Engineering Commons^™

The Planet Janitor: A Symbol Of Global Concerns, Florida Solar Energy Center, Public Information Office

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Meet the Planet Janitor. A kindly. yet determined gent. He works at the Florida Solar Energy Center where he is a spokesman for energy-related issues. He illustrates the need to sweep up all environmental messes we've made. He reminds us to maintain our home - Planet Earth. He dramatizes our role as custodians of our children's inheritance. He knows and he shows how the individual can make a difference.

Renewable Energy Activities For Middle Grades, Florida Solar Energy Center, David Lahart

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) is a research and education arm of the State University System hosted by the University of Central Florida. The Florida legislature established FSEC in 1974 to conduct research in alternative energy technologies, to ensure the quality of solar energy equipment sold in Florida, and to educate people about renewable energy technology.

One method of disseminating research results has been through teacher education programs and the development of instructional materials. FSEC-developed materials are designed to teach science and social studies research methods and/or process skills. The units have been field-tested and correlated with student performance …

Radon Pressure Differential Project; Phase Ii Infiltration, Florida Solar Energy Center, James Cummings

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Testing has been done on 50 central Florida homes to assess and characterize house infiltration rates in new (age five years or less) Florida homes. These 50 were drawn randomly from a sample of 70 homes which had been previously tested to determine house airtightness, air distribution system leakage, and pressure differentials. The 50 homes had an average airtightness of 7.31 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals (ACH50). Significant leaks were found in the ductwork in a majority of homes tested, both on the supply and return sides of the air handler. When the air distribution system was sealed …

Radon Pressure Differential Project, Phase I, Florida Solar Energy Center, James Cummings

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Testing has been done on 70 central Florida homes to assess and characterize pressure differentials in new (age five years or less) Florida homes. Blower door testing was done to determine house airtightness and air distribution system leakage. The 70 homes had an average airtightness of 7.23 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals (ACH50). Significant leaks were found in the ductwork in a majority of homes tested, both on the supply and return sides of the air handler. When the air distribution system was sealed off, house ACH50 decreased to 6.42, indicating that 11.2% of the house leak area …

Electrical Use, Efficiency, And Peak Demand Of Electric Resistance, Heat Pump, Desuperheater, And Solar Hot Water Systems, Florida Solar Energy Center, Timothy Merrigan

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Eighty single family residences in Florida were monitored for two years in order to collect data on water heating electrical energy consumption, efficiency, and time-of-day demand. The homes were divided into equally sized samples of four different water heating systems: conventional electric resistance, heat pump, desuperheater and solar hot water systems. Electrical consumption for electric resistance water heaters averaged 8.3 kWh per day in Florida with an average water heating system efficiency of 82%. Desuperheaters used an annual average of 7.4 kWh per day at an annual system efficiency of 110% and heat pump water heaters used 6.1 kWh per …

Color-Rendering Of Daylight From Water-Filled Light Pipes, Florida Solar Energy Center, Ross Mccluney

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Water-filled light pipes can be used to transport concentrated beam solar radiation from a solar collection system to a utilization system, altering the spectral distribution of the radiation in a beneficial way in the process. One use for such a system would be for the daylighting of the core interior spaces of buildings, spaces that are far removed from outside walls or the roof and are therefore not amenable to conventional daylighting with sidelights or toplights. The filtering action of the water can be used to remove unwanted infrared and ultraviolet radiation while affecting the visible portion of the radiation …

Monitored Performance Enhancement Of A Radiant Barrier Automobile Window Shade, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) has monitored several automobiles in order to investigate how hot interior temperatures in parked cars might be reduced through the use of improved technology car shades. We observed interior temperatures in un-shaded stationary automobiles in Cape Canaveral, Florida to commonly reach 150° F and dashboard temperatures to rise to nearly 200° F. We found the addition of a conventional cardboard car shade behind the automobile windshield on sunny days to reduce the interior air temperatures by an average of 15° F. Dashboard temperatures were reduced by 40° F.

We found radiant barrier system (RBS) …

Dealing With Heat & Humidity In Florida Homes, Florida Solar Energy Center, Robin Vieira

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Energy conservation is the solution to the problem of high electric bills. Much is known about home heating conservation, but conservation measures for cooling are not as well-known or widely practiced. This energy note focuses on heat and humidity sources that cause Floridians to run their air conditioners. It also presents conservation techniques that will reduce those air-conditioning requirements.

Monitored Residential Space Cooling Electricity Consumption In A Hot-Humid Climage: Magnitude, Variation And Reduction From Retrofits, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

There are few end-use studies that report monitored space cooling energy consumption for residential buildings in hot-humid climates. This paper reports data from 25 occupied single-family houses in Palm Beach County, Florida (Messenger et.al. 1982). The houses were first monitored for one year in 1981 to establish their space cooling consumption. After the first year of monitoring they received a battery of retrofits predicted to reduce household energy use. Incorporated measures included conversion to high-efficiency air conditioners or heat pumps, added ceiling insulation, window films, awnings, zoned conditioning systems and ceiling fans. The houses were then monitored for an additional …