Engineering Tomorrow Builds Sustainable Heating System for Pennsylvania Forest Bureau
There are 2.2 million acres of scenic forest in the state of Pennsylvania, teeming with local wildlife and valuable resources. These resources — such as pure water, sustainable timber, and natural gas — need to be managed, preserved and maintained both for the habitats of plants and animals, as well as opportunities for outdoor recreation. Roughly 70,000 of those acres fall within the boundaries of Buchanan State Forest, which is named after the 15th President of the United States James Buchanan.
Some forest management practices are evident, such as harvesting timber, installing deer enclosure fences, implementing prescribed fires and spraying for gypsy moths. Others, while less noticeable, are also critical, such as buffering streams from timber harvesting or protecting areas of land to either conserve its wild character or shield a rare plant community. These tasks, carried out by Buchanan Forest’s rangers, foresters and entomologists, all need to operate out of a central hub.