Farm Energy Field Guide
A Publication of the Maine Rural Partners Farm Energy Partners Network
Includes Training Material Presented during
Farm Energy Audit Training for Field Advisors: Structures & Fixed Machinery
January 14, 2008
Augusta Civic Center
All publications are available for download from this page. Most all resources are available in PDF format. A small number are also available as regular web pages, in which case the resource title links to the web version and the PDF link follows. The energy audit template is only available as an Excel spreadsheet and is labeled accordingly.
Farmers may also request a free printed copy of individual resources from this Field Guide by e-mailing cleanenergy@mainerural.org or by calling Maine Rural Partners at 873-2108.
Program Overview
- Farm Energy Partners Network (pdf), Maine Rural Partners
- Harvesting Clean Energy Program Brochure, Maine Rural Partners
- Pilot Project for Energy Audit and Energy Conservation Practice Adoption, Kennebec County Soil & Water Conservation District
- Energy Audit Flow Chart, Kennebec County Soil & Water Conservation District and Maine Rural Partners
- Farm Energy Partners Network Resource Guide (pdf), Harvesting Clean Energy Project, Maine Rural Partners
Training Materials
Program, Trainers and Participants
- Program
- Bio of Richard Hiatt, National Food and Energy Council
- Bio of Dick Peterson, Northeast Agriculture Technology Corporation
- Participant Directory
Morning Session: Understanding Farm Electricity Usage
- Overview of Agricultural Electricity Use, Richard Hiatt, NFEC
- Agricultural Lighting, Richard Hiatt, NFEC
- Energy Management for Dairy Farms, Dick Peterson, NTAC
- Dairy Farm Refrigeration, Dick Peterson, NTAC
- Vacuum Pumps, Dick Peterson, NTAC
- Fan Ventilation Efficiency, Richard Hiatt, NFEC
- Potato & Apple Storage, Fleece Washing, Poultry & Greenhouse Info (see Part III)
Afternoon Session: Advanced Energy Audit Training
- A Suggested Approach to Farm Energy Audit, Richard Hiatt, NFEC
- Dairy Energy Savings Calculators, DLtech and NATC
- Estimating the Efficiency of an Existing Ventilation Fan, Richard Hiatt, NFEC
Audit Template
- Excel spreadsheet: New Farm Energy Audit Template, AJ Ballard, Efficiency Maine
Sample Audit Reports
- Daydream Farm, NTAC & NYSERDA•FlexTech Services
- Aldermere Farm, Walk Through Energy Report, Maine State Energy Program
- Cooper Farms, Inc., Walk Through Energy Report, Efficiency Maine
Energy Efficiency
Agricultural General
- Dairy Farms Efficiency Checklist, Efficiency Maine
- Maine Dairy Farms Benefit from Energy Efficiency, Efficiency Maine
- Farm Energy Calculators, National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT)
- Reduce Energy Costs in Agriculture, Mississippi State University
- General Energy Management for Agricultural Facilities, Dick Peterson, NATC
Buildings and Lighting
- Efficient Agricultural Buildings, NCAT
- Energy-Efficient Agricultural Lighting, University of Wisconsin
Conservation Practices that Save
- Energy Conservation in Confined Animal Operations, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
- Integrated Pest Management, NRCS
- Living Snow Fences, NRCS
- Nutrient Management, NRCS
- Prescribed Grazing Systems, NRCS
- Windbreaks/Shelterbelts, NRCS
Cooling
- Well Water Pre-Coolers, University of Wisconsin
- Energy Conservation in Cold Storage and Cooling Operations, Jim Thompson, Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UC Davis
Fuel Usage
- Conserving Fuel on the Farm, NCAT
- Save Big on the Farm by Conserving Fuel, Washington State University
Greenhouse
- Greenhouse Energy Conservation Checklist, John W. Bartok, University of Connecticut
- Greenhouse Energy Consumption Web Site, Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University
- Energy Conservation for Greenhouse Growers, Mississippi State University Extension Service
- 10 Ways to Lower Your Spring Heating Bill and Save Money, Erik S. Runkle, Michigan State University
- Root Zone Heating for Greenhouse Crops, Steve Diver, NCAT Agriculture Specialist
- Solar Greenhouses Horticulture Resource List, Barbara Bellows, NCAT
Irrigation
- Energy Saving Tips for Irrigators, NCAT
- Maintaining Irrigation Pumps, Motors & Engines, NCAT
Motors
- Energy-Efficient Farm Motors, National Food and Energy Council
Potato and Apple Storage and Processing
- Energy Conservation in Cold Storage and Cooling Operations, Jim Thompson, UC Davis
- Potato Storage Research Shows Promise for Boosting Grower Profits, University of Idaho
- Paragon Farms — Potato Storage Facility Eyes VFDs, Focus on Energy
- Crop Storage: Potatoes, Focus on Energy, University of Wisconsin
- Ripe with Energy Savings, The Apple Farm Case Study, Efficiency Maine
- Opportunities for Energy Conservation in Apple Storage and Packing Facilities: A Case Study Example from Central New York State, DLtech, Inc. and NATC, Ithaca, NY, 2004.
Vacuum Pumps
- Vacuum Systems, University of Wisconsin
- Variable-Speed Milk Pumps, University of Wisconsin
- The Importance of Accurate Savings Estimates When Deciding to Install a Milking Vacuum Pump Variable Speed Drive, EnSave Energy Performance, Inc.
Ventilation
- Controlled Livestock Ventilation, National Food and Energy Council
- Gold Top Farm Case Study, Efficiency Maine
Water Heating
- Heating Water on Dairy Farms, University of Wisconsin
- Water Heating for Production Agriculture, National Food and Energy Council
- Energy Implications of Wool Fleece Washing and Drying, Northeast Agriculture Technology Corp, Ithaca, NY
Renewable Energy
Assessment
- Farm-Based Renewable Energy “First Steps,” Harvesting Clean Energy Project, Community Energy Partners
Biofuels
- Biodiesel: a Primer, NCAT
- Biodiesel: the Sustainability Dimensions, NCAT
- Ethanol Opportunities and Questions, NCAT
- Biodiesel Production on Farm, Piedmont Biofuels
- Biofuels and Other Energy Production Options for the Farm, Climate and Farming.org
- Considerations for Diversifying the Farm Portfolio to Include Biofuels, Climate and Farming.org
- Case study: On-farm Biodiesel Production from Waste Vegetable Oil, Climate and Farming.org
- Case study: Waste Vegetable Oil for Heating Greenhouses, Climate and Farming.org
Biomass
- Growing Energy on the Farm, Union of Concerned Scientists
- Anaerobic Digestion of Animal Wastes: Factors to Consider, NCAT
- Case study: Manure Digester to Generate On-Farm Heat, Climate and Farming.org
- Case study: Carbon-Trading Opportunities, Climate and Farming.org
Solar
- Solar Energy for Your Home and Business, Maine State Energy Program
- Up with the Sun: Solar Energy & Agriculture, Union of Concerned Scientists
- Solar-Powered Livestock-Watering Systems, NCAT
- Solar Energy Applications for Agriculture, NYSERDA
- Passive and Active Solar Domestic Hot Water Systems, North Carolina Solar Center
- Solar Energy and You, North Carolina Solar Center
- Case study: Closed-Loop Biodiesel Production on the Farm, Climate and Farming.org
Wind
- Wind-Powered Electric Systems for Homes, Farms, and Ranches, NCAT
- Farming the Wind, Union of Concerned Scientists
- Case study: Installing a Used Wind System to Produce On-Farm Electricity, Climate and Farming.org
- Small Wind Electric Systems: A U.S. Consumer’s Guide, Wind Powering America
Implementation Assistance
- Financial Resource Guide (pdf), Harvesting Clean Energy Project, Maine Rural Partners
- Technical Resource Guide (pdf), Harvesting Clean Energy Project, Maine Rural Partners
Efficiency Maine Incentives
- Small Business Low Interest Loan Program, Efficiency Maine
- Business Program: New Cash Incentives, Efficiency Maine, February 2007
- Business Program: Agricultural Prescriptive Cash Incentives, Efficiency Maine
- Maine Solar Rebate Program, Efficiency Maine
- Kennebec Dairy Cost-Share Efficiency Practices, Kennebec County Soil & Water Conservation District
- Efficiency Maine Agriculture Trade Allies, Efficiency Maine
- Maine Certified Solar Installers, Efficiency Maine
- Northeast Energy Service Companies (ESCOs), Efficiency Maine
- Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program Fact Sheet, USDA
- Grant Programs of Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education, NESARE