University of Rochester Central Utilities and Energy Management recently installed a new boiler at their Central Utilities Plant, replacing an old, inefficient boiler. This is great news for sustainability at the University of Rochester. The new boiler will save energy, minimize costs, and reduce the University’s carbon footprint!
The boiler that has been removed and replaced was installed in 1954. This boiler was originally a coal and diesel boiler but towards the end of its lifetime only ran on diesel. In order to improve efficiency and decrease environmental impacts, the decision was made to remove this boiler and replace it with a new, natural gas powered boiler. Including the new boiler, there are currently four low pressure boilers (165 psi) and one high pressure boiler (900 psi). The new boiler will be one of the most efficient and eco-friendly of the five boilers.
The University of Rochester purchased the new boiler from a company called RENTECH, a boiler manufacturing company based in Texas. The boiler was shipped via train to Ontario, NY at which point it had to be escorted by state police to the University because of its large size. The boiler arrived in July and was installed in September. The boiler is located at the Central Utilities Plant, near the Medical Center Campus.
The new boiler is about 15% more efficient than the one it replaced, which will save both money and energy. It runs on natural gas rather than oil, which is much more environmentally friendly. The life expectancy of the boiler is estimated to be about 40 years. The energy that the boiler produces is used for both heating and cooling on the River Campus and the Medical Center Campus.
Environmental engineers are scheduled to complete performance tests on the new boiler to establish emission baselines and insure that environmental regulations are met. It is expected to be up and running by the end of November if all goes as expected. The new boiler “is a step in the right direction” states Alex Gales, Assistant Director, Central Utilities Plant. “It provides and allows the University of Rochester to provide sustainable heat for the University.” Richard Gardner, Operations Manager, Central Utilities Plant talked about how the University is “always trying to make conscious energy decisions with the environment in mind”. This new boiler is just one example of how the University of Rochester is dedicated to sustainability and reliability.
Written by Alyssa Lemire, Class of 2017