Municipal Heating Applications
Wood is an economically viable and ecologically friendly alternative to the high cost of fuels that many villages, school districts and home owners face across Alaska.
For commercial, industrial or large scale heating, a wood or combination wood/fuel boiler system is the best approach. Hot water can be piped long distances with minimal loss and multiple heat exchanges can be used isolate heating loops and hot water heating systems.
Typical large scale installations feature a dedicated boiler building which houses the boiler(s), controls and fuel management systems.
Case Studies
The following case studies provide a brief outline of existing systems which are applicable to many Alaska environments. They are intended to provide a basic understanding of what is possible and how cost effective a properly designed wood heating system can be.
Due to the difficulty in determining labor costs some case studies no not include them.
The products, trade names and systems listed are provided as examples only. UAF/CES does not endorse any product or system.
- Case study of Craig Alaska »
Schools & Swimming Pool heated with biomass
- Case study of Dot Lake Alaska »
Eight homes heated by a central wood boiler
- Oujé-Bougoumou District Heating System »
140 homes, 20 public buildings heated with wood/fuel boilers
- Darby Public Schools »
3 building campus saves $60,000 per year
- Nebraska State University at Chadron »
1.1 million square feet of campus buildings heated with wood
- Arbor Day Farm »
144,000 sq. feet of heating & cooling using wood fuel
- Opeongo Forestry Services »
Lumber mill uses waste to heat drying kilns
- Bright Family Greenhouse »
Innovative use of available materials yields cheap heat
- Green Acres Apartments »
Wood/fuel duel system reduces bills by 90% over electricity for 50 unit complex
Also see:
- On-line heat cost calculator
Compare the costs of different fuels - Home Heating applications
Learn how to heat your home most effectively - Wood availability by region
Learn what species are available to you, and what they may cost