January 30, 2009

UI Cuts Emissions, Saves $1M Per Year Burning Oat Hulls

Bookmark and Share Email this story Print this post Add your comments

In 2008, University of Iowa avoided emitting 69, 000 metric tons of CO2 by using one system to generate both heat and energy for the campus.

A member of the EPA’s Combined Heat and Power partnership, UI burns coal, natural gas and oat hulls at its power plant to generate about 30 percent of the electricity needed  – and all of the steam energy needed – for its main campus, university hospitals and clinics complex.

According to a university video, burning oat hulls – instead of just coal – saves about $1 million per year. It gets the oat hulls from a Quaker Oats facility, which is just a short distance away.

By 2010, the university plans to reduce its energy consumption by 10 percent and use renewable sources to generate 15 percent of all energy on campus.

Bookmark and Share Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Join the Discussion

Reader Comments

Good to see that IU is using CHP. I’m associated with Recycled Energy Development, a company that does CHP and other forms of energy efficiency for manufacturers and other large institutions. The potential with this technology is absolutely massive. EPA and DOE studies suggest energy recycling (of which CHP is the biggest form) could cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20% in the U.S. That’s as much as if we removed every passenger vehicle from the road. Meanwhile, costs would drop due to increased efficiency. We should be doing much more of this.

So why isn’t Quaker Oats doing this? Seems to me they could put good use to it too.

Get EL Daily in your inbox, subscribe to free newsletter

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

  • 11/20/2009
  • 11/19/2009
  • 11/18/2009

Recent Jobs

Post a Job
Jobs powered by Simply Hired

Comments and Discussions

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

JEONG CHUN PHUOC on EU Poised to Give Heavy Industry Free Carbon Permits
"“Competitive Intelligence in Environmenting : A Holistic Deal for..."

Philip Vandenberg on Building an Energy-Efficient Data Center Using Virtualization Technology
"Rob has implemented many best practices for data centres..."

George Hoguet on Rising Sea Levels Would Hit U.S. East Coast Hardest
"Want to add some pressure into the system? Check out the Facebook group -NO TV..."