North America's Top Campus Sustainability Project Officially Opens

March 18, 2011

UNBC Bioenergy Building

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"From local employment opportunities in manufacturing, construction and ongoing fuel supply, these are the types of projects that will secure BC’s future for the long term.” - BC Premier Christy Clark

The University of Northern British Columbia is officially opening a bioenergy plant on campus today that is making the University a national leader in renewable energy.

The UNBC bioenergy plant takes wood waste that is already being produced at a local sawmill and converts it to enough energy to heat the University and reduce fossil fuel consumption by 85%. The new facility joins a wood pellet system on campus, which opened in 2009. 

Diagram of the Biomass Gasification Process
Download information on how both bioenergy systems and how they work (JPG).

"This is an important development for UNBC, but it's also very important for the local forest industry and the 621 communities across Canada that are reliant on forests. This facility is a showpiece that will serve as a unique platform for education and research," says UNBC President George Iwama. "Biomass is a sustainable, renewable energy source that is critical to the diversification of the forest industry and the communities that rely on it."

Construction of the bioenergy plant involved local companies and was only the 2nd building in Prince George built to  LEED Gold Standard. Its architecture features a variety of local wood products.

The bioenergy project has already won a number of awards:
  • Top North American campus sustainability project (tied with Harvard University) - Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
  • Northern BC Business and Technology Innovator of the Year
  • City of Prince George architectural design award
Project Funders:
  • Knowledge Infrastructure Program
  • Innovative Clean Energy Fund
  • Public Sector Energy Conservation Agreement
  • Community Economic Diversification Initiative 

Photos:

UNBC's Bioenergy Building on Campus
The bioenergy plant on campus. Download high-resolution image.


BC's new Premier Christy Clark cuts the ribbon to officially open UNBC's Bioenergy Plant. Download high-resolution image.


Locally sourced wood waste. Download high-resolution image.


Map displaying forestry-reliant Canadian communities and how bioenergy at UNBC is key to their sustainability. Download high-resolution image. 


Bioenergy plant interior. Download high-resolution image.

Contact :

George Iwama, President, UNBC - 250-960.5600 - george.iwama@unbc.ca
Doug Carter, Assistant Director of Facilities, Plant Operations, Sustainability, and Capital Projects, UNBC - 250.960.7059 - doug.carter@unbc.ca