January 18, 2010 Hartford schools to debut new heating system Home / News / Local
HARTFORD -- The Hartford Central School District has a new heating system that will burn wood chips instead of oil, a switch intended to reduce the districts cost for energy.
On Wednesday, the public will be able to see the alternative energy plant, the first of its kind in a New York public school.
The event, which is scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m., will include tours of the facility, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and speakers. Among the guests will be state Sens. Elizabeth Little, R-Queensbury, and Roy McDonald, R-Wilton, and state Assemblyman Tony Jordan, R-Jackson.
Also present will be a representative for U.S. Rep. Scott Murphy, D-Glens Falls, along with Hartford school officials and members of CSArch, the architect and construction firm from Albany that built the plant.
In December of 2006, residents of the school district approved a $15.7 million project to renovate and expand the school. It included $1 million to build the plant, which is located next to the school.
Thomas Abraham, the superintendent of schools, said the districts size and location makes the alternative fuel plant the better fit over burning oil for heat.
"It makes more sense for us for a couple of reasons. One, we are one campus, and two, we are near major wood suppliers," he said.
The district has spent up to $115,000 on heating oil in a year. A one-year supply of wood chips should cost $45,000. While the district will still need oil, it will purchase much less than before, enough to still save tens of thousands of dollars, Abraham said.
While no other public school in New York uses wood chips as an alternative fuel, schools and other facilities in Vermont have used similar systems for 10 to 15 years.
