Monday, 2 March 2009

Living Energy, one of New Zealand’s leading suppliers of bioenergy heating systems, is about to install the first boilers in the country to heat schools with sustainably sourced wood chips. A 300 kilowatt boiler from the internationally renowned manufacturer, Binder, will be unpacked and delivered to Thames High School this week, with a 150 kilowatt system delivered at the same time to Henderson Valley School in Waitakere.

The new wood-chip boilers are replacing ageing coal boilers, which were removed from the schools over the summer period.  Outdated, dirty, difficult to operate and sometimes the source of considerable local air pollution, the schools are delighted to see their old coal boilers heading for the scrapyard.  Equipped with the latest features, the new wood-chip boilers have self-cleaning boiler tubes, ultra-low emissions and performance efficiencies in excess of 90%.

With the coal boilers on their last legs, the schools were interested in securing a green solution for their heating; Living Energy was able to demonstrate their Binder boilers could substantially reduce their carbon footprint, at the same time as providing considerable running cost savings against the available alternatives.  Biomass heating is a near zero-carbon resource and offers impressive cost benefits for a wide range of customers, as well as immunity from future carbon taxes.

Living Energy’s work with the two North Island schools is as a result of their success in formulating quality and fit-for-purpose solutions to meet the objectives of the Government’s Renewable Heating in Schools Programme.  Through this EECA-run initiative, which focuses on providing wood-based energy solution to schools across New Zealand, Living Energy were delighted to secure contracts for the installation of 6 wood-chip boilers funded under the programme.