Electrical energy efficiency on United States farms
Encyclopedia
Electrical energy efficiency on United States farms covers the use of electricity
on farm
s and the methods and incentives for improving the efficiency of that use
.
U.S. farms have almost doubled their average energy efficiency over the past 25 years.
One study found the following electrical usages on New York dairy farms:
Another study found highly similar results.
and the effects of property tax
es), environmental concerns are now beginning to impose restrictions on farms.
How renewable energy projects may be implemented and also on what rate of return electricity producers can obtain from utilities are key current topics. Acts such as Wisconsin's Clean Energy Jobs Act (only proposed as of April, 2010) are controversial among farmers for these reasons. Canada's Green Energy Act 2009 implemented similar kinds of regulations.
Contrarily, Carbon offset
s may soon offer farmers additional incentives to increase energy use efficiency. However, at least one proposed cap and trade process would raise farmers' costs by up to $1.19 (USD) per acre.
Fuel standard
s too (such as in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007
) are controversial, as biofuel
s are now a significant portion of farm income.
as well as by economics
.
"The biggest users of electrical power are heat, light and motors. ... A recent study found that a 3-hp energy efficient compressor used over 42 percent fewer kilowatt-hours (kWhr) than a 3-hp conventional compressor."
Two prime areas for efficiency improvements are implementing the use of heat recovery systems
and Variable Speed Drives. One organization postulated a three-year plan for farms to use energy better.
An audit of 20 farms in Cumbria showed savings could be made in all areas examined.
An example of a farm energy audit in Maine is at the following reference. Maryland has a statewide program entitled EnSave.
, an 1100 cow dairy farm, expects to save over $70,000 per year (plus income from electricity sales) from its installation of an 848 kW Combined Heat and Power
(CHP) system operating on anaerobic digesters gas from cow manure. The electricity generated is sold to the grid. A similar installation in 2004 on a 270 cow farm in California (one of five in the state at that time) powered a 75 kW generator.
Central Vermont Public Service has a "Cow Power" program using methane-fueled electricity from Vermont farms.
Government and utility incentives can be beneficial to those entities as well. "It may be less expensive for governments to encourage efficiency and renewable energy options[in order to] delay or negate the need to upgrade and modernize rural grid infrastructure."
A partial list of incentives is available at the following reference: A link to relevant utility pages is at: A third partial list is at:
Alliant Energy
in Wisconsin funds the installation of energy-saving projects, receiving payments on the monthly electric bills. National Grid has a similar program.
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
on farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
s and the methods and incentives for improving the efficiency of that use
Efficient energy use
Efficient energy use, sometimes simply called energy efficiency, is the goal of efforts to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. For example, insulating a home allows a building to use less heating and cooling energy to achieve and maintain a comfortable temperature...
.
U.S. farms have almost doubled their average energy efficiency over the past 25 years.
Usage
Energy costs represent between 2% (at cattle feed lots) and 9% (for grain farming, due partly to grain drying) of farm production costs.Use on dairy farms
In 2006 there were about 65,000 dairy farms in the United States, although most had fewer than 200 cows. One "resource auditor" believes it is possible for dairy farms to reach an energy usage of as low as 200 kWhr per cow per year although an analysis of California dairy farms found that 300 kWhr/year was the lowest actually attained.One study found the following electrical usages on New York dairy farms:
- Milk cooling – 23%
- Ventilation – 21%
- Vacuum pumps – 18%
- Lighting – 17%
- Electrical water heating – 10%
- Feeding equipment – 7%
Another study found highly similar results.
Regulations
Hitherto almost entirely unregulated (except for zoning ordinancesZoning
Zoning is a device of land use planning used by local governments in most developed countries. The word is derived from the practice of designating permitted uses of land based on mapped zones which separate one set of land uses from another...
and the effects of property tax
Property tax
A property tax is an ad valorem levy on the value of property that the owner is required to pay. The tax is levied by the governing authority of the jurisdiction in which the property is located; it may be paid to a national government, a federated state or a municipality...
es), environmental concerns are now beginning to impose restrictions on farms.
How renewable energy projects may be implemented and also on what rate of return electricity producers can obtain from utilities are key current topics. Acts such as Wisconsin's Clean Energy Jobs Act (only proposed as of April, 2010) are controversial among farmers for these reasons. Canada's Green Energy Act 2009 implemented similar kinds of regulations.
Contrarily, Carbon offset
Carbon offset
A carbon offset is a reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases made in order to compensate for or to offset an emission made elsewhere....
s may soon offer farmers additional incentives to increase energy use efficiency. However, at least one proposed cap and trade process would raise farmers' costs by up to $1.19 (USD) per acre.
Fuel standard
Café
A café , also spelled cafe, in most countries refers to an establishment which focuses on serving coffee, like an American coffeehouse. In the United States, it may refer to an informal restaurant, offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches...
s too (such as in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 is an Act of Congress concerning the energy policy of the United States...
) are controversial, as biofuel
Biofuel
Biofuel is a type of fuel whose energy is derived from biological carbon fixation. Biofuels include fuels derived from biomass conversion, as well as solid biomass, liquid fuels and various biogases...
s are now a significant portion of farm income.
Efficiency increases
Increased efficiency in farm usage of electricity is being driven by GreeningGreening
Greening is the process of transforming artifacts such as a space, a lifestyle or a brand image into a more environmentally friendly version...
as well as by economics
Agricultural economics
Agricultural economics originally applied the principles of economics to the production of crops and livestock — a discipline known as agronomics. Agronomics was a branch of economics that specifically dealt with land usage. It focused on maximizing the crop yield while maintaining a good soil...
.
"The biggest users of electrical power are heat, light and motors. ... A recent study found that a 3-hp energy efficient compressor used over 42 percent fewer kilowatt-hours (kWhr) than a 3-hp conventional compressor."
Two prime areas for efficiency improvements are implementing the use of heat recovery systems
Heat recovery ventilation
Heat recovery ventilation, also known as HRV, mechanical ventilation heat recovery, or MVHR, is an energy recovery ventilation system using equipment known as a heat recovery ventilator, heat exchanger, air exchanger, or air-to-air heat exchanger which employs a counter-flow heat exchanger between...
and Variable Speed Drives. One organization postulated a three-year plan for farms to use energy better.
Crop rotation
Simply including years of either clover or alfalfa into the cycle of grain crops can yield savings without reducing total crop yields.Farm energy audits
Farms sometimes use accredited "resource auditors" to analyze their operations and recommend improved efficiencies, typically at costs exceeding $1,000 per audit. However, typical full repayment of an audit's cost could be around six years. Also, a Certified Farm Energy Audit may be required for participation in state or federal energy efficiency programs.An audit of 20 farms in Cumbria showed savings could be made in all areas examined.
An example of a farm energy audit in Maine is at the following reference. Maryland has a statewide program entitled EnSave.
Energy calculators
Recently a number of "energy calculators" have become available, addressing one or more aspects of farm energy usage. New calculators are being developed under government and utility grants, such as one in Oregon.Dairy farm efficiency improvements
Some improvements are specific to dairy farms, such as using supplemental lighting with energy efficient lamps (which can increase milk production 5 to 16 percent) or relieving heat stress with a combination of sprinklers and fans to increase the cooling effect and improve energy use. California compiled a "Complete Guide" to dairy farm efficiency improvements.Cow manure to electrical generation
Norswiss Farms of Rice Lake, WisconsinRice Lake, Wisconsin
Rice Lake is a city in Barron County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 8,320. The city is located mostly within the Town of Rice Lake.-Geography:Rice Lake is located at ....
, an 1100 cow dairy farm, expects to save over $70,000 per year (plus income from electricity sales) from its installation of an 848 kW Combined Heat and Power
Cogeneration
Cogeneration is the use of a heat engine or a power station to simultaneously generate both electricity and useful heat....
(CHP) system operating on anaerobic digesters gas from cow manure. The electricity generated is sold to the grid. A similar installation in 2004 on a 270 cow farm in California (one of five in the state at that time) powered a 75 kW generator.
Central Vermont Public Service has a "Cow Power" program using methane-fueled electricity from Vermont farms.
Government and utility incentives
U.S. utilities allocated $5.3 billion to energy efficiency programs in 2009.Government and utility incentives can be beneficial to those entities as well. "It may be less expensive for governments to encourage efficiency and renewable energy options
A partial list of incentives is available at the following reference: A link to relevant utility pages is at: A third partial list is at:
Alliant Energy
Alliant Energy
Alliant Energy Corporation is a public utility holding company that incorporated in Madison, Wisconsin in 1981. It consists of two subsidiaries:...
in Wisconsin funds the installation of energy-saving projects, receiving payments on the monthly electric bills. National Grid has a similar program.
See also
- Agriculture#Energy and agriculture
- Feed-in tariffFeed-in TariffA feed-in tariff is a policy mechanism designed to accelerate investment in renewable energy technologies. It achieves this by offering long-term contracts to renewable energy producers, typically based on the cost of generation of each technology...
- Good Agricultural Practice
- List of environmental topics
- List of sustainable agriculture topics
- National Institute of Food and AgricultureNational Institute of Food and AgricultureThe National Institute of Food and Agriculture is a U.S. Federal government body whose creation was mandated in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. It is intended to consolidate all federally-funded agricultural research, and will be subordinate to the Department of Agriculture...
- Timeline of agriculture and food technologyTimeline of agriculture and food technologyTimeline of agriculture and food technology÷-Neolithic Revolution:* 11,500 BC – Rice domesticated in China.nt Near East]]* 12,000 BC – Natufians in the Levant begin harvesting wild grasses....
- Post-harvest losses (Fruit and vegetables)Post-harvest losses (fruit and vegetables)For a discussion of grain losses, see: Post-harvest losses The post-harvest sector includes all points in the value chain from production in the field to the food being placed on a plate for consumption. Postharvest activities include harvesting, handling, storage, processing, packaging,...
- Post-harvest losses (Grains)Post-harvest losses (grains)Grains may be lost in the pre-harvest, harvest and post-harvest stages. Pre-harvest losses occur before the process of harvesting begins, and may be due to insects, weeds and rusts. Harvest losses occur between the beginning and completion of harvesting, and are primarily caused by losses due to...
- Agricultural & Applied Economics AssociationAgricultural & Applied Economics AssociationThe Agricultural & Applied Economics Association is a professional association for those interested in the field of agricultural and applied economics. AAEA members work for academic departments, government agencies, NGOs, think tanks, and in the private sector, and focus on a combination of...
- American Journal of Agricultural EconomicsAmerican Journal of Agricultural EconomicsThe American Journal of Agricultural Economics is a peer-reviewed academic journal of agricultural, natural resource, and environmental economics, as well as rural and community development. Published five times per year, it is one of two journals published by the Agricultural & Applied Economics...
- Rural economicsRural economicsRural economics is the study of rural economies, including:* farm and non-farm industry.* economic growth, development, and change * size and spatial distribution of production and household units and interregional trade* land use...
- Energy conservationEnergy conservationEnergy conservation refers to efforts made to reduce energy consumption. Energy conservation can be achieved through increased efficient energy use, in conjunction with decreased energy consumption and/or reduced consumption from conventional energy sources...
- Outline of energy
- Sustainable energySustainable energySustainable energy is the provision of energy that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainable energy sources include all renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectricity, solar energy, wind energy, wave power, geothermal...
External links
- National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA), home page
- Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC), a USDA National Agricultural Library webpage
- American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, home page
- Integration of Renewable Energy on Farms
- Energy Savings
- Manure Use for Fertilizer and for Energy: Report to Congress
- RISE, a Tool for Holistic Sustainability Assessment at the Farm Level
- Efficiency Vermont
- Efficiency Maine
- Texas Efficiency
- Dairy Farm Crisis 2009
- As need returns, so do farm crisis hotlines (AgriWellness)
- FarmEnergy.org