Testing energy-saving methods

Florida will learn various energy efficiency methods, thanks to a UCF research institution.

The Florida Solar Energy Center finished its newest research facility for testing the best methods of energy improvement in homes all over the state.  

According to FSEC studies, by the year 2020, it is estimated that every household in Florida will pay $82 more per month for electricity than in 2011. This will happen because electricity costs are increasing while electricity usage is decreasing.

Robin Vieira, Buildings Research Director at FSEC, believes that to stop the problem of paying extra in the future, Floridians must use greater energy efficiency.

"We developed the new facility precisely to model a typical Florida vintage home and see what are the best methods to save energy in single homes, in communities, and in the state" Vieira said.

The two finished facilities are how regular homes were built in Florida prior to 1975, hence the term "vintage home."

The significance is that vintage homes make up 63 percent of Florida's more than eight million existing homes, which represent a substantial influence on the state's energy consumption and cost, according to an FSEC report.

The new facilities will use retrofits, or home energy improvements, such as efficient air conditioning systems and fluorescent lights instead of candescent lights.

The facilities consist of two side-by-side homes that will help researchers evaluate a variety of electricity factors that can happen in a typical Florida home that make a difference in how much the electric bill is. The homes have scheduled computers that will control the temperature, moisture and the appliances.

The monitored results from "playing" with the appliances will demonstrate all the factors that contribute to energy misusage here in Florida, Vieira said.

When conducting the research to build the homes, Vieira took in consideration all the details needed to make them the most energy efficient, and as he said, even the smallest actions can have the biggest impact.

Vieira first began with the buildings' design, making them the appropriate size. Both buildings were also perfectly oriented so that the sun didn't come through them at certain hours.

After the design, Vieira focused on efficiency, which means retrofitting the homes.

"Solar energy, unfortunately, is very expensive, but it can also be the most useful, cheapest and the most environmentally friendly," Vieira said. "However, if you don't have the right materials, your home will not generate good sources of energy efficiency."

Vieira has a few tips for college students on how to save energy and money.

"Everything that can be turned off, should be turned off," Vieira said. "TVs and fans, believe it or not, can consume the most energy."

At UCF, students have the opportunity to  become active in organizations committed to take care of the environment.

Chris Castro, the  campus outreach coordinator of UCF's Department of Sustainability and Energy Management, believes that it's never late to take initiatives to become energy efficient.

"My first initial thought is for students to get involved," Castro said. "There are at least ten different environmental organizations on campus, as well as campaigns and university departments that focus on sustainability and offer opportunities for experiential learning, student involvement and important networking, all while taking care of the environment."

In 2007, UCF President John Hitt signed the American College and University President's Climate Commitment, which stated the university's dedication to creating a sustainable campus and achieve carbon neutrality, meaning eliminating our greenhouse gas emissions and environment impact by 2050.

In addition to that mandate, Hitt requested to achieve a few other goals on campus, including meeting LEED requirements of all new buildings and raising the energy usage from renewable sources to at least 15 percent by 2020.

Although Florida may not be the greenest state, when it comes to home energy improvements, there's always one goal in mind, and one that researchers at the Florida Solar Energy Center are currently working on.

"The ultimate goal — not just for Central Florida, but for the state — is for all homes to be ‘Zero Energy Homes'," said James Fenton, director of the Florida Solar Energy Center.

A ‘Zero Energy Home' is one that produces the same energy that it uses by using retrofits to save energy.

"It may take a few years for this to happen, but as the numbers indicate, Florida is moving slowly towards the right path," Fenton said.