Otago Polytechnic achieves outstanding air emission result

Wednesday 2 December

Otago Polytechnic achieves outstanding air emission result

As people march around the globe calling for action on climate change, Otago Polytechnic is celebrating “an exciting result” towards lowering its carbon emissions.

Since decommissioning its coal burners and replacing them with woodchip burners, emissions from heating have been reduced by 73%.

Furthermore, testing on its air emissions in August found the average particulate count across three readings was just 9 ± 1 milligrams per cubic metre. This is significantly below the limit of 50 milligrams per cubic metre set by the Dunedin City Council.

“One of the goals of Otago Polytechnic is to make a difference to the environment, and actively manage operations to reduce our carbon and ecological footprints. We are absolutely thrilled with the result, which is much better than we expected,” says Jean Tilleyshort Director of Sustainability, Otago Polytechnic.

“We tested the new burner/furnace units soon after their installation in May 2013 and the results were an average reading of 15 ± 1 milligram per cubic metre. In the two years since the installation of the woodchip burners, engineers have been able to fine tune the units and refine the fuel loadings producing a further reduction of 6 milligrams per cubic metre,” says Glenn Veart, Managing Director Air Resource Management.

“Otago Polytechnic can be seen as an example of how replacing old technology with new can have a very profound effect. At 9± milligram per cubic metre Otago Polytechnic are well under their limit, and it’s due to their investment and understanding of how important it is to reduce air pollution,” says Mr Veart.

“On any given day, Beijing can have particulate count of 250 milligrams per cubic metre or higher; that gives you some idea of how good Otago Polytechnic results really are,” says Mr Veart.

ENDS

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