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.

“The EnergyWhiz Olympics grows a little each year, and this year’s event is the biggest ever. It’s exciting to see so many students learning about renewable energy and sharing their experiences,” said Susan Schleith, education coordinator at FSEC.

The newly-added Bright House Solar Energy Cookoff challenged students to design and build solar cookers, and also design and cook a recipe of their own creation in their oven. Student creativity and engineering skills illuminated in the solar oven designs. One solar cooker was made using an old water heater, while another used a traditional grill, but “fueled” it by using a lens from an old projection TV, intensifying the sun’s heat. The students’ culinary talents were also put to the test, and their dishes were judged on taste, ingredients and creativity; one team was even more creative and serenaded the judges while they were taste-testing.

The Energy Innovations program is a full-scale solar electric design and marketing challenge for middle and high school students. Each participating team designed and constructed a product or artistic work fully powered by photovoltaic (PV) panels, also called solar electricity, provided by BP. Teams also created marketing pieces, such as brochures, fliers, and posters, to accompany their products.

One of the most popular events each year is the Junior Solar Sprint (JSS), where students design, construct and race solar-powered vehicles. This hands-on competition, for middle school students in sixth through eighth grade, encourages scientific know-how, creative thinking, experimentation and teamwork. Awards were given based on vehicle design, quality of craftsmanship, innovation and vehicle speed. This year nearly 50 teams competed for the awards.

The Hydrogen Sprint, a competition for high school students in grades 9-12, allows students to design, build and race model-sized hydrogen fuel cells cars. This competition exposes students to hydrogen’s potential as an alternative fuel source and also gives graduates of the Junior Solar Sprint program an opportunity to continue designing and building alternative-fueled vehicles. Participating teams also give a 10-minute presentation on any aspect of hydrogen they learned about while creating their vehicle. The winner of this event ran 20 meters in just 5.16 seconds – the fastest time recorded among middle and high school students in the last two years.

Results of  the competitions are listed below:

6th Grade Junior Solar Sprint

• 1st place: Kanapaha Middle, Gainesville (Bam)
• 2nd place: New School Preparatory, Orlando (Care Car)
• 3rd place: South Seminole Middle, Casselberry (The Arrowhead)

7th Grade Junior Solar Sprint

• 1st place: Jupiter Middle, Jupiter (Mach 4)
• 2nd place: Edgewood Jr./Sr., Merritt Island (Screaming Red Ants)
• 3rd place: South Seminole Middle, Casselberry (World Traveler)

8th Grade Junior Solar Sprint

• 1st place: Hidden Oaks Middle, Palm City (The Flying Pig)
• 2nd place: South Seminole Middle, Casselberry (El Taco)
• 3rd place: Lockhart Middle, Orlando (Starlite Drive)

Overall Junior Solar Sprint

• Most Innovative Vehicle 1st place: Jupiter Middle, Jupiter (The Car Men)
• Most Innovative Vehicle 2nd place: McLane Middle, Brandon (Vibot 3)
• Most Innovative Vehicle 3rd place: Conway Middle, Orlando (The Silver Dawg)

• Best Design 1st place: McLane Middle, Brandon (Vibot 3)
• Best Design 2nd place: Jupiter Middle, Jupiter (The Car Men)
• Best Design 3rd place: Conway Middle, Orlando (Glitter Gadget)

Hydrogen Sprint

• 1st place Vehicle Performance: Edgewood Jr./Sr. High, Merritt Island (M-Jop III)
• 1st place Hydrogen Presentation: Edgewood Jr./Sr. High, Merritt Island (Racegirls)
• 1st place Vehicle Design: Olympia High, Orlando (Titan I Rocket)

• Overall 1st place: Edgewood Jr./Sr. High, Merritt Island (Racegirls)
• Overall 2nd place: Edgewood Jr./Sr. High, Merritt Island (M-Jop III)
• Overall 3rd place: Olympic High, Orlando (Titan I Rocket)

Energy Innovations

• 1st place Middle School Division: South Seminole Middle, Casselberry (The Amazing Squirt)
• 1st place High School Division: Olympia High, Orlando (S.T.E.M.S. – portable power station)
• 2nd place High School: Bayside High, Palm Bay (Solar Charged Electric Car)
• 3rd place High School: South Plantation High, Plantation (Preparation H – solar hydroponics)
• WOW! Award (most creative and artistic): Tie, South Seminole Middle, Casselberry (The Amazing Squirt) and Edgewood Jr./Sr. High, Merritt Island (Solar Powered Projection)

Bright House Solar Energy Cookoff

• Elementary 1st Best Design: Gardendale Elementary, Merritt Island
  (Sky is the Limit)
• Elementary 2nd Best Design: St. Martha Catholic School, Sarasota
  (Heat Wave)
• Elementary 3rd Best Design: St. Martha Catholic School, Sarasota
  (Steak Sweethearts)
• Elementary 1st Solar Cooking: New School Preparatory, Orlando
  (Beach Buddies)
• Elementary 2nd Solar Cooking: Gardendale Elementary, Merritt Island
  (Sky is the Limit)
• Elementary 3rd Solar Cooking: Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy, Melbourne (Rocking Crazy Wolfs)
• Middle School 1st Best Design: South Seminole Middle, Casselberry
  (The Spice is Right)
• Middle School 2nd Best Design: James Madison Middle, Titusville
  (Delectables)
• Middle School 3rd Best Design: James Madison Middle, Titusville
  (Del Sol)
• Middle School 1st Solar Cooking: Stewart Middle Magnet, Tampa
  (Solar Chefs)
• Middle School 2nd Solar Cooking: James Madison Middle, Titusville
  (Del Sol)
• Middle School 3rd Solar Cooking: James Madison Middle, Titusville
  (Delectables)

For more information about this and other K-12 educational events, contact Susan Schleith at susan@fsec.ucf.edu or 321-638-1017.

Additional Links

Link to Florida Solar Energy Center’s photo gallery:
http://media.fsec.ucf.edu/photos/2307-EnergyWhiz-Olympics-2009/index.html

Link to FLORIDA TODAY story:
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20090510/NEWS01/905100316/1086

Link to FLORIDA TODAY photo gallery: http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=A9&Date=20090509&Category=NEWS01&ArtN o=509026&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=1

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This series of online courses offers practical education from building science experts with more than 30 years of research and experience. These courses are appropriate for architects, builders, contractors, designers, educators, energy auditors, energy raters, engineers, prospective homebuyers and utility representatives.

During these tough economic times, builders are looking for ways to attract home buyers and the new government administration is concentrating on creating “green jobs.”  Zero Energy Homes provide an opportunity to accomplish both and save consumers money while reducing their carbon footprint. These courses will show participants how to maximize energy-efficient design, make the best “green” choices, and optimize performance from solar and home energy management systems.

The 12-course Webinar series begins June 3, 2009.

“We’re excited to offer online courses so we can reach a larger audience,” said Rob Vieira, Buildings Research director at Florida Solar Energy Center. “A unique feature of our Webinars is that most courses will include a video case study, showing the successful implementation of green building strategies – from design to occupancy,” added Vieira.

FSEC will offer two online courses each month, beginning on June 3. Participants who attend 10 of the Webinars and pass a quiz will receive a Certificate for Zero Energy Home Building. The complete list of courses offered in 2009 include:

1. Defining a Zero Energy Green Home – June 3
2. Designing a Zero Energy Green Home – June 17
3. Highly Efficient Water Heating Choices – July 1
4. Selecting Solar Water Heating for Zero Energy Green Homes – July 15
5. Selecting Windows and Walls for a Zero Energy Green Home – August 5
6. Constructing Roofs and Attics for a Zero Energy Green Home – August 19
7. HVAC Systems for Zero Energy Green Homes – September 2
8. Selecting Appliances and Plug Loads for a Zero Energy Green Home – September 16
9. Sizing and Selecting Solar Electric Systems for a Zero Energy Green Home – October 7
10. Using Your Home Solar Electric System for Emergency Power – October 21
11. Installation Considerations for Solar Electric Systems – November 4
12. Monitoring and Operating the Zero Energy Green Home – November 18

For more details about the courses and to register, visit www.floridaenergycenter.org/go/zero

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This series of courses will demonstrate:

• How to design and maintain a green building that has good indoor air quality
• How to make a building durable, comfortable and energy efficient
• How to protect buildings from mold
• What types of air-conditioning systems will cause mold problems
• What advanced dehumidification technologies are available for use in buildings.

“A recent study finds about 25 percent of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified green buildings use more energy than expected and about 12 percent use more energy than allowed by the building code. Our courses will provide the knowledge to address these issues,” said Rob Vieira, director of buildings research at FSEC.

The courses will focus on problems in commercial buildings, although the principles discussed will be applicable to all buildings. The FSEC buildings researchers will discuss such areas as ventilation requirements, humidity control, building envelope design, pressure imbalances, HVAC systems, window selection, vapor barriers and related issues.

Students who attend all five courses in the series and pass the exam in Courses one, two and three will earn an FSEC Green Commercial Building Design and Maintenance Certificate.

The courses and schedules are:

Course 1: “Designing Building Envelopes to Control Air and Moisture in High Performance Green Buildings,” Feb. 4

Course 2: “Designing and Maintaining Building Air Flows in High Performance Green Buildings,” Feb. 5

Course 3: “Designing and Maintaining HVAC Systems for High Performance Green Buildings,” Feb. 18

Course 4: “Design Charrette — Practice Design of a High Performance Green Building,” Feb. 19

Course 5: “Commercial Energy Code and Green Building Modeling Using EnergyGauge Summit,” Feb. 26

The cost of each course is $269. For more information about the courses or to register, visit: www.floridaenergycenter.org/go/courseschedule.

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