Why save Energy?
Electrical energy consumption in agriculture has been
steadily rising due to increases in mechanization, use
of confinement housing, and farm size. The State of
Wisconsin has recognized that individuals and business owners can reduce costs
by adopting energy saving technologies in all sectors of the economy.
Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's statewide energy efficiency initiative can
help you improve energy efficiency and reduce energy-related costs on your
farming operation.
When you upgrade older equipment or purchase high efficiency
equipment to reduce energy consumption, it generally results in
improved processes, reduced costs or the same quality for less
cost--a win-win situation. Other long-term results include cleaner
air due to less fossil fuels being burned, less dependence on
unstable foreign energy sources and slower escalation of energy
costs due to lower demand. Reducing electrical energy
consumption could also delay the need for new power generation
plants and transmission lines which no one wants in their
backyard.
This web site will help different agricultural
enterprises assess whether there are energy saving opportunities
that would cost effectively lower energy bills or improve
production efficiency. In some cases, grants are available to buy down the cost of
implementing energy saving technologies.
How will an assessment help me?
If you are willing to take a few minutes to collect the
information and work through the assessment tool, you will be able to
identify maintenance issues, process parameters or equipment that
could improve your bottom line. This tool can also provide you with
information that will prevent you from making a decision that may
increase your energy costs due to competing technologies.
What types of energy saving technologies are used?
On dairy operations the main energy saving technologies include
refrigeration heat recovery, well water precooler, variable speed
vacuum pumps, scroll refrigeration compressors, energy efficient
lighting and high volume low speed (HVLS) fans. Beef or replacement heifer
raising enterprises can save energy with energy efficient lighting,
high efficiency insulated waterers and HVLS fans.
Poultry and pork producers will find savings with energy efficient
lighting and energy efficient heating systems. Producers that dry
grains can make their energy purchases stretch the farthest using
in-bin layered or recirculation drying for small producers, in-bin
counter-flow continuous drying for medium and large producers.
Automated control systems and heat recovery will also cost
effectively save money on existing drying systems. Fruit and
vegetable growers who refrigerate their products can save by using
scroll compressors on mechanical refrigeration systems and
refrigeration heat recovery if hot water is required for cleaning
or processing. Where 3-phase electrical power is used, additional
savings can be gained from the use of premium efficiency electric
motors.
How does this work?
If you have not already created a free account, click here to do so. You
will be asked to supply a user name and password, which you'll need to remember to use the account again.
You will also be asked for your zip code. Both your zip code and the user name that you create
are required in order to access the assessments.
Each assessment will take about 10-20 minutes to complete. The assessments are intended to collect general information about your
operation to help you determine if you may be able to make some energy savings. At the end of each assessment, you will get a report with
your responses and any energy tips that might be appropriate.
After completing an assessment, you can print out the report and use it to guide decisions you make to improve the energy efficiency of your farming operation. You may
also wish to contact Focus on Energy representative or partner, for additional assistance. You can reach Focus on Energy by calling 1-800-762-7077 or by filling out the
contact form at the bottom of each page of the assessment.
If you would like to know how Focus on Energy will use your information, please review our
privacy statement.
Don't have a username and passphrase? Click here to create a new account.
|
