SmartHeat at Threshold
Threshold Services has deployed a new technology for heating their
building. Do you ever wonder what happens to the used vegetable oil that
people and businesses drop off at Threshold Recycling? In the past they
have been using the clear vegetable oil in their waste oil furnace, but that has
led to a tremendous accumulation of waste oil sludge – the thicker stuff with
bits in it that stops up the furnace.
Threshold has been using a burner called a SmartAsh Burner for getting rid
of the sludge. It is a special burner that can burn the substance in a clean,
environmentally friendly way. Threshold's director Ken Reinke said, "It is
an excellent way of keeping the sludge out of the landfill, but it killed me to
see that beautiful heat just going up in the air."
Threshold received a grant from the Kodiak Island Borough to purchase the
SmartHeat unit. A generous non-profit break on the purchase price from
Spill Shield, Inc. in Anchorage and shipping help from Pacific Alaska
Freightways completed the project funding. Ken Reinke says, "It is a heat
exchanger that captures heat from the SmartAsh burner and transfers it into
our building." Ken Reinke again, "We are increasing diversion from the
landfill and lowering our heating costs at the same time."
Threshold is a non-profit corporation that was formed in 1984 to help people
experiencing disabilities and other barriers to employment with jobs and
training. They facilitate this mission by doing Kodiak's recycling.
Threshold press release