NDL Hearth Blog

Mount Anthony Union Middle School and MAU High School in VT invested in biomass wood boiler heating systems which have saved taxpayers more than $1 million.

The two Bennington schools are among 43 in the state that have gone to wood boilers in the past decade or so. After seeing the benefits of both systems first hand, James Marsden, director of building and grounds, said the investment was one of the best decisions the district has made.

“In the time that we’ve run these, we’re in excess of a million dollars in savings in what the district would have spent had we been burning fuel oil,” Marsden said. “We’re all awfully happy with them.”

One ton of wood chips creates an equivalent amount of energy measured in BTU’s as 80 gallons of oil. With each ton of wood costing the district about $58, and oil budgeted for $3 a gallon, last year alone the district saved more than $350,000 by burning 2,000 tons of chips instead of oil.

In a cold week, Marsden said the high school may burn 50 tons of chips to heat its 225,000 square feet of building — which means a reduction of 4,000 gallons of oil consumption.

Prior to the wood boilers, the high school burned from 110,000 to 120,000 gallons of oil a year. It is now down to burning just 30,000 gallons — which not only has a large impact on the cost of heating, but also the environment by reducing fossil fuel emissions.

To show how little oil-dependence the schools have now, last winter from mid-December to mid-February the high school used about 200 gallons of fuel — similar to what many households use over two of the coldest months.

Marsden said the goal originally was to rely on biomass for up to 60% of the district’s heat, but as operations have become more smooth that goal has increased to 80 percent. This past winter the middle school met that goal, while the high school was close with 73% reliance on biomass.

There was some fear of the smoke the wood boiler system would give off, but the air coming from the stacks has not caused any problems.

“When this is running wide open and you’re standing outside, you don’t even smell wood smoke because it’s only condensation coming out of the stacks,” he said.

The significant annual savings are being realized after large initial investments were made.

For more information on wood boilers for your home, business or town buildings, please contact Northeast Distribution, LTD.

Original article on Forest Business Network

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