The home heating oil industry has a long and proud history, and Fuel Oil News has been there supporting it since 1935. It is an industry that has faced many challenges during that time. In its 77th year, Fuel Oil News is doing more than just holding
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/752478
www.fueloilnews.com | FUEL OIL NEWS | DECEMBER 2016 41 KEENE STATE COLLEGE HEATS WITH PURIFIED WASTE VEGETABLE OIL Keene State College says that it is the first, and currently only, college or university in the United States to heat a college campus with 100% purified waste vegetable oil. The college announced its achievement during Campus Sustainability Month (October), an international celebration of sustainability in higher education. The biofuel is a product of a proprietary refinement process used by a New England-based producer. The purified waste veg- etable oil is carbon neutral and currently heats 36% of the campus. Keene State intends to grow the use of the biofuel to heat more of the campus over the coming years, as it is a vital part of attaining the college's sustainability and climate commitments, in addition to cultivating a more diversi- fied and resilient heating fuel portfolio. During August 2016, Keene State met demand for heat and hot water entirely through the use of puri- fied waste vegetable oil. "Sustainability is a core value at KSC—in fact, the college was one of the original signa- tories of the American College and University P r e s i d e n t s ' C l i m a t e C o m m i t m e n t , n o w t i t l e d t h e C a r b o n C o m m i t m e n t . T h e College continues to develop projects and an overall plan to significantly reduce green- house gas emissions campus-wide," said Director of Campus Sustainability Cary Gaunt. "After checking with industry leaders, we have found that KSC is the only college or university to use purified waste vegetable oil to heat a campus." "Keene State College's decision to switch their heating fuel to 100 percent used cooking oil is an innovative example of reducing operational greenhouse gas emissions, supporting a local business, and improving the air quality around their campus. It's also a testa- ment to the many benefits of working toward the goal of carbon neutrality," said Second Nature Senior Manager Steve Muzzy, whose organization works with colleges and universities to advance principles of sustainability in higher education. The waste vegetable oil, with renewable energy incentives, offers a cost that is comparable to the No. 6 fuel oil that the college was using for most of its heating needs. Minimal upfront cost and staff time were necessary to begin using the waste vegetable oil derived biofuel, and the environmental benefits are significant for the campus and the greater Keene area. In addition to using vegetable oil for fuel, Keene State is making plans for its own used cooking oil to be recycled for use as heating oil. "I feel a great sense of pride being a part of a community that is actively searching for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. The progress that is being made shows the dedication and concern that KSC has for our planet," said Keene State environmental studies major and Eco-Rep, Victoria Drake. "The switch to purified waste cooking oil demonstrates how our campus strives to support just one of their many values. This step forward proves our commit- ment to sustainability, and I hope that it serves as an example for other colleges and universities as well." Reprinted with permission from Keene State College, Keene, N.H. J.D. POWER: SMART THERMOSTATS WINNING CUSTOMERS' APPROVAL Ease of installation and usage are key contributors to overall satisfaction with remotely controlled—or smart—thermostats, a rapidly growing market, according to the inaugural J.D. Power 2016 Smart Thermostat Satisfaction Report. The primary benefit of smart thermostats is conve- nience—63% of customers indicate they adjust their thermostat remotely—followed by 53% indicating automated temperatures when not home, and saving money on monthly heating/air con- ditioning costs, with 51% citing this as a benefit. While nearly two-thirds (64%) of customers installed the unit themselves vs. 36% who used a contractor/professional installer, the levels of overall satisfaction vary slightly between installation methods (873 among do-it-yourselfers vs. 883 among those using a contractor, on a 1,000-point scale). More than half (51%) of those who installed the smart thermostat themselves say it was easier than expected, while only 4% say it was more difficult than expected. "Smart thermostat customers are taking a hands-on approach to researching, buying and installing a product that allows them to have, in effect, a hands- off experience," said Jeff Conklin, vice pres- ident of utilities and infrastructure practice for J.D. Power, based in Costa Mesa, Calif. "The resulting satisfaction levels are promising, but manufacturers would be wise to focus on their customers' ease of connectivity and the benefits of smart thermostats." Connectivity issues, while minimal, affect overall satisfaction. Among the 15% of customers having difficulty connecting their system to the internet and the 9% of those having difficulty con- necting from their mobile app, overall satisfaction is 843. Among customers who indicate not experiencing any connectivity prob- lems, overall satisfaction is 899. The report also finds a high level of customer engagement before making a purchase. Nearly half (45%) of customers looked at consumer review websites, and 46% indicate those positive reviews were a reason they selected their smart thermostat. Following are some of the loyalty findings related to HVAC/HYDRONICS NEWS Keene State College's physical plant staff, from left: David Weeks, Cary Gaunt, Bill Rymes and Diana Duffy. PHOTO COURTESY OF KEENE STATE COLLEGE