Solar Car Race Continues on St. Thomas

April 19, 2007 --The V.I. Energy Office is sponsoring two days of racing in its Junior Solar Sprint Race competition this year. The first race was held on April 13 on St. Croix and had 11 schools with 62 students participating from St. Croix and St. John. For filmed highlights of the event click here. Ten students won eligibility to travel to St. Thomas and run in the finals set for May 11 at Charlotte Amalie High School.
     Forty-two St. Thomas students from seven schools were originally scheduled to travel to St. Croix to compete in April but last minute complications caused the ferry to cancel the special trip for the students. For story by Carol Buchanan in the St. Croix Source, click here.
    Bevan R. Smith Jr., director of the Energy Office, said he knew this was a disappointment to the St. Thomas students, so he is scheduling another competition on that island.
     No trophies or certificates were given at the April 13 event to school teams winning in the design or speed categories event. The teams' design scores were tallied and they will be kept until the St. Thomas schools are judged using the same criteria. The top design teams were not announced. In the speed category on St. Croix  the Arthur A. Richards School was the big winner with teams from that school taking first and third place. The first-place team was comprised of Rahman Smart and Josh Eusbe. Second place went to IQRA Educational Center with teammates Eman Abdelghani and Amaal Idheileh. Third-place winners were Inle Amos and Jenell Watts.
     Susan Cissel form Kingshill School said, "My students had a wonderful time designing the car. The kids are very excited; they placed in the first heat. We got in on the tail end of the program; we hope to get started earlier next year."
     This year the event was blessed with sun, making the cars go relatively fast. Last year, several races had to be delayed because of heavy cloud cover.
     Each school was given three car kits by the Energy Office, which is a division of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources. The students used the motor and solar panel from the kits, but they could be creative with design.
     Don Buchanan, a spokesman for the Energy Office, said, "We were disappointed that the St. Thomas students could not make the event, but pleased overall with the performance of the schools that did participate. It was easy to see. The students were having fun and learning about the power of the sun at the same time."
     Students participating were seventh- and eighth-graders. For more information about the race call Don Buchanan at 773.1082, ext. 2239. Teachers and students who want to learn more about the race can click here and watch a video.-- dsl; or dialup.

Students set for solar car races on April 13

Students from 25 schools have started working on building solar power cars. The V.I. Energy Office has delivered three kits to each of the schools. The student will build cars from the kits in preparation for race day on April 13. The race will be held at Sunny Isles parking lot by Wendy’s Restaurant.
The five top speed teams will be recognized with trophies and certificates. The five teams with the best designed solar cars will also be recognized. The only real limiting factor on the students creativity is that the car was be strictly powered using the solar panel.
This is the 12th year that the V.I. Energy Office has sponsored the race. Each school will have three teams with two students on each team. About 150 students will be participating. Half of them will be traveling from St. Thomas and St. John for the event.
The V.I. Energy Office, a division of Department of Planning and Natural Resources, sponsors this event to encourage youngsters’ interest in alternative fuels and solar energy.
The Energy office is considering sponsoring a race of cars fueled by hydrogen next year.Teachers and students who want to learn more about the race can click here and watch a video.-- dsl; or dialup.

Participating schools this year include St. Patrick’s, Arthur A. Richards Jr. High, Good Hope, John H. Woodson Jr. High, Manor School, Elena Christian Jr. High. Country Day School Positive Connection, St. Mary’s, School of the Good Shepherd, Free Will Baptist, Church Of God Academy (Stx), AZ Academy, Iqra Educational Center,  Seventh Day Adventist,  Antilles, Bertha C. Boschulte, St. Peter and Paul, All Saints, Addelita Cancryn, Montessori School, Moravian School, Church ff God Academy (Stt), Julius Sprauve, and the St. John School.

Energy Office Awards Checks to Schools

Nov. 20, 2006 -- Principals from the Elena L. Christian Jr. High and the Pearl B. Larsen Elementary Schools each received checks for $22,500 from Leila Muller of the V.I. Energy Office this month. The two schools successfully applied to the Energy Office to become part of its Adopt-A-School Program.

The V.I. Energy Office, a division of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, initiated the program in 2004 to help schools with innovative approaches to energy education and energy conservation.

Both schools have had energy audits by A-Phix Maintenance Solutions and are awaiting a report on how best to make the school more energy efficient. The funds are to be broken down with $20,000 being dedicated to building retrofits and $2,500 to assist in the development of energy oriented curriculum.

Muller, who is a program monitor at the Energy Office, presented the checks to Maria Encarnacion at Pearl Larsen and to Willard John at Elena Christian. The funds for the grant came through the federally administrated Stripper Well fund. She commented, “These educators have shown a commitment to their students and community by taking part in this program.”

Bevan R. Smith, Jr., director of the Energy Office, added that he was very pleased with these two schools and their participation in the program. He said that the Energy Office is making an effort this month to also bring some schools from St. Thomas into the program.In her application Encarnacion said, “Pearl B. Larsen Elementary School was built in 1971 and, consequently, a host of energy problems exists.” She said most of the problems concerned lighting and air conditioning.

Energy Education Experience

Target audience(s):            Students, teachers, administrators, other school personnel, and parents throughout the Territory.

General Education Outreach

Target audience(s): Students, Motorists, General Public, Engineers, Architects, Installers, and Plumbers

The goal of this activity is to maximize energy, environmental, and economic benefits through outreach activities and increased collaboration at the community level.  The VIEO will coordinate outreach activities during Energy Awareness Month, Virgin Islands Energy Education Week, Earth Day, St. Croix and St. Thomas Agriculture and Food Fairs, and the Junior Solar Sprint (JSS) Competition.  The VIEO will conduct transportation energy efficiency seminars and promote electric hybrid vehicles.  Through collaboration at the state level, community presentations on EERE will be targeted to potential homebuyers of the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority programs and residents of the VI Housing Authority. Workshops will be offered to other government agencies, community groups, civic and professional organizations, and the general public at-large. For more information click here to e-mail Kinesha Sylvester.

Information Outreach

Target audience(s):            General Public

Given the critical state of the local utility’s efficiency that result in extremely high electricity rates, the goal of this activity is to inform the general public about EERE technology, programs, trends, and tips.  This will be accomplished via the Web Page, TV and radio spots, newsletters, fact sheets, and posters.  The specific objectives of this activity are media marketing campaigns for all functions and their activities, public service announcements, written publications, and promotion of the VIEO Web Page.  Additionally, the VIEO will implement a Territory-wide Energy Star Campaign through partnership with the EPA program. For more information click here to e-mail Kinesha Sylvester.

Discretionary Grant Program

Target audience(s):            Not-For-Profit, Government, Schools/Institutions

The Discretionary Grant Program (DGP) encourages and aims to expand EERE projects through competitive grant-seeking proposals.  The DGP seeks to fund EERE projects that benefit the entire community, or a significant percent of the population.  Funds will be awarded to selected proposals that include a cost-share (in-kind or cash) of at least 20 percent of the grant amount requested.  The DGP target population is not-for-profit organizations, government agencies, schools, and institutions.  Grants are available for Energy Research and Education, and under the Energy Education Mini-Grant Program.  Grant applications must demonstrate quantifiable energy savings or innovation. For more information about education programs e-mail Patricia Lord.