FSEC’s John Sherwin advises against signing any door-to-door contract the same day and says, “…like any other contractor, Todd, you want to get multiple quotes, you want to see where they are coming with their numbers.”
Author: Sherri Shields
UCF Part of New Regional Movement to Accelerate Adoption of Electric Vehicle Transportation
UCF’s FSEC Energy Research Center is a leader in electric transportation study and it is ready to help the new group charge on.
UCF is part of a new coalition of more than 60 public and private organizations charging forward to address the electric transportation market and infrastructure challenges in the Southeast region of the U.S.
More and more people across the nation are turning to electric vehicles for their cheaper fuel costs and lower maintenance requirements. Challenges remain, however, like finding charging stations during long trips, greater upfront costs, and limited models and sizes of EVs. Transitioning to an all-electric transportation system would provide consumers more EV options, and has the potential to trigger an economic boon of up to $47 billion for the region, according to the new coalition. Other regions are quickly moving in this direction and reaping some of the benefits, but the South is a little behind, prompting the creation of the Southeast Electric Transportation Regional Initiative (SETRI).
The SETRI coalition will focus on EV market challenges, such as charging and infrastructure gaps, accessibility, EV model availability and cost, policy guidance, and consumer awareness — while unlocking untapped opportunities for economic development, job growth, enhanced energy security, and reduced environmental impacts.
The FSEC Energy Research Center (FSEC ERC) at UCF is a leader in electric transportation research and the advancement of electric vehicle initiatives. That’s why joining the group was a natural move for the UCF center.
“We have a long history in transportation electrification initiatives and research, and we look forward to collaborating with members of the Southeast Electric Transportation Regional Initiative,” says James Fenton, director of the FSEC Energy Research Center. “Electrifying our transportation system and improving our grid infrastructure will accelerate job growth, increase resiliency and help us reach net zero emissions by 2050.”
FSEC ERC is a founding member of Drive Electric Florida, a multi-stakeholder organization promoting the growth of electric vehicle ownership and its related infrastructure in Florida. FSEC ERC also led two federal agency programs focused on alternative transportation deployment and research – the Central Florida Clean Cities Coalition (US DOE) and the Electric Vehicle Transportation Center (US DOT).
“SETRI’s ability to convene and partner with experts around a common table is one of its most promising aspects [of the initiative],” says Rich Simmons, principal research engineer at Georgia Tech and part of the steering committee that conceived SETRI. “While focused closely on regional gaps and opportunities, SETRI can also serve as an important model for other regions.”
View SETRI’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the list of more than 60 inaugural members.
WEBINARS: Florida Building Energy Conservation Code and Changes. Register by October 8.
The 7th Edition Florida Building Code (2020) includes a number of changes to the Energy Conservation Code that will impact how new Florida buildings are constructed, lit, and controlled. Learn about the code and these changes, and earn continuing education credits by attending live webinar training courses offered by the FSEC Energy Research Center. Register by October 8*.
- RESIDENTIAL: October 19 (1 p.m. to 3:10 p.m.)
Overview of the 7th Edition (2020) Residential Florida Energy Conservation Code [Live Webinar]
In this 2-hour class, topics include Prescriptive, Performance and Energy Rating Index (ERI) compliance options, and discussions of residential building air leakage testing, duct leakage testing and mechanical ventilation requirements. CILB CEUs: 2 credits; CILB# 0613599; Provider# 0000859. Cost: $99 | Register
- COMMERCIAL: October 20 (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.)
Florida Commercial Energy Code Compliance: Methods, Tools and Verification [Live Webinar]
In this 4-hour class, topics include an examination of building energy use contributors, introduction to the 7th Edition (2020) Florida Energy Conservation Code commercial provision changes, review of Commercial Energy Code compliance methods and tools, running sample calculations to assess the effects of specific improvements on energy efficiency and code compliance, and verifying code forms and identifying common errors. CILB CEUs: 4 credits; CILB# 0613600; Provider# 0000859.
Cost: $199 | Register
Explore all of FSEC Energy Research Center’s continuing education courses at https://energyresearch.ucf.edu/education/continuing-education/
*A minimum of 8 registrations needed by October 8th to guarantee the class is held.
For more information, contact Sherri Shields at sherri@fsec.ucf.edu, 321-638-1019 or the FSEC ERC Communications Office at 321-638-1015.
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Entrepreneurs: Are you ready for a challenge and a chance to win cash prizes? Enter AMC Solar Prize Round 5.
Clean energy thinkers and entrepreneurs have a chance to win cash prizes for ideas that advance the United States’ leadership in the renewable energy industry.
Enter the U.S. Department of Energy’s American-made Challenges (AMC) Solar Prize Round 5 by 10/5/2021.
Round 5 has two separate tracks that focus on Hardware and Software components. Learn more:
- Hardware Track: Focuses on a physical component, manufacturing process, or producible product.
- Software Track: Focuses on communications, computation, data systems, information technology, or business models with a software focus.
Need technical assistance? FSEC is a designated Connector and can help you. Reach out to Colleen Kettles.
UCF Researchers Validate Simple Method to Minimize COVID Spread in Single-Family Home
COCOA, FL, Aug. 4, 2021—Your home may be the most comfortable place to be during an epidemic, until someone’s infected. If someone in your household gets COVID-19 or another airborne disease, how can you prevent it from spreading to others in your home? This question is the basis of a recently completed research project at the FSEC Energy Research Center, a research institute at the University of Central Florida.
Using a full-scale laboratory home, UCF researchers evaluated methods to create an isolation zone in a single-family home where an infected person could remain separated from the rest of the occupants. The researchers found that a basic isolation zone for a contagious person could be created with little cost and effort.
They will present their findings in an upcoming webinar on Thursday, Aug. 12 at 3 p.m. EST.
FSEC’s Buildings Research Division has been investigating energy, moisture and airflow dynamics in buildings since 1980. Researchers pitched the idea to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The U.S. Department of Energy provided the funding for the study, while NREL provided oversight.
The idea for the research project originated from the need to solve a problem many people have recently faced.
“After reading a story about the efforts a wife and child were making to stay healthy while caring for an infected husband in their home, we felt we might be able to help these situations by applying what we know about how air moves in homes,” says Danny Parker, a principal research scientist at the FSEC Energy Research Center. “The risks of airborne COVID-19 transmission are much greater indoors than outdoors, and the need for a means of control was great.”