renewable energy – Page 2 – The Energy Chronicle

Students Shine at EnergyWhiz Olympics

Sherri Shields Awards, Energy News May 15, 2009alternative fuel, alternative fuel workshop, BP, Bright House, car, competition, design, Energy Innovations, EnergyWhiz Olympics, H2, hydrogen, Hydrogen Sprint, JSS, Junior Solar Sprint, race, renewable energy, solar chef, solar cooker, solar cooking, Solar Cookoff, Solar Energy Cookoff, students, Susan Schleith, vehicle 5 Comments

Florida students have creative ideas for solving some of our world’s greatest energy challenges, and their renewable energy solutions were demonstrated at the EnergyWhiz Olympics – a series of day-long activities dedicated to students with an interest in alternative fuel technologies.

Nearly 700 students throughout Florida converged at the University of Central Florida’s Florida Solar Energy Center in Cocoa on Saturday, May 9, 2009 to compete in the seventh-annual EnergyWhiz Olympics. Events included the new Bright House Solar Energy Cookoff, a solar cooker and cooking contest; the Junior Solar Sprint, model-size solar car races; the High School Hydrogen Sprint, model-size hydrogen fuel cell car races; and Energy Innovations, a full-scale solar electric design challenge.

Energy Experts to Share Their Knowledge at Sunsational EarthFest

Sherri Shields Energy News, Press Release April 13, 2009A Living Sea, activities, alternative fuel, BCC Green Team, Brevard Community College, Bright House, demonstrations, Earth Day, educational, energy, environment, exhibitors, films, Florida Today, Gimme Green, green roofs, hydrogen fuel cell cars, Kilowatt Ours, movie, presentations, renewable energy, SolarWorld, tours, Who Killed the Electric Car? 1 Comment

Sunsational EarthFest, a new Earth Day event, will help residents learn about renewable energy, resource conservation and the environment in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.

The University of Central Florida’s Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) and the Brevard Community College Green Team will host the event on Saturday, April 18, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Everyone is invited, and admission is free.

Learn from the experts how to cut your energy costs without sacrificing comfort, the benefits of green roofs, the basics of solar energy and the latest research in alternative fuel technology. Tours of the center will also be offered.

Exhibitors and vendors will offer presentations, demonstrations and activities.
Solar energy, environmental and educational exhibits — including various types of alternative fuel vehicles — will be on display, and a farmer’s market will feature local organic food. Activities for kids include a bicycle rodeo, solar boat demonstrations, a bouncy house and face painting. In addition, the Middle School Science Bowl finalist teams will race their model hydrogen fuel cell cars.

The BCC Green Team will present free educational and environmental films, “Gimme Green,” “Who Killed the Electric Car?” and “Kilowatt Ours.” The BCC Planetarium and Observatory will present two showings of the movie “A Living Sea,” which is shown in IMAX, at a discounted rate of $3.

Sunsational EarthFest activities will be located throughout the north end of the Brevard Community College Cocoa Campus and at the Florida Solar Energy Center, 1679 Clearlake Road, Cocoa.

Sunsational EarthFest is sponsored by the Florida Solar Energy Center, the BCC Green Team, Bright House Networks, FLORIDA TODAY and SolarWorld.

For more information, call Susan Schleith at (321) 638-1017 or go to www.floridaenergycenter.org/go/earthfest.

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.

Renewable Energy Conference to be Held in Cape Canaveral

Sherri Shields Press Release May 25, 2007caribbean, conference, renewable energy, sustainability SATIS

A four-day conference on the use and development of renewable energy in the

Caribbean will be held in Cape Canaveral from June 3 to 6. “Renewables: The Road to Sustainability” is the seventh program in a series sponsored by Sustainable Applications for Tropical Island States (SATIS) and the Caribbean Solar Energy Society.

Bill Young of the University of Central Florida’s Florida Solar Energy Center is serving as technical contact for the conference, which will be of special interest to Caribbean government officials and people doing business in the Caribbean islands.

Solar energy technology offers significant potential as a major energy source in the area, as well as growing opportunities for jobs such as contractors and installers. Topics of special interest to government officials include energy costs and how to reduce them and using renewable energy as a critical power supply during energy outages and disasters. Business sessions include discussions of the latest markets for renewable energy in the Caribbean. Read more

Presentation on Renewable Energy in Disaster Relief Set for Feb. 22

Sherri Shields Press Release February 12, 2007Disaster Relief, renewable energy

A free presentation for the general public on disaster preparedness using renewable energy technologies will be presented at the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) in Cocoa on Thursday evening, 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 presentation by Bill Young, a researcher and disaster relief expert at FSEC, 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