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John Karakash, Resource Professionals Group |
Sustainable renewability of woody biomass fuel is reviewed, in the context of energy uses with the greatest thermal use efficiency and local sourcing potential. Biothermal heat and cooling systems enabling Near-Net-Zero status implement advanced equipment, technologies and methods commercially applied with success around the world, but underutilized in North America. Topics covered: fuel (quantification, preventing known handling problems, and source sustainability) and factors enhancing economic and environmental potential: (non-electric cooling driven by renewable heat, low-cost tools to evaluate single and multi-building opportunities and optimizing thermal capacity to reduce capital cost.