FSEC Updates Online Consumer Publication on Energy Efficient Transportation

As Hurricane Rita bears down on Texas and the Gulf Coast, drivers around the country are wondering what effect this latest storm will have on already high gas prices. The projected path of the storm takes it toward oil rigs, pipelines and refineries along the Gulf of Mexico, where about a fourth of the U.S. refining capacity is located.

It was just a few weeks ago when Hurricane Katrina’s devastating blow to Louisiana and nearby states sent gas prices above $3 in most of the country. While these prices have come down somewhat, we’re all still feeling “sticker shock” at the pump. Read more

FSEC Selected as a Middle School Science Bowl Site

The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) has been chosen as host of the Southeast Regional Middle School Science Bowl (previously known as the Florida Middle School Science Bowl) in April, 2006.

This regional competition is part of the national Middle School Science Bowl program, which is coordinated by the Office of Science at the U.S. Department of Energy. Finalists from the 28 regional science bowls around the country compete in the national finals.

The Science Bowl is a two-prong competition, involving an academic math and science question-and-answer portion along with a hands-on hydrogen fuel cell competition. The Southeast regional competition will take place on Saturday, April 1, 2006 at the Florida Solar Energy Center. The first place team from each regional competition receives an expense-paid trip to the national competition in Colorado June 21-24, 2006. Florida teams have excelled at the national event, bringing home first and third place trophies in the past two years.

For more information about the Middle School Science Bowl, contact Susan Schleith at 321-638-1017 or email Susan@fsec.ucf.edu. More information about the National and Regional Science Bowl competitions is available at www.scied.science.doe.gov.

The Florida Solar Energy Center, a research institute of the University of Central Florida, is the largest and most active state-supported energy research center in the country. Current research activities include solar water and pool heating, solar electric and distributed generation systems, energy-efficient buildings, alternative transportation systems, hydrogen fuel, fuel cells and other energy areas. For more information about the center, visit www.fsec.ucf.edu or call the FSEC Pubic Information Office at (321) 638-1015.

Florida Solar Energy Center Launches Revamped Hydrogen Web Pages

The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) has launched new web pages for their hydrogen research and development program. The new pages include Hydrogen Basics: H2 Economy, H2 in Florida, Hydrogen Q&A; FSEC Research: Production, Storage, Utilization, Fuel Cells, Funded R&D, Analysis, Delivery, Detection/Safety, Patents; Education; Faculty and Staff; Capabilities and Facilities; Resources: Publications, Videos, Related Links, and a detailed Hydrogen Database. Read more

The Florida Energy Achievement Awards

The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) is pleased to announce the creation of the “Florida Energy Achievement Awards.” This new annual award will recognize 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.

The award will be presented each October to recognize statewide leadership in sustainable energy savings. The selected winner will have achieved significant results in energy efficiency, conservation, energy education or the use of renewable energy in their facility or program. Read more

Florida Solar Energy Center Engineer to Present Workshop on Disaster Relief

A workshop on the “Basics of Using Solar Energy in a Disaster” will be presented at the Solar World Congress in Orlando, Florida, on Friday, August 12, from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. The course will be taught by Bill Young, a senior engineer at the Florida Solar Energy Center. Participants in the workshop will learn about the uses of solar energy for response, recovery and mitigation functions following disasters. Read more