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Slaying the Energy Cost Dragon

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.

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Slaying the Energy Cost Dragon

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  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

  10. $56,000 per year

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

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

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

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

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

  17. Do-it-Yourself Energy Audits

  18. Farm Energy Calculators

  19. Irrigation Efficiency

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

  21. Renewable Energy

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

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

  24. 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

  25. 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

  26. 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

  27. 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

  28. Cherry Research Farm, Goldsboro, NC

  29. 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).

  30. Successful Proposals to 9006/REAP

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

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

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

  34. 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

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