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

  • Spaces4Learning Announces Winners of 2025 Product Awards

    Spaces4Learning has just announced the winners of the 2025 Product Awards! The award program recognizes innovation and excellence in products that enhance learning environments in K–12 schools and institutions of higher education.

  • Kimball International Launches New Furniture for K–12 Classrooms

    Commercial furnishings company Kimball International recently announced the launch of four new products designed for a variety of professional environments, including K–12 schools, according to a news release.

  • FAU Starts Construction on Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building

    Florida Atlantic University recently began construction on a new academic building for its campus in Boca Raton, Fla., according to university news. The Kurt and Marilyn Wallach Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building will stand two stories, measure in at 22,000 square feet, and play home to the university’s Holocaust education and Jewish studies programs.

  • ClassVR Wins Tech & Learning Best of Show at ISTELive 25

    Avantis Education recently announced that its flagship product, ClassVR, won the Tech & Learning Best of Show Award at ISTELive 25 in San Antonio, Texas, according to a news release. The program is designed to celebrate products that are “transforming education in schools around the world and that show the greatest promise for the industry,” and this is the fourth consecutive year that Avantis has claimed the award.