Slaying the Energy Cost Dragon

Mike Morris

National Center for Appropriate Technology

About the National Center for Appropriate Technology (www.ncat.org)

• National nonprofit organization that loves to collaborate with grassroots groups.

• Programs: sustainable agriculture and sustainable energy.

• Offices in MT, AR, CA, IA, LA, PA.

• Since 1987 NCAT has run ATTRA: the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.

What is appropriate technology?

• Fits local conditions

• Inexpensive, small-scale, simple to use

• Made from local materials

• Does not deplete natural resources

• Builds self-reliance

The Small Farm Energy Project (1976-1983)

“Small family farmers are directly threatened by large-scale

mechanization developed in an era of cheap energy…The energy crisis

is an economic opportunity for America’s small family farmers…The

small family farmer can demonstrate that skill and resourcefulness is

once again at a premium in agriculture.”

Edgar Wuebben Farm, Cedar County, NE

• Solar grain dryer made from recycled sheet metal.

• Total cost (in 1980) $200.

• 200 square foot solar vertical wall made from plywood, corrugated metal spray painted black.

• Total cost (in 1980) $700.

• Solar food dryer and window box made from 2x2 framing, plywood, old window glass, nylon window screening.

• Total cost (in 1980) $40.

Energy Conservation & Efficiency

Whispering Sands Poultry FarmUnion Springs, AL

Heating (propane)

29%

Water20%

Fans (electric)32%

Lighting (electric)

4%

Gasoline + diesel15%

$56,000 per year

• Clean fans and shutters.

• Reprogram tunnel fans so most efficient fans turn on first and run longest.

• Install migration barriers.

• Discuss billing rate options with Alabama Power.

No cost – low cost recommendations

• Tighten the houses to reduce air leakage.

• Convert lighting to compact fluorescent or LED. Cost $350 to $925 per house, payback less than 1 year

Other recommendations

• Install circulation fans to de-stratify air. Cost $2400, payback 1.2 to 4 years.

• Install curtains to keep air flow lower, at bird level.

• Consider replacing forced air heaters & brooders with radiant tube heating.

Cherry Research Farm Goldsboro, NC

• 21 energy conservation opportunities worth $6,000 per year

• Potential 22% reduction in electricity and propane cost.

How Cherry Farm Uses Energy(billions of Btus)

7 billion Btu

$100,000 per year

Dairy

• Heat reclamation

• Water cooled condensing

• Time control on parlor heaters

• Insulate water heater tank

• Est. savings $2300 per year

Grain bins/ Hammer mill/ Feed process

• Schedule material handling to reduce demand charges

• Est. savings $1061 / year

Do-it-Yourself Energy Audits

Farm Energy Calculators

Irrigation Efficiency

The AM400 Soil Moisture MonitorCost $500-$700

Renewable Energy

camelina4,000 acres of organic grain

5-7% of acreage could meet all fuel needs

Bob Quinn, Big Sandy, MT

$4.38 per gallon after 3 years

Thad Doye, Walters, OK

Ballard Ranch, Lavina, MT• 100 cow-calf pairs

• 1.5 miles from power; $30k for line extension

• Four 80-Watt solar panels

• 5 GPM from 60’ well or2,000-3,000 GPD in summer

• Cost of solar components: $5,500

Tomlinson Ranch, Gold Creek, MT

• 25 cow-calf pairs; 2-3 miles from power

• Two 120-Watt solar panels

• 1 GPM from 160’ well or 900 GPD

• Cost of solar components: $3,200

Hirsch Ranch Racetrack, MT

• 36 cow-calf pairs; 1/3 mile from power

• Two 64-Watt solar panels

• 3.5 GPM from 10’ well or 2,800 GPD

• Cost of solar components: $2,400

Live Earth Farms, Watsonville, CA

• 15 KW PV array meets 80% of farm needs

• Installed cost approx. $90,000 (after incentives)

• Solar food dryer cost approx. $7,000

Cherry Research Farm, Goldsboro, NC

• Renewable energy or energy efficiency improvements.

• All rural small businesses are eligible – not just farms.

• Funding has more than doubled from $115 million (2002) to $225 million (2008).

• Grants – up to 25% of eligible project costs

• Guaranteed loans – up to 50% of eligible project costs.

• Energy audit required for large energy efficiency projects (total project cost > $200,000).

Rural Energy for America Program

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Alabama 0 1 0 2 0 3

Arkansas 0 0 0 0 1 4

Florida 0 0 0 1 0 0

Georgia 0 0 1 0 3 44

Iowa 9 7 37 51 55 86

Kentucky 0 0 0 0 0 5

Louisiana 0 0 1 0 1 5

Minnesota 22 25 18 32 21 53

Mississippi 5 42 3 21 26 18

Nebraska 6 15 37 151 102 170

North Carolina 1 0 3 1 18 37

South Carolina 1 0 1 4 1 6

Tennessee 0 0 1 5 1 10

Virginia 1 2 0 0 2 1

Successful Proposals to 9006/REAP

ATTRA www.attra.org

National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service

800-346-9140 (English), 800-411-3222 (Spanish)

New area in the ATTRA website: www.attra.org/energy

A new search tool: www.attra.org/farmenergysearchtool

NCAT: www.ncat.org or 1-800-ASK-NCAT

mikem@ncat.org

ATTRA: www.attra.org or 1-800-346-9140

Farm Energy resources:

www.attra.org/energy

THANK YOU!

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