What Does it Take to Heat Hope College?

Guest Writer: Anna Mayernik (’26)

Have you ever noticed those cane shaped pipes on both sides of the student center? In the winter time, they are decorated with red and white to look like candy canes. However, they are actually pipes that transport hot steam in order to heat up the building. These steam lines weave across campus like veins, all carrying steam to and from the heart- the single boiler plant that keeps everything alive. If this boiler plant were to shut down, Hope College would be in a lot of trouble and pretty cold. Instead of being warm and cozy in our dorm rooms and cottages while the lake-effect snow pummeled down, we would be shivering in heatless homes and classrooms.

How does steam heat up the classrooms and the dorms? In the boiler room, the building between Phelps and the Dance Center, there are several tanks that boil water using fire. When the water is boiled into steam, 50 pounds of air is used to push roughly six to ten pounds of steam to each of the buildings. The air then heats the buildings and runs back to the boiler room to be reused, being naturally cooled on its way back. This is an efficient and closed system, with 95% recovery on the steam.

On particularly snowy days, the heated sidewalks around campus are much appreciated by faculty, staff and students. The boiler plant is also to thank for this unique feature of Holland. As the water rushes back to the boiler room, it is cooled by the sidewalks as it melts the snow. This makes the boilers more efficient. Therefore, having more areas with heated sidewalks could increase the efficiency of Hope College’s heating system.

The water must also go through chemical treatment when it returns. The water comes as “hard” water, which can ruin the boilers. When the water comes in hard, it contains chemicals like magnesium and calcium, which raise the overall boiling point of the water. Instead, salt and more water chemical treatments help purify the water and turn it into “soft” water, so that it can be sent out again. This not only purifies the water, but less heat is required to generate the steam, making the system more efficient.

The boiler plant has had its fair share of difficulties. As some may recall, a tree from the Pine Grove was removed in the Spring of 2024. This was due to the roots of the tree puncturing a pipeline, causing the steam to leak. Also, running the boiler plant is incredibly hard work. As Michael Fairchild, our only boiler plant supervisor, says “I’m here 365 days a year unless I’m on vacation or sick.” Even on Christmas Day, Mike comes in to ensure that Hope College does not experience issues with heating. It is the dedication of the boiler plant staff that keeps us all warm.

As a member of Hope College, there are things we can do to protect the vulnerability of our sole boiler plant, and ensure everyone stays warm. By turning the heat down in the cottages and apartments, perhaps we can create an easier job for Mike and the rest of the staff. We can relate this idea to that of living with the seasons- adjusting our needs and wants to align with what nature is providing. Wearing warmer clothing and utilizing sunlight during the day can reduce our need for artificial heating, easing the strain on the boiler plant and the environment. In a broader sense, living with the seasons fosters a more sustainable relationship with our environment, promoting conservation efforts that benefit both our local ecosystem and the planet as a whole.

Turns out, the candy cane pipes near the BSC are not just for decoration, but they are more importantly providing essential heat to buildings from the boiler plant. This makes learning and living comfortable at Hope College and keeps the campus running smoothly.

(Featured image source: Anna Mayernik)