Press Release

New EnergyGauge® Summit Software Offers Easier Building Energy Calculation for Tax Deductions

Sherri Shields Press Release , ,

An easy-to-use new software product for calculating qualification for commercial building federal tax deductions, LEED® building Energy Performance, and energy code compliance was released today (January 29) at the AHR EXPO. This new software was developed by the University of Central Florida’s Florida Solar Energy Center.

EnergyGauge Summit Premier offers automatic ASHRAE 2001 and ASHRAE 2004 reference building creation including the Building Performance Rating Method in Appendix G of the 2004 Standard. Unlike other software that requires the user to create multiple building decks and make many changes to create a reference building according to code or IRS rules, EnergyGauge Summit allows users to simply enter basic information on the building they are evaluating. The software then automatically creates a reference building, performs the necessary simulations and analysis and provides a report indicating qualification for the U.S. Energy Policy Act tax deductions for whole building energy savings. The program will also determine if the building meets the IRS standard for partial envelope, equipment or lighting savings for those projects not seeking to meet the whole building performance level. Read more

Reedy Named Director of Florida Solar Energy Center's PV Division

Sherri Shields Press Release ,

Robert M. Reedy, manager of Transmission Line Design with the Georgia Transmission Corporation, has been named director of the Photovoltaics Division at the University of Central Florida¿s Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC).

He brings more than 20 years experience in renewable energy to his new position, including administrative positions with Lakeland Department of Electric and Water Utilities, The Energy Authority in Jacksonville, Turbec Americas, and Georgia Transmission Corp. Read more

Renewable Energy Conference to be Held in Cape Canaveral

Sherri Shields Press Release , , , ,

A four-day conference on the use and development of renewable energy in the Caribbean will be held in Cape Canaveral June 3 – 6. The program, “Renewables: The Road to Sustainability,” is the seventh in a series sponsored by Sustainable Applications for Tropical Island States (SATIS) and the Caribbean Solar Energy Society.

SATIS 2007 is the only conference featuring renewable energy technologies conducted in the Caribbean, and researchers from universities across the Caribbean will be presenting their latest findings. This is the first time the conference has been held in the United States. Read more

Walt Disney World Co. Wins 2006 Florida Energy Achievement Award

Sherri Shields Awards, Press Release ,

The Walt Disney World Company’s “Strive for Five” energy reduction program has been named the winner of the second annual Florida Energy Achievement Award. The award is presented by the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) to a company, organization or individual that has made a significant achievement in the efficient utilization of energy, energy conservation, energy education or renewable energy in the state of Florida.

Jim Fenton, director of FSEC, explained that “Choosing the winner of this year’s competition was especially hard because we had a number of high-quality applications from private companies and utilities who are conducting energy-saving programs in the state and achieving significant results. Our committee felt, though, that Disney’s innovative company-wide program designed to reduce overall energy consumption by 5 percent by involving everyone from management to cast members stood out because of its wide impact as well as its individual components.” Read more

FSEC Offers Free Presentation on Renewable Energy in Disaster Relief

Sherri Shields Press Release , ,

Bill Young, a researcher and disaster relief expert at the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), will give a free presentation for the general public on disaster preparedness using renewable energy technologies on February 22.

The event will be held in the FSEC auditorium at 1679 Clearlake Road in Cocoa, on the campus of Brevard Community College and UCF in Cocoa. The doors will be open at 5:45 p.m. and the hour-long presentation will begin at 6:15 p.m.

The program will focus on two important questions: what do you need to do to prepare for an emergency situation, and what are the benefits of using renewable energy technologies? Solar and other forms of renewable energy offer many benefits to individuals and communities after disasters ranging from hurricanes and severe storms to terrorism or other major calamities, providing power for emergency lighting, medical facilities, shelters and other critical needs. Read more