Green Heat

 There has been a common trend rising steadily year-after-year, not just in the United States but all over the globe. Since the Industrial Revolution, pollution levels in our world have been rising annually, making our Earth a less desirable place to inhabit. In response to the degrading atmosphere, people have developed new ways to sustain our current way of life but without the harmful residual content.

Bloomsburg University is no exception to this movement; its latest venture will make a big impact on emissions produced in the process of heating the residence halls and academic buildings, and will hopefully inspire other institutions to follow in its green footprints.

In an attempt to help the University and the community, Professor Nathaniel Greene, of physics and engineering technology, applied for the grant that has enabled BU to swap out one of five coal stoker boilers that are used for heating, and implement a new large capacity wood-chip biomass boiler. Thanks to the conscientious professor, the Department of Environmental Protection gave to BU the Harvest Grant of $500,000 dollars, which has paid for the biomass boiler.

"It's great to see Bloomsburg University take an active role in reducing its carbon dioxide emissions with the conversion of its boiler," said Professor Clark of the English Department.  "The burning of coal is likely the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in our nation, given that so much of our energy production comes from this source. Everything about coal is environmentally messy from extraction, to processing, to burning. Reducing the university's coal consumption by nearly 70 percent is to be applauded. I'd only hope that the wood chip substitute for coal comes from carefully managed, sustainable sources."

In hopes of improving the air quality around campus and the town itself, the biomass boiler will reduce Bloomsburg University's annual coal consumption by 67 percent and will take on most of the effort in heating the residence halls and academic buildings. The biomass boiler will lessen fossil-based carbon dioxide emissions by 26 million pounds per year, as well as stimulating the economy of wood-chip providers in the area. Due to the recent economical downturn, the providers have been hit hard, but thanks to BU's innovation they will receive a fair amount of business in their recent years of hardship.

Along with the new heating system, BU has made other attempts in preserving resources, which has led to savings for the university. Going green is ultimately beneficial to those who choose to pursue the path; BU replaced old shower-heads which were detrimental to the water supply, and has been saving about 8 million gallons of water per year since the switch. Five percent biodiesel fuel is being purchased for the maintenance fleet, and leftover cooking oil is sent to a biodiesel reactor that produces the necessary fuel in order to sustain the clean livelihood of the student "French fry" shuttle bus, which was also Professor Greene's doing.