Solar Kiln - UW CampusThe Solar Kiln Project is a partnership between the Local Projects arm of UW EWB and UW Facility Services to design and build a solar kiln that will dry milled lumber harvested from campus trees. EWB Local Projects team members will design and construct the solar kiln between November 2015 and April 2016 for full use in late spring and summer 2016. The project is a component of the Salvage Wood Program and is funded by about $3,000 from the Campus Sustainability Fund (CSF) and possibly further funding from Facility Services. The Solar Kiln Project will save time, money, and campus resources associated with the removal of campus trees and allows for continuity in the narrative of trees on campus as part of UW’s sustainability efforts.
Project Lead: Connor Kafka |
Background |
“The purpose of the salvage wood program is to create a process for our urban trees to continue to provide value even after they have been cut down. Trees are removed on campus for a variety of reasons: disease, damage, safety, or planned as part of capital projects. Funding from the Campus Sustainability Funds allowed Facility Services to purchase a hydraulic sawmill to process campus wood into useable lumber. The CSF funding will also fund the design and construction of a solar powered kiln to dry the wood for use in indoor applications. The processed wood material will be used for student, faculty and administration projects, with opportunities for the College of built Environments programs and the needs related to CPO & Facilities Construction projects.
As trees are removed from the campus landscape and are incorporated into campus-wide projects, the story of that tree (its narrative) will hopefully become part of the project narrative. Through education and outreach efforts, the perception of trees on campus and urban trees in general will change to reflect the understanding that they have value beyond their time in the ground. Outreach and education through partners in the College of Built Environments, School of Art, Art History, and Design, and the UW Botanical Garden and Arboretum will also create opportunities for telling the story of a tree beyond the day to day campus audience.” - UW Campus Salvage Wood Program Proposal |