Central Heating Plant
Central Heating Plant
Steam at 100 PSI is 338 degrees Fahrenheit and true steam, like air, is invisible and can attain speeds up to 90 MPH as it travels from the heating plant to Johnson Hall. The UWRF heating plant operates 24/7 with a staff of seven.
The original central heating plant was attached to South Hall. The current plant went on-line in 1964 to meet the demands of future campus expansion. Three water tube boilers have the ability to burn coal, natural gas or fuel oil. In the spirit of sustainability, renewable fuel sources, such as compressed wood chips or grasses, are being examined to possibly replace the 3,700 tons of coal that would normally burn during the winter. Fuel cost for coal and gas is currently running about $750,000 per year and rising, making locally grown grass or wood a good fuel choice.
Anyone who is interested in taking a walk through the heating plant is invited, simply call ext. 3955 to set up a tour.
-- Submitted by Bill Girnau, Superintendent of the UWRF Heating Plant (September, 2007).
