training infrastructure for implementing widespread use of alternative fuels, AFVs and advanced technology vehicles to increase our nation’s energy security and improve our air quality by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from our transportation system.