UNH: A Green Way

UNH

 A Green Way

UNH took the first step in becoming green in 2006. Their heat and power were combined together, this is called a cogeneration plant. This plant is supposed to save the university twenty eight million dollars, and will payback in twenty years. Also, a cogeneration plant reduced the amount of greenhouse gas by about twenty one percent in the academic year of 2006.

In 2007, UNH started an Eco Line project, with the help of Waste Management of New Hampshire, Inc. Waste management in Rochester is used for this project. Eco Line Project would use landfill material, and convert it into energy. The natural gas is piped down in an underground pipeline where it is purified, and then it is transported to UNH campus at Durham. This project provides eighty five percent of the energy to the main campus buildings, using methane as its source. UNH was the first university in the United States to have one of these plants. When the cogeneration plant and the Eco Line are combined they will ensure energy security. UNH is showing people how environmentally aware they are in their two different projects.

This is a great way to reduce fossil fuels, and become a greener society. I think other universities should follow UNH as an example. They are reducing their dependency on fossil fuels, and saving the university money. Maybe this idea will be used more in the future.

Sources:

http://www.sustainableunh.unh.edu/ecoline

http://unh.edu/news/cjnr/2009/may/bp19ecoloine.cfm