At Gutchess Lumber, we know a thing or two about wood. After all, we’ve been in the hardwood lumber business for over 100 years. In that time, we’ve learned a few things about what it takes to produce high-quality lumber. One of the most important aspects of our operation at our Latrobe, Pennsylvania manufacturing facility is our biomass heating system.

Our renewable heating method uses plant-based material, specifically wood chips, to create heat in our kilns. At Gutchess Lumber, we strive to use every part of the tree to ensure none goes to waste. This system has numerous benefits and puts wood chips and dust to use. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the details of our biomass heating operation.

The Gutchess Lumber Biomass Heating System

Gutchess Lumber uses biomass combustion to heat kilns that dry various hardwood products. The system consists of a biomass boiler that burns wood chips to generate steam. The Latrobe biomass boilers consume about 30 tons of wood chips per day to produce about 215,000 pounds of steam. The wood chips used in the system are by-products of our manufacturing process.

The Benefits of Biomass Heating

There are numerous advantages to using biomass combustion to heat hardwood kilns. First and foremost, it’s a renewable heating source that doesn’t rely on fossil fuels. It is arguably the more sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. This means that it’s an environmentally-friendly option that also helps to reduce our carbon footprint, as it is believed to result in lower CO2 emissions.

Penn State Extension in Westmoreland County visited Gutchess Lumber’s Latrobe location to see and learn about our biomass heating operation. In the group touring was Gary Musgrave who was studying market and pricing barriers in the biofuel industry at the time. He also wrote a follow-up article in the Penn State Extension News.

“The tour proved to be an eye-opening example of how renewable biomass can provide cost-effective heat for industrial applications,” Gary said.

At Gutchess Lumber, we’re proud to be at the forefront of responsible hardwood lumber production. Our biomass heating system is just one example of how we’re working to reduce our environmental impact and create a product that our customers can feel good about. If you’re thinking about switching to a responsible hardwood lumber manufacturer, we encourage you to contact a sales representative today to learn more about how we can help you make the transition.

As an environmentally conscious company, Gutchess Lumber is committed to doing what it can for the environment. The company is always looking for ways to improve energy efficiency and overall operational management. Gutchess Lumber was recognized by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NSERDA) for these efforts in a report.

Gutchess was excited to take part in the On-Site Energy Manager (OsEM) pilot program offered by NYSERDA. This new initiative offered greater insight into Gutchess’ energy consumption and potential cost-saving opportunities.

“I believe progressive companies will employ energy managers as a key component to controlling costs,” Gutchess Lumber Plant Engineer Ben Stuart said.

The goal of the program was to save around 7.5 percent of Gutchess’ annual electric usage. In the end, the results exceeded that goal. The actual electric savings totaled 10 percent.

Gutchess Lumber has been in operation for over 100 years and is one of the largest private employers in Cortland County and one of the largest hardwood producers in the country. The global hardwood lumber leader has made a commitment to sustainability, finding ways to reduce its environmental impact while still providing high-quality lumber products.

NSERDA is a public benefit corporation that promotes energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy resources. The organization works with businesses, government agencies, and residents of New York State to help save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. NSERDA provides technical assistance and other resources to help achieve these goals.

Gutchess Lumber will continue to look for ways to improve its energy efficiency and overall operational management in order to further reduce its environmental impact. For more on Gutchess Lumber’s stance on the environment and sustainability, click here.