New Age Energy
New Age Energy, a local New Jersey company, has won 1st place in the United States for the National Energy Globe Award. The company’s project is entitled “Tri-Generation Industrial Power Solar System,” a proprietary design created on behalf of Rutgers University’s Visitor Center. This design for a commercial-sized net zero energy building was one of 769 submissions from 111 nations.
In addition, from this field of almost 800 project submissions, New Age Energy’s design has been selected as one of three nominees for the Energy Globe World Award in the category “Fire.” (Projects in this category involve energy production, the use of renewable fuels, energy distribution and transport, energy utilization, and energy optimization.)
The winning system, designed by Erwin Bogner, President of New Age Energy, was intended to be implemented in the new Visitor’s Center at Rutgers University in Piscataway, NJ until lack of funding cancelled the project. Efforts are currently underway in the Governor’s office, the Board of Public Utilities and the private sector to restore the funding and put the project back on track. Bogner predicted that the renewable design at the Visitor’s Center will not only put Rutgers University in the forefront of leading renewable technology universities but will also serve as a model for future green net-zero buildings to come, and jumpstart a multi-
Most significantly, the Visitor’s Center is designed for a lifespan of 80 years with a renewable system that will pay for itself in 8, providing a significant positive cash flow to the University over the life-cycle cost of the building. Mike Betsch, CEO for New Age Energy, feels positive that the funding will be provided. “It’s just too important to let fall by the wayside,” says Betsch.
Worldwide Broadcast
The National Energy Globe award winners will be recognized in a television gala on April 14, 2009 in Prague, Czech Republic. The awards will be presented by renowned personalities such as Nobel Prize Winner Rajendra K. Pachauri and EU President of the EU Environment Council Martin Bursík. This gala, broadcast worldwide, will serve as the opening event for the informal meeting of the European Union environment ministers. The Energy Globe has been awarded annually since 1999, showcasing environmentally friendly and energy efficient projects from all over the world.
Design Details
Bogner’s design provides up to 100% of all electrical and thermal needs for any commercial-sized building via harvesting of energy from the sun and the earth. All electrical power is provided through a state of the art tri-generation solar system that produces electrical and thermal energy simultaneously. All excess electrical energy not used immediately is stored in a zinc bromine regenerative fuel cell for use during no-sun conditions.
The thermal energy from the solar system and the thermal energy provided by a closed loop geothermal system is absorbed by a refrigerant-
Cost Effective Renewable Energy
The renewable design intended for Rutgers University Visitor Center provides a cost effective system that will pay for itself in less than 8 years. Current lifespan of a building designed at the University is 80 years. The project would save the University hundreds of thousands of dollars over the life of the building.
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
