Baltimore County: Waste Wood as Energy Source

Baltimore County: Waste Wood as Energy Source

Baltimore County is working to evaluate the potential to use waste wood as a renewable source of energy for heating and cooling County buildings.

The Department of Environmental Protection & Resource Management(DEPRM), with the support of the Office of Sustainability, has entered a contract with the Maryland Environmental Service (MES) to determine whether a sustainable supply of waste wood exists that can be used for buildings such as schools and public works operations facilities.

The County is contributing up to $50,000 to the project, which will leverage $50,000 from a USDA Forest Service grant to MES.

The project also involves technical support from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources - Forest Service.

Using waste wood for energy is a renewable practice that has gained greater attention across the nation as new technologies have increased the efficiency of heating and cooling equipment while meeting air quality standards.

This practice is currently being utilized in schools in other states, including Pennsylvania and Vermont.

Renewable wood energy can help reduce fossil-fuel dependency and save valuable landfill space by diverting wood from the waste stream.

"This is an updated approach to a time-tested strategy that helps the environment on many levels, while potentially saving on fuel and energy costs," said County Executive Jim Smith. "Recovering wood from the waste stream and using it to heat and cool buildings is part of our community sustainability strategy."

This study was one of 121 recommendations prepared by the Baltimore County Sustainability Network, an advisory group made up of representatives from the business sector, conservation organizations and County agencies.