Add as a preferred source on Google

Wesleyan University Installs Boiler that Converts Lost Heat into Electricity

  • By Matt Jones
  • 11/10/22

Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn., recently installed a new heating system in one of its residence halls that also generates free electricity, according to a news release. The SmartWatt Boiler by Enviro Power, installed in the university’s Butterfield student dormitory, converts lost heat into electricity and contributes to the university’s continuing sustainability initiative. This marks the first time that the technology has been installed on a higher-education campus, the news release reports.

The SmartWatt Boiler serves as a drop-in replacement for traditional heat and hot-water system boilers and generates clean energy at 98% efficiency. It contains an internal power plant that captures heat and steam lost in conventional boilers and converts it into free electricity. The boiler is easy to install and reduces a building’s total energy costs over time.

“We were excited to work with the forward-thinking leaders at Wesleyan and join them on their journey to become a more sustainable, energy-efficient campus,” said Enviro Power CEO Dan Nadav. “The SmartWatt boiler not only provides free electricity to the building, lowering energy costs, but it is an advanced system that delivers heat and hot water using the dorm’s existing infrastructure.”

The news release reports that the system was originally installed and tested at the Butterfield C dormitory, which measures 56,000 square feet. It launched when students returned to campus following the COVID-19 pandemic. The dorm stands three stories, has a capacity for 197 students, and includes a dining hall. The boiler provides hot water to the entire facility, and the electricity produced increases the efficiency of the heating system.

“The installation was flawless, and the new boiler fit seamlessly into our existing heating infrastructure,” said Wesleyan University Facilities Business Manager Jeff Murphy. “It works automatically to generate electricity, and we expect to bring this technology to other dorms and campus buildings moving forward.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • California K–12 District Opens New Athletic Complex, Gym

    The San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) in San Mateo, Calif., recently announced the completion of two new athletics facilities: a new gymnasium at Burlingame High School, and a new athletic training complex at San Mateo High School, according to a news release.

  • Texas District Finishes Construction on New Middle School, Admin Building

    The Westwood Independent School District recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Westwood Middle School and Administration Building in Palestine, Texas, according to a news release. The campus covers 106,000 square feet and has the capacity for 650 students in grades 6–8, and it will also play home to the district’s staff and administration.

  • Malibu High School Campus Completes $102M Phase 1 of Construction

    Malibu High School in Malibu, Calif., recently announced that it has completed phase 1 of construction for its new campus, a news release reports. The first phase consisted of developing and modernizing the site of a former elementary school into a new, 70,000-square-foot, two-story facility.

  • Elevating Campus Maintenance: How Power Wash Drones are Transforming Educational Facilities

    As today’s campuses grow larger and more architecturally complex, keeping exteriors clean, safe, and inviting has never been tougher. Facilities leaders are under constant pressure to stretch budgets, meet safety standards, and support sustainability goals—all while tackling the stubborn challenge of exterior cleaning.

Digital Edition