Alternative Fuels

Agricultural Energy Assessments

Engineers at the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences are providing information to help animal and poultry producers reduce their energy bills and operate their facilities more efficiently. Due to the current high energy prices, the interest in energy conservation and alternative energy sources is soaring. USDA Rural Development has long had money available for cost share to encourage the use of alternative fuels and energy conservation measures on farms. The current situation has sparked an interest in using these funds to help farmers pay for renovations and improvements. One farmer wanted to apply for these funds to help pay for renovations to his poultry houses, but one of the requirements was to have an "energy expert" do an assessment of the farm to assure that the changes proposed are both economical and will indeed save fuel or improve energy efficiency. Cooperative Extension engineers in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering provided the needed energy assessment for this farm. The farm consisted of four poultry production houses, and the producer was proposing to re-insulate the houses, enclose the windows on one side of the house using spray foam insulation, install new energy efficient fans, and install energy efficient brooders. The assessment predicted an annual savings of 40 percent on LP gas and 15 percent on electrical energy. The grant was approved and the producer is currently in the process of making the planned upgrades. The primary impact of this program is to save money for animal and poultry producers and make them more efficient. In so doing, society reaps the benefits of reduced usage of energy resources and a reduction in greenhouse gases. (2007)

Sources

top