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NEWSLETTER
Center for Sustainable Energy
December 23, 2005

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College to Host NABCEP Entry Level Exam January 26
and PV “Refresher Seminar” January 24

The North American Board of certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) PV (photovoltaic) Entry Level Certificate of Knowledge exam will be offered to the general public on Thursday evening, January 26, from 6 to 8 PM at Bronx Community College. Pre-registration is mandatory. The exam requires a fee of $70 made payable to NABCEP. None of these funds accrue to the Center, which offers the exam as a courtesy, particularly to past PV students, and generally to those wishing to gain credentials in PV installation. Applicants who take the 2-hour, 60-question multiple choice exam are permitted to bring calculators with them and will receive the NABCEP certificate for having a passing grade of at least 65% correct answers.

The Center will also provide on a one-time basis, a complimentary “refresher” seminar for those who wish to prepare for the exam. The seminar will be held on Tuesday evening, January 24, from 6 to 8 PM, also at Bronx Community College. Contact the Center for Sustainable Energy at 718-289-5332, or email the Center at cse@bcc.cuny.edu for information about the refresher seminar and/or exam. For details about NABCEP see: http://www.nabcep.org/  and for the Entry Level Certificate of Knowledge see: http://www.nabcep.org/news.cfm?pr=39

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New Fleet of CNG Vehicles Rolled Out in Brooklyn

Some fifty people crowded into a conference room of the Manhattan Beer Distributors (MBD) facility in the Canarsie section of Brooklyn December 8 th to hear representatives from the company, local government, Keyspsan Energy Delivery, the New York State Energy Research Development Authority, and the New York City Department of Transportation describe a new compressed natural gas (CNG) fleet and fill station project dedicated that day. “We are excited to continue our commitment to cleaner air in New York City,” stated Simon Bergson, MBD’s President and CEO.

The Brooklyn project expands MBD’s CNG fleet to 30 trucks—including 15 trucks operated in the Bronx since 2002 and the 15 new trucks just added in Brooklyn. MBD has plans to further expand its CNG delivery truck capability to its facility in Wyandanch. The $5 million investment thus far has eliminated an estimated 280 tons of pollution into the air of metro New York per year, according to MBD. The latest expansion was assisted with a grant of $1 million from NYSERDA. 

Manhattan Beer Distributors, the largest single-market beer distributor in the U.S., became the first private company in the Bronx to operate a fleet of CNG trucks, and is now the largest private truck fleet fueled with CNG in New York City. More than reducing air emissions and reliance on petroleum, the truck operators and service technicians have reported superb performance and reduced maintenance. Engines and fuel tanks on the new trucks were equipped by Bell Power Systems and the new fill station with the capacity to fuel up to 30 trucks was developed by Air & Gas Technologies.

Manhattan Beer Distributors was presented with a Sustainable Energy Pioneer Award by the Center for Sustainable Energy during its “Road to Energy Independence” conference on alternative fuel vehicle technologies this past October. MBD has been widely recognized for its leadership in the use of clean vehicle technology. For more information on MBD’s program contact Nick Infante at 908-879-9978 or email nick@infamor.com

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“Energy Smart” Teacher Training at BCC

Bronx Community College (BCC) once again hosted a one-day workshop for the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project on December 3 facilitated by NEED’s Mr. Todd Rogers. Co-sponsored by the New York City Dept. of Education, NYSERDA, and the Center for Sustainable Energy, the workshop featured a series of hands-on energy project demonstrations to enable teachers to expand their science curriculum for grades K through 12. Some 50 New York City public school teachers from the Bronx were introduced to a variety of innovative “concepts of energy and sources of energy-- their use and impact on the environment, the economy and society.” This innovative program is designed to dramatize the importance of energy efficiency and conservation. “It was a wonderful experience for the teachers,” stated Dr. Reid Strieby, Senior Associate with the Center and a BCC Environmental Science Professor. “The NEED program is providing a critical link between science education and environmental stewardship.”  For additional information on NEED, see http://www.need.org, call 800-658-5753, or email nyworkshops@need.org

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Sustainable Energy Pioneers at Kings Point

The United States Merchant Marine Academy’s Alternative Power Program (APP) made history at the recent 2005 U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon Competition as the only entry to feature a solar home with a hydrogen-based energy storage system.  APP, in partnership with the New York Institute of Technology, developed an 800 sq. ft. house that derives its power from a photovoltaic array, stores energy through electrolysis, and powers a fuel cell at night.

“It was a lot of hard work,” observed Greg Sachs, the project’s chief engineer and Project Manager for APP, “but we’re very happy with the result.” Among the various forms of media coverage that were generated by the “solar-hydrogen house” was a sequence recorded for “This Old House” featuring a walk-through with Sachs. The house has one large living space, with a kitchen, bath, loft and roof garden. It was moved from the Mall in Washington and reassembled at the USMMA at Kings Point on Long Island.

“We expect it to be a working model so that we may gather experience from how it performs. It’s a research platform,” said Sachs. He went on to note that an agreement has just been worked out with the DOE’s National Renewable Energy Lab to set up long term monitoring of the structure’s operations so that it can be used toward shaping the rules of the 2007 Solar Decathlon Competition. APP anticipates an open house for public viewing in the spring. Look for further announcements here and at the APP website at:

http://app.usmma.edu  Greg Sachs can be reached at 516-773-5549. 

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Kudos

• Congressman Jośe Serrano signed an agreement earlier this month that provides a 40% discount on 8 million gallons of home heating oil for a number of low-income Bronx housing projects. The discounts were made courtesy of Citgo, a subsidiary of Venezuela’s state-run oil company. A variety of energy efficiency improvements to the selected buildings will be made possible from the savings. See New York Daily News, “ Venezuela Oil to the Rescue,” by Bill Egbert, 12/07/05.

• “Our Life and Times,” published six times per year by Local 1199 SEIU, devoted its entire most recent issue to extensive coverage of air quality, health impacts and environmental concerns. Its editor, JJ Johnson, addressing a recent audience at the CUNY Institute for Worker Education and Labor Studies about his work, urged more action on improving environmental conditions to protect the public from unnecessary health hazards. See www.1199seiu.org or call 212-582-1890.

• Biology Professor Charles Maliti is using photovoltaic (PV) cells to power an innovative research project at Bronx Community College. Soil and water throughout the Bronx is contaminated with toxic heavy metals like lead and cadmium. Prof. Maliti is conducting experiments in which rice plants are used to leech these metals out of the ground. Prof. Maliti will use a PV system to power a hydroponic screening model central to the experiment. Two PV panels will be installed on BCC's campus by Quad State Solar, a Long-Island based company. The PV will provide clean, reliable power to the Bronx Community College greenhouse while demonstrating the feasibility of replicating the experiment off-grid.

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Employment/Educational Opportunities

• U.S. Merchant Marine Academy seeks interns for its Alternative Power Program at Kings Point. Contact Greg Sachs sachsg@usmma.edu or call 516-773-5549.

• The Joseph S. Murphy Institute for Worker Education and Labor Studies, a CUNY partnership with organized labor, lists a series of immediate openings in management, research and administration with salary ranges from $28k to $73k. For a list of these job opportunities, call 212-827-0200. See also: www.workered.org

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Events of Interest in the Area:

Wednesday, January 11, 2006, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Poughkeepsie, NY

"Building Energy Smart: Can You Afford Not To?" Discover how the latest energy-saving technologies in buildings can save you money! (FREE, includes continental breakfast and lunch). One-Day Event for County and Municipal Leaders, Business Owners, School and Facility/Energy Managers, Architects, Engineers, Builders, Developers, Residential Homeowners and Renters and others interested in energy-efficient technologies. Technology experts will provide information and discussions on: High performance design; energy-efficient controls; ENERGY STAR lighting, heating and cooling; geothermal; photovoltaics; green roofing; energy modeling; and technical and financial support options. To register, please complete the online registration form at: http://www.getenergysmart.org/registration.asp?event=Marist College: Building Energy Smart&date=January 11, 2006   For more information, call Mid-Hudson Energy $mart Communities at 845-331-2238 or email bpteam@bpteam.org  Early registration encouraged.  Deadline is January 6, 2006. 

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Recommended  Reading:

Creating a Sustainable World: Past Experience/Future Struggle , edited by Trent Schroyer and Tom Golodik, The Apex Press, 2006, 340 pp. A fresh look at the challenges, barriers, and potential for achieving political, economic and environmental sustainability from an excellent cast of writers and scholars. Soon to be listed at: http://www.cipa-apex.org/  or phone 800-316-2739.

"New York City Energy Policy For 2006 and Beyond," by Marc Brammer, New York Climate Rescue; Dan Miner, Long Island City Economic Development Corporation; Jeff Perlman, Bright Power, Inc.; Richard Klein, Quixotic Systems Inc.; Dick Koral, NYC College of Technology; and John Nettleton, Cornell University Cooperative Extension. See: http://www.climaterescue.org/New York Energy Policy Proposal-2006 Exec Sum.pdf

“More Profit with Less Carbon,” by Amory Lovins, Scientific American, September 2005. http://www.bcc.cuny.edu/InstitutionalDevelopment/CSE/PDF_files/More Profit from Less Carbon - Amory Lovins.pdf

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Holiday and New Year Greetings

The Center for Sustainable Energy takes this opportunity to extend best wishes to all for a joyous holiday season and a happy new year.

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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 Representative Jośe E. Serrano, and administered through the U.S. Department of Energy.

The Mission of the Centeris to promote a stronger economy and a healthier environment through education, training and community involvement.

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
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