The Energy Chronicle

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has listed EnergyGauge Summit Premier as qualified software for calculating energy savings for the energy-efficient commercial building tax deduction under Internal Revenue Code §179D.  This easy-to- use new software product also calculates LEED® building energy performance as well as energy code compliance. Released January 29 at the AHR EXPO, and approved this week by DOE, the 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. (more…)

The 2007 Southeast Regional Science Bowl competition will be held at the Florida Solar Energy Center/University of Central Florida (FSEC) on Saturday, March 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Fourteen teams from Florida will participate in an academic competition.  The top academic team members and their mentor from this Science Bowl will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. to represent the Southeast region of the United States at the National Science Bowl competition, April 26-30, 2007.

The Southeast Regional High School Science Bowl is a fast-paced question and answer contest in which students answer questions about earth science, physical science, life science, general science and math. (more…)