Fueling the Academy
How will the Physical Plant respond to increased gas prices and the opening of a biodiesel plant in Green field? The first article in a series devoted to energy.

Peter Bernard '07

Perhaps this sounds familiar: although the outside temperature is well below the freezing point, the temperature in math class is set so unbearably high that all of the windows need to be opened. And perhaps this leads you to the questions: can't something be done about this? Can Deerfield really afford to waste so much money in such a manner?

Due to dramatic shifts in the petroleum-based fuel industry, Deerfield is experiencing some dilemmas due to excessive consumption of diesel fuel. Deerfield uses diesel fuel to heat buildings for the majority of the year and to fuel three buses.

Not only is diesel fuel becoming increasingly expensive, environmentally conscious alternatives, such as biodiesel, are becoming more popular and accessible, which makes it quite attractive to consumers.

Incidentally, a biodiesel plant, called Northeast Biodiesel LLC, was recently constructed in Greenfield, and has plans to begin product sales this autumn.

Biodiesel is made using vegetable oil and methanol. Approximately two million gallons of biodiesel are produced every year.

It appears, however, that no plans exist for Deerfield to endorse this alternative source of fuel. A shift from diesel fuel to biodiesel would mean a significant increase in cost.

Diesel fuel produces approximately 144,000 BTU of energy per gallon, while biodiesel produces only 130,000 BTU of energy per gallon. Thus. Deerfield would need to purchase more biodiesel to create a quantity of heat currently produced by the same amount of diesel fuel. Since the budget for heating is set, such a cost increase would not be currently viable.

Deerfield nonetheless attempts to pursue efficiency as much as possible in the established fuel-consumption paradigm.

"We cope by trying to be more efficient in running systems," said Director of Physical Plant Chuck Williams.

For example, during the summer months, Deerfield switches its heating system from diesel fuel to natural gas, which burns much cleaner than diesel fuel. In fact, the sole reason preventing the exclusive use of natural gas as fuel for heating is its availability: providers of natural gas are not able to supply Deerfield with enough gas to be used year-round.

Hence, another possible inhibitor of Deerfield's consumption of biodiesel: production at the Greenfield plant would probably not be able to support Deerfield in its entirety, simply because of the magnitude of the campus.

So, what about the excessively heated rooms? Nothing can be done immediately, but the problem will eventually be alleviated. This phenomenon of overheating occurs only in the older buildings on campus, which do not have thermostats for individual rooms, and thus have a significantly lower level of thermostatic control. Newer buildings, such as Louis Marx, John Louis, and Harold Smith dormitories, do have individual thermostat controls at each radiator.

"We're always looking for alternatives, technology's always changing," commented Mr. Williams on Deerfield's philosophy concerning fuel alternatives. But, at least for now, the seeming omnipresence of green is yet unable to pervade one aspect of the Academy: fuel.

As published in the October 12, 2005 issue of the Deerfield Scroll, the monthly newspaper of Deerfield Academy.