Slaying the Energy Cost Dragon

1. Slaying the Energy Cost Dragon Mike Morris National Center for Appropriate Technology

2. 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.

3. 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

4. The Small Farm Energy Project (1976-1983) “Small family farmers are directly threatened by large-scale mechanization developed in an era of cheap energy…Theenergy crisis is an economic opportunity for America’s small familyfarmers…The small family farmer can demonstrate that skill and resourcefulness is once again at a premium in agriculture.”

5. Edgar Wuebben Farm, Cedar County, NE • Solar grain dryer made from recycled sheet metal. • Total cost (in 1980) $200.

6. 200 square foot solar vertical wall made from plywood, corrugated metal spray painted black. • Total cost (in 1980) $700.

7. Solar food dryer and window box made from 2x2 framing, plywood, old window glass, nylon window screening. • Total cost (in 1980) $40.

8. Energy Conservation & Efficiency

9. Whispering Sands Poultry Farm Union Springs, AL

11. $56,000 per year

12. No cost – low cost recommendations • Tighten the houses to reduce air leakage. • 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.

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

14. Cherry Research Farm Goldsboro, NC • 21 energy conservation opportunities worth $6,000 per year • Potential 22% reduction in electricity and propane cost.

15. How Cherry Farm Uses Energy (billions of Btus) 7 billion Btu $100,000 per year

16. Dairy • Heat reclamation • Water cooled condensing • Time control on parlor heaters • Insulate water heater tank • Est. savings $2300 per year

17. Grain bins/ Hammer mill/ Feed process • Schedule material handling to reduce demand charges • Est. savings $1061 / year

18. Do-it-Yourself Energy Audits

19. Farm Energy Calculators

22. Irrigation Efficiency

23. The AM400 Soil Moisture Monitor Cost $500-$700

28. Renewable Energy

29. Bob Quinn, Big Sandy, MT 4,000 acres of organic grain 5-7% of acreage could meet all fuel needs camelina

30. Thad Doye, Walters, OK $4.38 per gallon after 3 years

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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

36. Cherry Research Farm, Goldsboro, NC

38. Rural Energy for America Program • 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).

39. Successful Proposals to 9006/REAP

40. ATTRA www.attra.org National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service 800-346-9140 (English), 800-411-3222 (Spanish)

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

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

43. THANK YOU! For more information: 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