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NYIT and USMMA Dedicate "America's First Solar-Hydrogen Home "

Old Westbury, N.Y., June 28, 2006: New York Institute of Technology's (NYIT) 2005 Solar Decathlon team dedicated their solar-powered home as America's First Solar-Hydrogen Home at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point, N.Y., on Monday, June 19, 2006. USMMA was NYIT's sole academic partner during the international competition that is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. The ceremony was held in conjunction with USMMA's commencement, where President George W. Bush delivered the keynote address.

The solar-hydrogen fuel cell home, which is now permanently located on the USMMA campus, is now officially open for tours and will serve as a renewable energy research and educational center for the academys Alternative Power Program (APP), which was founded in 2004. NYIT President Edward Guiliano, Ph.D., and Captain Douglas Brown, USMMA APP program director, each applauded the collaborative efforts between the two schools. Other speakers included Richard King, creator and director of the Solar Decathlon for the U.S. Department of Energy and Richard M. Kessel, chairman of the Long Island Power Authority.

The 800-square-foot house was originally constructed on NYIT's Old Westbury, N.Y., campus, disassembled into seven parts, transported and rebuilt at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., for the 2005 Solar Decathlon. The global competition, which ran from Sept. 29 - Oct. 16, 2005, featured 18 schools from 13 states, Canada, Spain and Puerto Rico, and challenged teams to originate and operate the most attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered home. Following the competition, the house was transported back to New York, rebuilt, and donated to the USMMA.

NYIT was the only finalist participating from the New York metropolitan area and the only school to use a hydrogen fuel cell for energy storage. Greg Sachs, USMMA APP program manager and the Solar Decathlon teams lead engineer, helped to ensure that NYIT's plans for hydrogen fuel energy came to fruition. NYIT has again been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to compete in the 2007 Solar Decathlon.

For tour information, please contact Greg Sachs, USMMA APP program manager, at 516.773.5549 or e-mail sachsg@usmma.edu. Visit www.nyit.edu/solar for more information about NYITs 2005 Solar Decathlon team or visit http://app.usmma.edu for more information about the APP.

About NYIT
NYIT is the college of choice for more than 14,000 students enrolled in more than 100 specialized courses of study leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees in academic areas such as architecture and design; arts and sciences; education and professional services; engineering and technology; extended education; health professions, behavioral and life sciences; management; and osteopathic medicine. As a private, non-profit, independent institution of higher learning, NYIT embraces an educational philosophy of career-oriented professional education for all qualified students and supports applications-oriented research to benefit the greater global community. Students attend classes at NYIT's campuses in Manhattan and Long Island, as well as online and in a number of programs throughout the world. To date, more than 69,000 alumni have earned degrees at NYIT. For more information, visit www.nyit.edu

About USMMA
The USMMA is a four-year federal service academy established in 1943 to educate and train students as officers for Americas merchant marine and U.S. Naval Reserve, as well as shape the future leaders of the nations maritime and transportation industries. The academy, located on the North Shore of Long Island in Kings Point, N.Y., offers accredited programs in marine transportation and marine engineering. Graduates receive a Bachelor of Science degree, a U.S. merchant marine officers license, and a U.S. Naval Reserve commission. All students spend a year at sea training aboard United States flag merchant ships. Enrollment at the academy is approximately 950 men and women.

Contact: Jason Selss, media relations manager, 516.686.7481 or jselss@nyit.edu.

For tour information, contact Greg Sachs, USMMA APP program manager, at 516.773.5549 or sachsg@usmma.edu.