How we use energy at UNH
Number 6 fuel oil and natural gas are burned at the Central Heating Plant to produce steam and hot water. The steam and hot water are then distributed throughout the core campus to heat our buildings and provide "domestic hot water" at sinks and showers. Using "absorption" technology, we even use steam to provide summer air conditioning at Rudman Hall.
Number 2 fuel oil is burned at outlying buildings that are not connected to the central heating system. For example, number 2 fuel is used at The Gables. Number 2 oil is more expensive than number 6 oil, but it is cleaner burning and more suited to smaller furnaces and boilers.
Propane and natural gas are used for cooking, domestic hot water, clothes dryers and laboratory experiments. We are increasing the use of gas as an alternative to number 2 fuel oil for heating systems. Philbrook Dining Hall, Ocean Engineering, and the Printing and Mail Services Building are heated with gas. Gas is cleaner burning than number 2 fuel oil, and we don't have to worry about ground contamination from fuel oil spills or leaking oil tanks.
Electricity is used for everything! Air conditioning, office equipment, lights, elevators, you name it. We even use electricity for heating. Williamson, Christensen, Hubbard, Babcock and Stoke are totally electrically heated buildings!
