In an effort to lower long-term energy costs and carbon emissions, two New Hampshire school districts will team up with Honeywell International to build a biomass-fueled plant and to implement retrofitting programs.
The partnership will save the districts an estimated $3.7 million in combined energy savings over the next 15 years of their contract.
Honeywell, a New Jersey-based aerospace and engineering company, will build a biomass-fuel plant that will provide hot water for heating buildings throughout the designated areas in the Pembroke School District and the Winnisquam Regional School District.
Two schools from each of the districts will switch to the carbon-neutral fuel source, reducing fuel-oil consumption by 64,000 gallons and natural gas by 12,000 therms, resulting in the reduction of annual carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 720 tons, according to a Honeywell press release
Approximately 1000 tons of wood chips will be used by the biomass-fuel plant system annually, which will be provided by local suppliers.
“By using the guaranteed savings from the energy improvements, our district will be able to upgrade our buildings and reduce future expenses, all while lowering annual operating costs," said Pembroke School District superintendent Peter Warburton. "From an environmental perspective, the biomass plant helps reduce our carbon footprint, an added benefit."
Energy plans within the Pembroke and Winnisquam school districts will tackle delayed maintenance, needed infrastructure alterations, ventilation and temperature controls, outdated lighting, and other areas concerning energy efficiency. In addition, Honeywell will also provide classroom space in its bio-mass plant to allow the district to integrate renewable energy lessons into its vocational programs.
Upgrades and improvements will be financed by the districts. Energy produced and money saved by the schools over the course of the contract will go also go toward these concerns.
In addition, the districts will receive state assistance through the Qualified School Construction Bond program, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that offers low-interest loans for qualified renovation projects.
All upgrades are expected to be finished by November 2010.
"School districts nationwide contend daily with the impact of outdated equipment and fluctuating energy costs can have on their ability to deliver on their educational missions," said Paul Orzeske, president of Honeywell Building Solutions, in a press release. "By working with Honeywell, school districts can address deferred maintenance, reduce energy expense and implement renewable energy technologies without adversely impacting the bottom line."
LEARN MORE: WHAT IS BIOMASS-FUEL?
Biomass fuels supply 4 percent of the energy in the United States.
Biomass is organic material made from plants or animals. Biomass contains stored energy from the sun. Plants absorb the sun’s energy through a process called photosynthesis. The sun’s energy is converted into chemical energy through this process. The energy is passed onto the humans and animals that eat the plants.
Examples of biomass include wood, manure, crops, and some garbage. Biomass is a source of renewable energy because plants can always be grown and waste is ever present.
When biomass is burned, energy is released in the form of heat. This heat can be used to heat buildings or be converted into electricity.
In addition, biomass can be converted into other forms of energy. Garbage can be converted into methane gas, the main ingredient in natural gas. Sugar cane, corn, and some other crops can be fermented to produce ethanol. Left-over food products like vegetable oils and animal fat can produce the transportation fuel, biodiesel.
* Source: U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Information Administration