| Issue No. 4: July 2005 |
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Would a U.S. "Prius Lifestyle" Make an Impact on our Oil Imports? Recent rumors on the Web have suggested that if everyone drove a car as efficient as the new Toyota Prius, the U.S. wouldn't need to import any oil. To find out if this were true or not, FSEC's Danny Parker assembled the pertinent research and crunched the numbers with his calculator to see how much impact we'd have on the oil the country imports now if everyone in the U.S. drove a highly efficient hybrid vehicle. TOP STORIES FSEC helps develop more efficient and durable solar cooker
Most research centers like FSEC depend on contracts and external funding to conduct their programs, and the image of a scientist pursuing grants as aggressively as pursuing his own research interests isn't too far from what often goes on. Sometimes, though, these same centers get involved in activities that don't bring in any money, but provide societal benefits that make the projects more than worthwhile. One such project at the Florida Solar Energy Center started five years ago when Philip Fairey got a phone call from Darwin Curtis, one of the founders of Solar Household Energy, Inc. (SHE). Curtis had lived in a number of places around the world during his career in foreign service, and he was a strong advocate of the use of solar cookers in societal development and environmental protection.Workshops target rural and agricultural communities
As part of a grant received from the U.S. Department of Energy's Million Solar Roofs Initiative, the workshops in Tallahassee and in Stuart examined qualifying renewable energy systems and energy efficient improvement projects. In addition, every aspect of the application process was reviewed using a sample application. To further clarify requirements, a question and answer session concluded the workshop. "Smart Paints" will help NASA detect hydrogen leaks
Because hydrogen is such a light gas, it can readily leak out from a storage tank, in transport or during use posing potential safety problems. Monitoring hydrogen storage and usage sites for leakage is thus a crucial step in a safe operation plan. FSEC researchers undertook investigations into hydrogen safety to assist NASA in readily discerning the presence of hydrogen leaks as part of the work currently conducted in the Hydrogen Research at Florida Universities project. Working on this research are Drs. Gary Bokerman, Nahid Mohajeri, Nazim Muradov and Ali T-Raissi."Green Roof" Project at UCF Testing New Energy Performance Strategy
The University of Central Florida's Student Union is the test site for an innovative research project that has built and is now monitoring a new roof with plant media and drainage systems that allow a layer of vegetation to grow on it. The project is being led by UCF's Stormwater Management Academy. FSEC was brought in by the state's Department of Environmental Protection to team with the campus researchers to study the energy impacts of the green roof. This building strategy can improve the facility's energy performance, air quality and the urban ecology without taking up any additional land. Green roof systems have been shown to reduce heat transfer through the roof, decrease stormwater pollutants and cut down on stormwater volume by naturally evaporating the runoff through the plant respiration process.Energy Educational Events Dominate Spring Months
April and May were busy months for the education department at FSEC. From facilitating the Middle School Science Bowl in April to sponsoring and coordinating the EnergyWhiz Olympics to hosting the Awards for Exemplary Projects in Energy and Conservation in May, FSEC staffers Susan Schleith and Penny Hall and their many volunteers highlighted energy in the schools in Brevard County and throughout Florida. NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY Florida's Miami-Dade County Passes Solar Jobs Ordinance to Attract Solar Manufacturing BusinessesMay 19, 2005, Miami-Dade County - The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners passed an ordinance sponsored by Commissioner Katy Sorenson designed to draw solar energy equipment manufacturers to Miami-Dade County. The ordinance allows solar manufacturing businesses locating to Miami-Dade to apply for incentives through the County's Targeted Jobs Incentive Fund Program to attract business investment, especially to economically depressed areas of the County. The new law also creates incentives for environmentally sensitive "green construction" standards for commercial and industrial buildings. For more information on Miami-Dade County's new ordinance, visit http://irecusa.org/articles/static/1/1116560213_1018302029.html. New NREL Fact Sheet: What is the Payback for PV? Producing electricity with photovoltaics (PV) emits no pollution, produces no greenhouse gases, and uses no finite fossil-fuel resources. The environmental benefits of PV are great. But just as we say that it takes money to make money, it also takes energy to save energy. The term "energy payback" captures this idea. How long does a PV system have to operate to recover the energy and associated generation of pollution and CO2 that went into making the system, in the first place? For more information on payback for pv, visit http://irecusa.org/articles/static/1/1116361774_1018302029.html Florida DEP Offices to Receive Hydrogen Fuel Cells June 16, 2005, TALLAHASSEE — As hurricane season gets underway, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is purchasing twelve hydrogen fuel cell systems. Operating on pure hydrogen with zero emissions, the systems will provide pollution-free backup power for a dozen DEP offices around the state. For more information on Florida DEP's hydrogen fuel cells, visit Homosassa Springs State Park Unveils Hydrogen Fuel Cell June 24, 2005, HOMOSASSA SPRINGS — Moving into the next generation of energy technology, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park today unveiled a hydrogen fuel cell system, which is now powering the park's Wildlife Encounter Pavilion. The partnership between the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Progress Energy Florida provides clean energy to the park and shares the benefits of emerging "next-generation" technology with hundreds of thousands of visitors. For more information on hydrogen fuel cells in Homosassa Springs State Park, visit |
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This newsletter has been produced by Ken Sheinkopf, Adrienne Henzmann, Sherri Shields and Dianne Wood. |
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In an effort to help farmers, ranchers and small businesses apply for grants offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Bill, FSEC conducted two free workshops in May throughout Florida. 
