Earth, wind and fire
The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry has had yet another development in the field of alternative energy resources with two additions to the local green movement -and it’s not just in Syracuse.
The Ranger School, a satellite campus of ESF located three hours away in Wanakena, N.Y., will be replacing a 20-year-old oil boiler with a new wood boiler that saves 8,200 gallons of fuel per year.
The new boiler will use 90-120 tons of wood chips and is expected to reduce the annual cost of heating by $30,000. Most of the boiler costs will be covered by a grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), said Michael Kelleher, the director of renewable energy systems at ESF.
‘Importantly the wood chips, because they come from trees, a renewable resource, will significantly reduce the carbon emissions from the boiler because as trees grow, they sequester or capture carbon from the atmosphere,’ he said.
‘We will use the Ranger School wood boiler project as a demonstration to help communities understand the environmental and economic benefits of utilizing wood as a source of heating,’ Kelleher said. ‘Another advantage of this type of system is that because the fuel (wood) is obtained locally, more of the economic benefits stay in local communities, rather than being sent to large oil companies and foreign countries.’
The boiler was developed in Europe and will be manufactured in New York by Advanced Climate Technologies, he said.
A wind turbine is used to meet all energy needs of the classrooms at Heiberg Forest, another ESF satellite campus located about 25 miles south of Syracuse.
The wind speed at the Heiberg site is expected to average 12.3 mph at the tower height of 100 feet, Kelleher said. The Endurance wind turbine is projected to produce approximately 7,000 kWh per year. The wind turbine cost is just less than $47,000, with a $26,000 incentive from NYSERDA. The net cost to ESF will be approximately $20,000, he said.
‘The energy use at the classrooms is similar to some New York homes, and the wind turbine is a good example of technology that homeowners on good wind sites can consider,’ Kelleher said. ‘Both projects are part of ESF’s efforts to reduce our carbon footprint and adopt more sustainable energy sources. We see the projects as providing environmental, economic and educational benefits.’
Students in the forestry department take frequent trips to the Heiberg forest site as part of their curriculum.
‘My brother makes regular visits as part of his forest management classes,’ said David Urffer, a freshman at ESF. ‘It gives students perfect field experience, even if you aren’t in the forestry department.’
ESF students demonstrate true dedication to the green movement by becoming activists in the community and educating the campus on environmental movements.
Rick Nelson, a sophomore environmental biology major, said he wants to help more people on campus become active in reducing pollution and sees the new facilities as a chance to educate students.
‘We’re trying to change people’s outlook on the world,’ Nelson said. ‘Students at Syracuse don’t care enough about the environment and need to realize how their actions affect the environment.’
Ryan Marcy, a sophomore environmental studies major, said wind turbines, like the one to be constructed at Heiberg, should be more widely used than they are.
‘The nation should be more proactive about the global climate crisis,’ Marcy said. ‘Institutions like SUNY-ESF have been leading the way in finding new resources, and it’s great to see ESF add two more facilities that promote higher research.’
Published on April 15, 2008 at 12:00 pm
