Alternative Fuels

Alternative Energy and Conservation Program

The high cost of farm fuels is causing serious hardship for greenhouse and nursery owners. Natural gas and fuels for shipping plant materials has become the largest expense for owners, and the one expense they have the least control over. Faculty from the UGA Department of Horticulture and Ag Economics teamed up to develop a full-day educational program that would assist growers in evaluating alternative fuel sources, management strategies and ways to improve profits. The faculty took a three-pronged approach to the problem. The first effort was to develop a review program about practical alternative fuels, their economic considerations and the assessment of what needed to be done to change over energy sources. The second was to develop several economic spread sheets for "what if" analysis. The third was to develop an energy conservation program for greenhouses and nurseries that showed return on investment, or energy cost savings on an annual basis. A formal Extension bulletin is being prepared, and spreadsheets will be provided on a CD. Programs have already been given to grower meetings in Georgia, Michigan and Oklahoma. (2006)

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