Cashmere High School heats with clean, green wood energy

In May 2008 Cashmere High School switched from coal to renewable wood energy to heat its site.

The new boilers produce around five times less particulate emissions than a typical school coal boiler. Carbon emissions have reduced by 216 tonnes per year. The wood-fired system is also 14% more efficient.

"There used to be soot and ash in the gutters. Now we just have clean, clean emissions," says Cashmere High support services manager Roger O'Regan.

Heating times can now be re-programmed from a desktop computer, and the daily job of cleaning out the boilers, has disappeared.

The estimated payback period for selecting wood pellets over diesel, is less than three years.