UNBC Marks Earth Day with Two Projects

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 12:26 PM

Prince George, B.C.- The University of Northern B.C. is marking Earth day in two ways today.

1. There are ten expanded recycling stations being installed around the campus. This follows a vote on campus in January about the green initiatives that mattered most to (students staff and faculty) Of the 9 options presented (going carbon neutral, having more local food in the cafeteria, reducing waste, more sustainable transportation options, etc), recycling emerged as the #1 priority. The stations include space for recycling office paper, mixed paper, newspaper, and beverage containers of all kinds

2. The University is witnessing the first visible evidence of the University’s bio energy program in that the silo is being built. A crane will be on campus tomorrow to hoist the silo into place. Work has started on the installation of the pellet pilot project at the I.K. Barber Enhanced Forestry Lab. This project is a partnership between UNBC and the Wood Pellet Association of Canada and it has been funded by Western Economic Diversification. It’s worth just over $500,000 and will mark the first time that UNBC has used a renewable fuel source to heat part of the campus. To date, it has been 100% natural gas. The pellets will provide heat to the forestry lab and serve as a platform for research on emissions.

The pellet project is separate from the biomass gasification system announced recently by the federal and provincial governments.

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Posted on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 12:26 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: He spoke on April 22 2009 1:39 PM

I wonder what the impact is on the air quality for our city, or its ok, because its not industry.

Posted by: Furbink on April 23 2009 6:45 AM

The pellet project I can see IF those pellets were otherwise being shipped to Europe. Claiming that the biomass project is an environmental benefit begs the question of where the biomass is coming from. If the local power plants are already hauling biomass from >100km then this project only expands the transportation radius and one would have to account for those diesel emissions BEFORE claiming greenhouse gas benefit.

Posted by: Furbink on April 24 2009 6:10 AM

Just what I thought , logical thought = no comment!