On-Farm Energy Conservation

by Blake Garner, Projects Manager, AMRV RC&D Council, Decatur, AL

With rising energy costs, energy conservation is becoming a concern all across the nation. To address this issue, Alabama Mountains, Rivers and Valleys (AMRV) Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council is doing On-Farm Energy Conservation workshops for farmers. AMRV RC&D has been working with the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) Energy, Weatherization, and Technology, and Program Manager Kathy Hornsby to coordinate these efforts.

Alabama businesses are facing rising energy costs. These additional costs are routinely passed on to the consumer through “energy surcharges” which offset the increased cost of doing business. Alabama agriculture is facing rising energy costs, but for the most part, is unable to offset the increases by raising the cost of their products. Agriculture is totally market dependent and thus higher energy costs mean lower profits or deficit spending. So, in order to stay in business, agribusinesses must cut costs internally. Energy use in the equipment barns, animal confinement units, lighting, fans, equipment and tillage practices are areas where significant cost savings/energy conservation can occur.

An important part of the energy audit process is having trained data collectors statewide. AMRV has been working with other RC&D representatives to train them to collect the data needed to perform an audit. This is important because there are key areas to look at on each farm, such as types of fans, light bulbs, and heaters. The training is designed to teach each representative the type of information that is vital when conducting an energy audit.

Awareness workshops for farmers are also very important components of this effort to teach farmers ways that they can become more energy efficient. Farmers are given insight into the audit process. One key point of this training is identifying smart retrofits that will teach them to examine the payback period before doing any type of retrofit.

As of May 24, 2007, AMRV has conducted eight awareness workshops, and three more are scheduled.  What we have learned that:

• There are many ways that poultry farmers can conserve energy on the farm.
• Lighting and insulation/sealing seem to be to areas where retrofits in poultry houses can be cost effective.
• Some companies, such as EnSave, produce information for farmers to find the most energy efficient equipment on the market.
• Payback period is very important in the farmer’s decision making process about any retrofits.
   

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