For registration, Contact the BCC Office of Continuing & Professional Studies: 718-289-5170
Tuition for each session: $300 for past students; $350 for first-time students

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Energy Project Analysis Software Training

The RETScreen International Clean Energy Project Analysis Software (www.retscreen.net) is a free software tool developed by the Canadian government in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme and NASA. The software can be used to evaluate the energy production, life-cycle costs, and greenhouse gas emissions from various types of energy technologies including: wind energy, small hydropower, photovoltaics, combined heat and power, biomass heating, solar air heating, solar water heating, passive solar heating, and geothermal heat pumps. The Center for Sustainable Energy recently partnered with the Canadian government to deliver the first RETScreen training of trainers on the East Coast at Bronx Community College March 3 and 4. Seventeen participants from eight regional organizations, including faculty from the New York Metropolitan Sustainable Energy Consortium, were trained on how to deliver RETScreen software training seminars. The Center for Sustainable Energy will be hosting RETScreen trainings on specific technologies over the next several months at BCC’s recently created RETScreen software lab. CSE is also seeking to deliver trainings in partnership with other organizations. Please contact the Center at (718) 289-5458 for more information, or email Wilson.rickerson@bcc.cuny.edu

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Free Public Session on Fuel Costs & Cars: What to Buy and What Not to Buy

The Center for Sustainable Energy will host a free public session on Tuesday, April 4 from 6 to 8 PM at Bronx Community College on “Understanding Oil Supply & Demand and Fuel Efficient Vehicles: What to Buy and What Not to Buy.” The session is presented by Art Vatsky, P.E., who has more than 30 years experience in engine development and technology evaluation. As a development engineer and project manager, he has worked for United technologies, Inc., Mechanical Technology, Inc., and John Deere Rotary Engine Division. A Technical Consultant since 1991, he has served many clients including the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) in its Alternative Fuel Vehicle Fleet Demonstration. In 1997, he formed his own consulting firm, Future Fuels Consulting. He has authored/co-authored several SAE and TRB technical reports and has written columns and articles for fleet and alternative fuel magazines. The discussion will take place in Begrish Hall 226 on the BCC campus. For map and directions see: http://www.bcc.cuny.edu/directions/directions.htm Please RSVP to Jim Quigley at 718-289-5334 or mail@csebcc.org

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$875 Million Available to Improve Energy Efficiency in New York State Homes and Businesses

(The following is from an official NYSERDA press release). The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority will hold a statewide series of forums in the Bronx on Tuesday, March 28 and Brooklyn on Wednesday, March 29, 2006. The forums will give residents and businesses the chance to learn more about $875 million in funding opportunities available through the New York Energy $martSM program. The Bronx forum will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 pm at Bronx Community College, Center for Sustainable Energy and the Brooklyn Forum will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 pm at the Pratt Center for Community Development, 379 DeKalb Avenue. Registration is encouraged, but not required.

NYSERDA program directors and staff will be available to provide New York businesses, industries, municipalities, and residents, information on how to take advantage of these public benefit programs. To ensure that vital energy-efficiency and research and development programs continue to benefit New Yorkers during electric utility restructuring, the State's Public Service Commission (PSC) named NYSERDA administrator of programs paid for by a System Benefits Charge (SBC) on the electricity transmitted and distributed by the State's investor-owned utilities.

“NYSERDA encourages people to attend these forums to learn about the financial and technical assistance available to help them reduce their energy costs,” said Peter R. Smith, President and CEO of NYSERDA. “Residents and businesses will receive information from NYSERDA’s staff about the different programs and services available, and how to participate.”

As administrator of SBC funds for the past eight years, NYSERDA has awarded nearly $900 million in SBC funds through its New York Energy $martSM program, resulting in significant reductions in energy consumption, annual air emissions and millions of dollars of annual savings on customer bills.

Estimated impacts of the program to date show NYSERDA reduced annual energy use by more than 1,700 million kilowatt hours and reduced energy demand by more than 1,000 megawatts. This is equivalent to serving the average annual electricity needs of approximately 240,000 residential homes. These programs are reducing energy expenses for consumers by more than $230 million a year and eliminating 1,500 tons of nitrogen oxide emissions, more than 2,700 tons of sulfur emissions, and more than 1.1 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Annually, these programs will help to create and retain about 4,450 new jobs in the State's retail and service sectors, as well as keeping energy dollars in local economies where they can be reinvested into businesses and communities.*

Further, improved energy efficiency and fewer dollars leaving the State to pay for imported energy provide economic benefits statewide. In January 2001, the PSC extended the SBC for another five years with $750 million in funding opportunities available for businesses, industries, municipalities, and residents throughout the State. In 2006, the PSC extended the program again for five years with an additional $875 million available.

NYSERDA kicked off the Statewide forums in Buffalo and moved on to Rochester, Syracuse, Watertown, Binghamton, Albany, Westchester, and now the Bronx, and Brooklyn during the month of March. For more information on NYSERDA, or to register for the forums, please visit web sites at www.nyserda.org , www.GetEnergySmart.org , or call 1-866-NYSERDA.

* The Center for Sustainable Energy wishes to point out that this reduction in electricity demand should have a bearing on calculations used to justify construction of new power plants, particularly those proposed for New York City.

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Volunteer Opportunities Available for Surveying NYC

As part of CUNY’s Million Solar Roofs Initiative, the Center for Sustainable Energy has partnered with the eTown Panel project at Baruch College and is currently designing a survey of attitudes toward green power in New York City that will be launched this Spring. The eTown Panel project is a web-based survey tool managed by Baruch College’s School of Public Affairs. The eTown Panel consists of volunteers that participate in online surveys about local New York City issues. Past surveys have dealt with recycling, noise pollution, local schools, local parks, emergency preparedness, and neighborhood quality of life. eTown Panel is looking for volunteers to join its pool of survey participants. If you are interested in signing up, please visit www.etownpanel.com for more details.

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 Kudos: Greater Long Island Clean Cities Coalition

Congratulations to Mark Riley of Clean Energy, the new co-chair of the Greater Long Island Clean Cities Coalition Market Development Committee. According to the GLICCC newsletter (http://www.gliccc.org/newsletter/gliccc_0602.pdf) Mark has founded and directed two coalitions– Granite State Clean Cities (NH) and the Valley of the Sun Clean Cities (AZ). Prior to joining Clean Energy in 2002, Mark was a consultant for American Honda Motor Company’s Alternative Fuel Vehicle department covering the Northeastern and Southwestern United States promoting the Civic GX. Mark can be contacted at: MarketDev@gliccc.org

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Tips: Hybrids and Earth Day

Have a hybrid car? Want to get it and yourself enrolled in an Earth Day project? Take the HybridCenter Earth Day Challenge hosted by Bill Nye the Science Guy. Take a look at real world hybrid owners, submit testimonials, and join the new HybridCenter Driving Change Network. Sponsored by the Union of Concerned Scientists. See http://www.hybridcenter.org/owners/bill-nye.html Earth Day is celebrated this year on April 22, see: http://www.earthday.org/

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Recommended Reading:

New York City's Solar Energy Future, Part I: The Market for Photovoltaic Systems in NYC, prepared by the Center for Sustainable Energy at Bronx Community College for the City University of New York’s Million Solar Roofs Initiative, January 2006. According to the report’s Executive Summary: “ New York City is home to some of the world’s most innovative PV installations, but the total amount of PV installed within the city is quite small. As of November 2005, there were 45 in-city PV projects totaling approximately 1.1 megawatts (MW). These installations generated an estimated 0.002% of the city’s electricity supply. Despite this small base of installed PV, New York City’s PV market has accelerated rapidly during the past several years. The PV market grew by 56% in 2005, and the average market growth rate during 2002-2005 was 31%. If the City’s PV market continues to grow at its current pace, it is estimated that up to 52 MW of PV could be installed within the city by 2015. Whether this potential is met (or exceeded) will depend largely on the policies put in place during the next few years.” For a copy of this report, please see: http://www.bcc.cuny.edu/InstitutionalDevelopment/CSE/Documents/CUNY%20MSR%20-%20Market%20for%20PV%20in%20NYC.pdf .

Photovoltaic Cells: Converting Government Purchasing Power Into Solar Power , by Holger Eisl, Barry Commoner and the staff of the Center for the Biology of Natural Systems at Queens College, CUNY, is a superb overview of the potential of PV to adapt to a changing marketplace. Written in 1993, the report helps illustrate the vital interaction between price sensitivity and production volume, and its role in an expanding market. These dynamics are as applicable today as they were 13 years ago when the report was completed. Contact Dr. Eisl at the Center for the Biology of Natural Systems at 718-670-4219 or see: http://www.bcc.cuny.edu/InstitutionalDevelopment/CSE/Documents/CBNS%20PV%20report.pdf

New York City Transit Hybrid and CNG Transit Buses: Interim Evaluation Results , by K. Chandler and E. Eberts, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, January 2006. This 64-page report is part of a series that compares hybrid propulsion systems with compressed natural gas (CNG). While fuel consumption on a per unit basis is higher for CNG buses, the CNG powered buses were fueled at a lower cost than hybrids during the reporting period (June ’04 to May ’05), but required higher maintenance costs. For copies of this report, see: http://www.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/avta/pdfs/heavy/nyct_interim_report_final.pdf

 See additional readings recommended by the Center at: http://www.bcc.cuny.edu/InstitutionalDevelopment/CSE/News_Publications.cfm

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EVENTS OF INTEREST IN THE AREA: 

Thursday, March 9, 2006, 7 PM - 8:30 PM, New York, NY

Reducing Home Energy Costs second in a series of Energy Town Meetings. Sponsored by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and Cornell Cooperative Extension. To be held at the NY City Cooperative Extension offices located at 16 East 34th Street, 8th Floor. Call Jean Vernet at 212-340-2913

March 16, 2006, 8:45 AM - 4 PM, New York, NY

Renewable Energy Made in Germany , German American Chamber of Commerce, New York sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and supported by the German Energy Agency (dena). The conference is free and held at the University Club, One West 54th Street. Call 212-974-8867 or see: http://www.gaccny.com/fileadmin/gaccny/downloads/flyer_web.pdf

Thursday, March 23, 8 AM - 3:30 PM, Mt. Kisco, NY

2006 Biodiesel Forum . Sponsored by the New York State Energy Research Development Authority at the Holiday Inn in Mount Kisco. There will not be any fee for the seminars. A continental breakfast, lunch and snacks will be provided free of charge. Contact David McCabe 1-866-NYSERDA, ext. 3281 or dsm@nyserda.org

Friday, March 24, 2006, 12:30 PM - 5:30PM, New York, NY

Meeting Tomorrow’s Energy Needs: Opportunities and Challenges in the Renewable Energy Sector The Energy Club at Columbia Business School. Alternative energy production technologies and value drivers in the renewable sector. Registration $10 to $30 http://www0.gsb.columbia.edu/students/organizations/ert/symposium.html

Tuesday, March 28, 2006, 5 PM - 8 PM, Bronx, NY

Cost Saving Ideas and Programs in Energy Efficiency, Research, and Clean Energy . FREE one-day events are designed for Businesses, Colleges/Universities, Municipalities, K-12 Schools, Building Owners/Managers, Homeowners and Renters. Bring your energy concerns and questions. Bronx Community College, Schwindler Auditorium, Meister Hall, University Avenue at West 181 Street http://www.nyserda.org/event-RoadshowFactsBronx.pdf and http://www.nyserda.org/events.asp

Wednesday, March 29, 2006, 5 PM - 8 PM, Brooklyn, NY

Cost Saving Ideas and Programs in Energy Efficiency, Research, and Clean Energy . FREE one-day events are designed for Businesses, Colleges/Universities, Municipalities, K-12 Schools, Building Owners/Managers, Homeowners and Renters. Pratt Center for Community Development, 379 DeKalb Avenue. http://www.nyserda.org/events.asp

Tuesday, April 4, 6 PM to 8 PM, Bronx NY

 Understanding Oil Supply & Demand and Fuel Efficient Vehicles: What to Buy and What Not to Buy , Art Vatsky, Future Fuels Consulting. Part of a public seminar series sponsored by the Center for Sustainable Energy (see article above). Contact Jim Quigley at 718-289-5334 or mail@csebcc.org

Friday, April 7, 10 AM - 12 noon, Mahwah, NJ

Tech for Development: Innovations for the Planet’s Poorest People, will be presented at Ramapo College of New Jersey. The discussion, to be held in Friends Hall in the Student Center on the College campus, is free and open to the public and hosted by the Institute of Environmental Studies. RSVP to Carmela Federico at 201.684.6227 or cfederic@ramapo.edu .

Thursday, April 13, 2006, 1:30 PM, New York, NY

Clean Cities Market Development Committee (a program supported by the US Dept. of Energy, see: http://www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/index.html). Interested in alternative fuels, alternative fuel vehicles, and the community of companies and advocates for them? Come to the New York Power Authority office on the 9 th floor, 501 7 th Ave. (@ 37 th St.). RSVP Michelle Brathwaite of NYC DOT at Mbrathwaite@dot.nyc.gov or call 212-487-6822.

Friday, April 21, 2006, 9 AM - 1:45 PM, North Branch, NJ

Environment & Economy, Perfect Together . A conference on the economic benefits of environmental progress. Sponsored by the Business and Public Service Department of Raritan Valley Community College; the Somerset County Business Partnership; the NJ chapter of the Sierra Club. For additional information, contact Dan Aronson, (908) 526-1200 x8238, or daronson@raritanval.edu See also: http://www.raritanval.edu/activityevent/eeconf06.html

Friday, April 21 & Saturday, April 22, 2006, 8:30 AM - 5 PM, Brooklyn, NY

 2-Day Workshop on Solar Domestic Hot Water & Space Heating . Sponsored by Quixotic Systems NYC, NY at the New York City College of Technology, 173 Pearl Street, Brooklyn. Cost: $525. To register, call (718) 552-1170 or see http://www.quixotic-systems.com/workshops/index.html

 Wednesday, April 26, 2006, 5 PM - 9:30 PM, Mahwah, NJ

Creating a Sustainable World . Strategies for world sustainability at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Contact Prof. Trent Schroyer tschroye@warwick.net

Thursday, April 27 to Saturday April 29, 2006, New York, NY

Peak Oil New York City Conference . The American economy and the lifestyle it supports are predicated on a cheap, abundant sources of energy. But times are changing. Regional experts in economic localization, sustainable food systems, alternative transportation, and responsible financial management will share their insights into the evolution of a low-energy, sustainable society. Numerous networking opportunities will be available with established local organizations that have already embarked on this vital transition. Contact Dan Miner at 718-786-5300 x 27 or email dan.miner@licbdc.org See also: http://www.energysolutionsconference.org/

Saturday, April 29, 2006, 9 AM - 4 PM, Long Island City, NY

Sustainable Design Seminar . One-day course on how sustainable materials and renewable energy strategies are integrated into the building design process. Instructed by LEED accredited engineers and sustainability consultants. Cost: $120. New York Designs at LaGuardia Community College, CUNY. Call 718-482-5960 or see: http://www.nydesigns.org/%20

Have a related event scheduled that you would like to see publicized in this newsletter or on our website? Send us an email at:mail@csebcc.orgAlso, please see our events listings at: http://www.bcc.cuny.edu/InstitutionalDevelopment/CSE/events.cfm

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The Center for Sustainable Energy, established in 2003 at Bronx Community College, City University of New York, was funded with a Congressional appropriation sponsored by The Honorable Jośe E. Serrano, and administered through the U.S. Department of Energy.

The mission of the Center is to promote the use of renewable and efficient energy technologies in urban communities through education, training, workforce development, research, and project facilitation. The Center supports clean energy development and energy conservation as the means to protect the environment, enhance public health, and position New York City to capture emerging economic development opportunities in the energy sector.

Tax deductible contributions to the Center may be sent to the address below. Checks should be made payable to “ Bronx Community College Foundation/Center for Sustainable Energy.”

 Center for Sustainable Energy
Bronx Community College , CUNY
Hall of Fame Terrace, GML 102
Bronx , NY10453

 Call the Center at: 718-289-5332

Email the Center at: mail@csebcc.org

Visit the Center website at: http://www.csebcc.org

 For links to the latest news, check out the Center’s news page at: http://www.bcc.cuny.edu/InstitutionalDevelopment/CSE/News_Publications.cfm

West 181st. Street & University Ave., GML-104 Bronx, New York 10453