ENERGY AT SMITH COLLEGE

The Smith College heating plant burns natural gas and #6 oil.  It starts the heating season on natural gas and burns oil for the majority of the eight-month season.  The plant distributes steam throughout campus in order to make domestic hot water and to heat buildings.

Smith College purchases approximately 23,000,000 kWh of electricity each year from National Grid.  See the chart below to view National Grid’s energy sources.

Currently underway is the construction of a cogeneration plant to replace the old boiler system.  When the project is finished (February 2008), the gas fired turbine will drive a 3.5 megawatt generator, making 90% of our electricity.  The exhaust gases will generate up to 40% of our thermal load (steam), and the rest will be produced by one or more of three large boilers, probably burning #6 oil.  According to Gary Hartwell, project manager of the Smith College Physical Plant, Smith College aims to supplement #6 oil in the future with a blend of yellow grease (waste oil from fried foods).

Fun Facts

The Amount of fuel consumed by the boiler plant during a cold winter’s day could heat the average home for approximately 10 years.

The cogeneration project will save Smith College approximately $650,000/year in electricity purchases.

Smith college uses a 10% biodiesel blend (B-10) in its diesel fuel fleet, which includes the ride-on lawn mowers, the trash and recycling trucks, the loader, and various other trucks.

Renewable Energy

To read an overview of renewable energy from the Sierra Club, CLICK HERE

Western Massachusetts residents and businesses have the option to get all of their energy from the typical mix OR they can pay only a tiny bit more and invest in a significant percentage of clean, renewable, locally produced energy through programs like New England GreenStart. To see which businesses in the area are choosing to go the extra mile and support clean energy, CLICK HERE.  Herrell's is on the list!

Center for Ecological Technology, September 2, 2007

ENERGY POLICY

Cape Wind

"Cape Wind is proposing America’s first offshore wind farm on Horseshoe Shoal in Nantucket Sound. Miles from the nearest shore, 130 wind turbines will gracefully harness the wind to produce up to 420 megawatts of clean, renewable energy. In average winds, Cape Wind will provide three quarters of the Cape and Islands electricity needs."

CLICK HERE to read on and learn more about Cape Wind. To learn more about Cape Wind, check out the following links:

For ten easy things you can do, CLICK HERE