Wood-fueled biomass boiler at Tok School in Tok, Alaska, saves district about US$350,000/year; some excess heat from boiler being funneled to commercial greenhouse to grow vegetables for students

Allison Oesterle

LOS ANGELES , February 12, 2014 (Industry Intelligence Inc.) – Tok School in Tok, Alaska, began operating a new wood-fueled biomass boiler to provide heat in late 2010, Alaska Public Media reported on Feb. 11.

That boiler was providing electricity in addition to heat by 2013, saving the district about US$350,000 per year, money that was used to hire a counselor and a music teacher.

The woodchips for the boiler come from local trees that have been cut down to reduce the risk of wildfires.

The boiler produces enough excess heat that the district was considering building a heat loop to provide heat to other community buildings. When the district could not secure the necessary funding, it opted to pump some of the extra heat into a commercial greenhouse to grow vegetables for the students. The district is still refining the heat loop idea.

The primary source of this article is Alaska Public Media, Anchorage, Alaska, on Feb. 11, 2014.

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