Heating with wood
BRATTLEBORO -- Local landlord Jason Cooper wanted to cut down on the amount of fossil fuel he was using to heat his Brattleboro apartments and came up with a creative, money-saving solution.
With the cooperation of the town, he ran underground hot water pipes to five residential buildings he owns on Elliot Street and connected them to a wood pellet boiler.
He said the process went fairly smoothly, and he expects to earn back the cost of his $50,000 investment within five years.
Those interested in learning about how they can heat with biomass will have an opportunity to meet Cooper, ask him questions about his experience using wood pellets and tour his "mini-biomass district energy system" at the upcoming wood heat workshop and vendor fair May 14, hosted by Brattleboro Climate Protection, Brattleboro Thermal Utility, the Biomass Energy Resource Center and Brattleboro Savings & Loan.
Workshop attendees will learn the advantages of installing a wood-burning furnace, boiler or pellet stove in their home, business or rental property. Speakers will explain the different types of systems that are available and address the issues of fuel supply and financial incentives.
"I always like the questions, and I like to share what I've learned because this is all trial and error -- I made it up as I went along," said Cooper. "At this point it works well, so I like sharing the experience."
Local vendors of wood-heating products and services will also be on hand to answer questions about heating with wood.
Cooper went through a gradual process of switching his apartments from oil to wood pellet boilers about five years ago.
"I started with a smaller boiler that I put in my house; I wanted to be right there (to oversee it) before I committed anyone else to putting up with it," he said. "I was very impressed and very quickly put one in my office building for a year, then the next year I tied in the building next to it, then the next year tied in the one next to that one."
He said he was surprised at how willing Brattleboro Public Works was to work with him on the project.
"I asked to put hot water lines under the street, and they said no problem as long as I submit a plan ... once I got the lines under the street I tied in 11 units," he said.
Cooper's pellet boiler now provides heat for 20 units in five buildings.
"I believe anything we can do to cut down energy costs, especially fossil fuel use, is a good thing," Cooper said. "The increase in (fossil fuel) prices is very destabilizing not only to our economy but to our country, and we need to do everything we can."
The workshop will take place May 14 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Marlboro College Graduate Center at 28 Vernon St. Lunch will be served.