Go, Connect, and Win, with FSEC Energy Research Center!

Elizabeth Myron Energy News, Feature Story 0 Comment

American Made SOLAR PRIZE. U.S. Department of Energy.FSEC Energy Research Center (FSEC ERC) is proud to announce that it has joined forces with NREL as a Connector for the American-Made Challenges (AMC).

Entrepreneurs, are you ready for a challenge, an American-Made Challenge? Win cash prizes for your ideas that help to advance U.S. leadership in the energy industry. AMC is all about “Empowering American Innovators to Lead the Clean Energy Revolution.” Become part of this amazing opportunity by visiting https://americanmadechallenges.org/solve.html and if you participate in the Solar Prize Rounds, be sure to choose FSEC ERC as your Connector. The deadline to apply for the Solar Prize Round 5 is October 5, 2021.

What is a connector you ask? Connectors are an American-Made Challenges Network of national support organizations, such as FSEC ERC, serving as a critical component to a participant’s success. Our team of highly skilled solar researchers are here to support competitors in the solar hardware and software prize track by reviewing designs, conducting performance testing, providing field validation, and similar technical services. Our goal at FSEC ERC is to help participants win and turn their innovative ideas into marketable products.  

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Entrepreneurs: Are you ready for a challenge and a chance to win cash prizes? Enter AMC Solar Prize Round 5.

Sherri Shields Energy News, Feature Story 0 Comment

American Made Solar Prize U.S. Department of Energy logoClean 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.

 

FSEC Exhibits at Southeast Building Conference Orlando

Elizabeth Myron Energy News 0 Comment

FSEC and EnspectorPro pop-up displays and television displayed at Southeast Builders Conference in Orlando.FSEC Energy Research Center (FSEC ERC) was proud to support and exhibit for another great year at the Southeast Building Conference (SEBC). Held at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, this well-attended regional building industry expo and education conference was a success. The excitement on the show room floor was electrifying, as everyone was pleased to be out and getting ready for a productive second half of the 2021 building season. For those not familiar with this event, take a moment to visit their website, https://sebcshow.com/.

Kwik Model wins ACHR 2021 Dealer Design Awards SILVERTei Kucharski and Jeff Myron of FSEC ERC’s Buildings Research were there promoting EnergyGauge with Kwik Model 3D. This latest software application is a quick and easy way of creating 3D computer models of any home. The best news about this app is that you do not have to use CAD software or have CAD experience. The Kwik Model 3D graphical interface works exclusively with EnergyGauge and provides easy input to EnergyGauge. For the EnergyGauge users out there that are gamers, you will really enjoy the super realistic video game platform utilized by Kwik Model. It is definitely intuitive, fast, and fun. Try it out now at Kwik Model and visit EnergyGauge websites.

ACHR News, one of the largest HVAC contractor’s news magazines, was delighted to announce that Coded Energy, the developers of Kwik Model, won the Silver award in the Contractor Services and Software Category. For more details, see the ACHR News announcement. Read more

UCF Researchers Validate Simple Method to Minimize COVID Spread in Single-Family Home

Sherri Shields Buildings Research, Energy News, Feature Story, Press Release 0 Comment
Young woman waking up in her bedroom
Credit: Getty Images

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.”

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