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The Vermont Experience with Wood Chip Heat in Public Schools. Bioenergy Conference, University of Georgia, August 30, 20

The Vermont Experience with Wood Chip Heat in Public Schools. Bioenergy Conference, University of Georgia, August 30, 2005. It’s all about the partnerships.

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The Vermont Experience with Wood Chip Heat in Public Schools. Bioenergy Conference, University of Georgia, August 30, 20

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  1. The Vermont Experience with Wood Chip Heat in Public Schools. Bioenergy Conference, University of Georgia, August 30, 2005.

  2. It’s all about the partnerships. The Vermont school wood heating initiative isn’t any one organization’s program, but is a partnership of various interested parties, including: • State Energy Office, with U.S. Dept. of Energy grant funding; • State Dept. of Forests, Parks and Recreation; • Biomass Energy Resource Center, which is supported with federal funding; • State Department of Education School Construction Unit; • Legislative support in the form of enhanced state aid; • Equipment vendors; • Design community; • School administrators and school board members; • School maintenance personnel.

  3. The VSA School Energy Management Program believes that the wood chip heating is good public policy for Vermont schools. • The energy source is renewable; • The fuel supply is local; • Most money spent on wood chips stays in the local economy; • Schools can reduce annual operating costs.

  4. Summary Data, FY ended June 30 2004. • 23 public schools. • 2.7 million building square feet. • Over 10% of public school student population. • Annual heating degree days: approx. 8,100. • Oldest system: 1986. • Newest system: 2004, with two more commissioned in FY2005 and two additional due in FY2006. • Wood fuel usage: 11,700 tons. • Equivalent fuel oil: over 700,000 gallons. • Average system operation: 75% wood, 25% fuel oil.

  5. Spaulding High School, Barre, Vt.:211,000 s.f. school in residential neighborhood.

  6. Impact on Forest Products Market. • 11,700 tons used by public schools in Vermont. • Average price FY 2004: ~$32 / ton. • Total cost: ~$372,000. • Primarily mill residues; some bole wood. • School and other building wood utilization is dwarfed by power generation and pulp mills. • Schools needs are concentrated during winter. • Schools are more particular about wood chip specifications and deliveries than are power generators and pulp mills.

  7. Fuel Sources for School Wood Systems

  8. Fuel Transport and Delivery “Walking floor” trailer Dump truck

  9. Automated Fuel Handling

  10. Wood-Chip Combustion Chiptec Combuster Messersmith boiler

  11. Typical Vermont School Wood Chip Specifications Size: Consistent size of 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" x 5/8" or smaller, allowing efficient movement through augers and mechanical systems. No extensive “stringy” wood chips (longer than permitted). Screening: Screened to ensure the size requirements above. Moisture: Consistent 35% to 45% moisture content (wet basis). No chips with excessive moisture (rain, snow, ice, etc.). Type: Hardwood only, to ensure highest heat (BTU) content. Sugar maple, oak, beech, and yellow birch preferred. No softwoods. Cleanliness: Free of dirt, rocks, metal, paints, and all other foreign materials. Legal: Meet all appropriate legal transport requirements. Unloading: Unloaded by self-unloading equipment (i.e., self-unloading van). Unloading must be done in a clean manner, without excessive spillage of wood chips outside storage area. Hours: Delivery to be during regular school hours, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., unless otherwise agreed. Weigh Slips: Weigh slips are required, unless otherwise agreed.

  12. Problem Chips Good Chips Consistent size, shape and moisture content

  13. School District Economics. • On a net BTU basis, wood chip heat costs roughly one-half fuel oil heat. This relationship continues to exist with August, 2005, fuel pricing. • In the Vermont climate, fuel energy cost savings can provide life cycle cost savings for a building as small as 50,000 square feet (20,000 gallons of fuel annually). • Semi-automated systems, not yet in use in any Vermont school, can further reduce minimum economic building size. • In large school buildings, the fuel cost savings can completely offset project capital carrying costs starting in the first year. • FY2004 fuel cost savings (total of 23 schools): $379,000.

  14. Policy Level Support for the Vermont SchoolWood Heating Initiative. • The Vermont legislature has authorized 90% state aid for life cycle cost effective renewable energy heating systems in public schools. Standard state aid is 30%. • The Vermont Department of Education encourages schools to consider wood chip heat for addition, renovation and new construction projects. • The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation is actively involved in in the initiative, particularly concerning fuel supply. • The State Energy Office supports the initiative by funding the School Energy Management Program. • The School Energy Management Program assists schools which are interested in biomass heating, and supports schools which already utilize wood chip heat. • The federally funded Biomass Energy Resource Center, P.O. Box 1611, Montpelier, VT 05601-1611, assists schools and others interested in wood heating.

  15. Jonathan T. Sturges 2 Prospect Street Montpelier, VT 05602 (802) 229-1017 VSASEMP@yahoo.com

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