by Brianna Crandall — November 5, 2010—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is recognizing four facilities with the Energy Star Combined Heat and Power (CHP) award for using innovative techniques to generate power and thermal energy. EPA says these techniques have led to energy savings, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and decreased air pollution.
This year’s four award winners reduced the amount of carbon emissions equivalent to the emissions from more than 32,000 passenger vehicles, says EPA. The Gainesville Regional Utilities and Eastern Maine Medical Center CHP systems achieve operating efficiencies ranging from 60 percent to 70 percent compared to the efficiency of separate production of electricity and thermal energy, which is typically less than 50 percent. The Port Arthur Steam Energy and Landis Sewerage Authority CHP systems use otherwise wasted energy to generate electricity and produce thermal energy for use in industrial processes.
EPA explains that CHP is the simultaneous production of electricity and heat from a single energy source, such as natural gas, biomass, coal, or waste heat. CHP is not a single technology, but an integrated energy system that can be modified to suit the specific needs of the energy user. EPA’s CHP Partnership, established in 2001, is a voluntary program that encourages the use of CHP to reduce the environmental impact of power generation.
