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THERE ARE OPTIONS TO MAKE FARM BUILDINGS MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT With energy accounting for as much as 10 percent of a farm's costs, it makes sense to save energy wherever you can. Though a walk-through energy audit from FEC will thoroughly identify and prioritize where to start, there are some changes you can make on your own without the formality of an audit. To reduce electricity usage, start here: Lights - Compact fluorescents aren't just for houses. Put them in your farm buildings as well and use 75 percent less electricity than incandescent lights. You can also save energy by switching off lights, using timers and replacing less efficient T-12 fluorescent lamps with more efficient T-8s. More expensive upgrades include induction and LED lights. Also make use of daylighting techniques, including windows, light tubes and skylights and reserve electric lights for backup. In work areas where your activity is limited to daytime, use natural light from windows and skylights. Add light tubes to interior spaces. Metal roofs can incorporate clear panels to bring daylight into shops, garages and out-buildings. When building new, include south-facing windows and skylights to bring more winter sunlight inside. Controls - Motion sensors can save the cost of lighting areas continuously while still providing security. They can be used with incandescent, halogen and some CFL lights. Timers allow you to control when lights come on and off. Manual timers are useful in feed rooms, entryways, sheds and walkways. For poultry, greenhouse, dairy and hog applications, electronic and digital timers are a better choice. Heating - If you have a heated office or shop in a farm building, first insulate it well, weatherstrip and caulk around windows. For larger spaces, a wood stove may provide the heat you need. For smaller spaces and limited periods of time, a space heater can be an efficient option. Solar - For gate openers, water heaters and certain pump applications, consider going solar. Check your Yellow Pages or use an Internet search engine to locate Missouri companies that install solar applications in rural locations. They're out there and can be surprisingly affordable. These ideas focus on electricity use, but motors, equipment and tilling/harvesting practices offer many opportunities for greater efficiency. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's website at http://energytools.sc.egov.usda.gov/ offers tools for estimating potential energy savings for animal housing, irrigation, nitrogen and tillage. Another useful site at www.agenergysolutions.org/site/ offers a PDF of The Farmer's Handbook for Energy Self-Reliance. |
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