Massachusetts Department of Correction Bridgewater Correctional Complex Combined Heat and Power system wins US Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star Award
The Bridgewater Correctional Complex (BCC) CHP, also known as cogeneration, was installed as part of a comprehensive energy savings performance contract completed in 2007. CHP is an efficient, clean, and reliable approach to generating power and thermal energy from a single fuel source such as natural gas. CHP can greatly increase the facility's operational efficiency and decrease energy costs.
"At the Bridgewater Correctional Complex, we use a 1.4 Megawatt natural gas fired combustion turbine (think helicopter engine) to produce electricity for use at the complexes four prisons and ancillary buildings. We then use the steam generated from the waste heat associated with the turbine's exhaust for kitchen operations, laundry, heat and domestic hot water," said Todd Gundlach, P.E., Deputy Director of the DOC Division of Resource Management.
The BCC Power Plant is being recognized for its significant pollution reduction and energy efficiency qualities. While enabling the DOC to meet its sustainability goals through onsite electricity generation, the environmental benefits like increased efficiency, reliability and reduced greenhouse gas emissions cannot be overlooked. In 2008, the plant's efficiency equated to an estimated reduction of 3,400 tons of Carbon Dioxide emissions. This reduction in CO2 is equivalent to the emissions of 565 passenger cars, over 350,000 gallons of gasoline, or the electricity needed to power 428 homes.