Thar’s Btus in them thar hills – Biomass heating systems

Substantial savings on fuel is just one of the benefits demonstrated by the Darby schools’ new heating system.

The high cost of energy today is spurring interest in alternative fuels. As we wrote Jan. 10, ethanol distilled from grain has become the favorite (but uneconomic) fuel among some legislators. Wind energy is generating excitement as well. But anyone who’s interested in a cheaper, Montana-made alternative to expensive, dirty fossil fuel scarcely need look beyond our own back doors.

A great source of energy actually grows on trees. Wood from western Montana forests is a ready, relatively inexpensive but underused source of heating fuel for schools and other larger buildings. Most people think of wood heat in terms of wood stoves and fireplaces fueled with cordwood. A lot of rural Montanans heat their homes that way. But modern technology makes it possible to heat larger structures using wood-fired boilers. The savings can be substantial.

Just ask the Darby School District.

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/articles/2005/01/17/opinion/opinion2.txt