Reducing Energy Costs on Vegetable Farms. Michael Bomford, PhD Kentucky State University College of Agriculture, Food Science & Sustainable Systems

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1 Reducing Energy Costs on Vegetable Farms Michael Bomford, PhD Kentucky State University College of Agriculture, Food Science & Sustainable Systems

2 Quadrillion BTUs 3 Total Energy Consumed on US Farms, Natural gas Electricity LP gas Diesel 1 Gasoline 0 Fertilizers and pesticides John Miranowski, Iowa State University

3 Low input farming techniques Conservation tillage Cover cropping Organic Integrated Pest Management

4 Changes that are (almost) free Gear up, throttle down Lower RPM is more fuel efficient Don t overload the engine Routine machinery maintenance Tire pressure Lubrication Clean filters and fluids Appropriate ballast to reduce slipping Machinery sized for the job

5 Inexpensive changes (<$100) Insulate water heater Only necessary for older (>5 years) water heaters. Does it feel warm to touch? Costs $15-$35 Payback less than a year Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent Cuts energy for lighting by 75% Cuts lighting cost in half

6 Inexpensive changes (<$100) Weatherize buildings Homes, barns, sheds, greenhouses Caulking, weather stripping Can reduce heat loss by one-third See Caution! Air flow / ventilation is crucial to animal and plant health

7 Energy Efficient Fans Install energy efficient fans High volume, low speed fans more efficient than high speed fans Large diameter more efficient than small diameter Straight blades more efficient than cloverleaf Discharge cone increases efficiency Clean and lubricate fans Open doors, windows & vents when fans operating

8 Walk-in Cooler CoolBot costs $300 and allows use of offthe-shelf air conditioner and well-insulated room for walk-in cooler. Cut up-front installation costs by 75% Cut energy costs in half Not suitable for cooler that is opened frequently Cools more slowly than conventional cooler.

9 Replace Greenhouse Thermostats with Environmental Controllers Controls heating, cooling and humidity control systems Avoids simultaneous heating and cooling Allows night set back and temperature flexibility to work with outdoor environment Less energy, better crops Controllers cost $250+

10 Energy Efficient Heating Radiant heat for homes, workshops In-floor warm water pipes Heat surfaces, not air Comfort at lower temperature Heat more evenly distributed System costs $3-$4 per square foot New construction less expensive than retrofitting Possible to integrate with solar hot water heat

11 Greenhouse Heating Efficient Furnaces Pay Back Quickly Gravityvented Powervented Separated combustion MSRP ($) Extra cost ($) Thermal efficiency 80% 80% 82% 93% Seasonal efficiency 65% 78% 80% 91% Fuel (gallons) Fuel saving (%) Cost saving ($)* Payback (months) *Assumes liquid propane fuel at $2.90 per gallon All other cost, efficiency, and consumption estimates from: Sanford, Scott Greenhouse Unit Heaters: Types, Placement, and Efficiency. University of Wisconsin Extension Bulletin A Condensing Combustion

12 Alternative Heating Fuels Can Save $ Online calculator at Hearth.com

13 Wood Boiler for Greenhouse and Home Heat

14 Passive solar -- High tunnels and row covers instead of heated greenhouses

15 Dec. 15, 2009, Smiths Grove, KY. Paul and Alison Wieidger

16 March 24, 2009, Shelbyville, KY. Ken Waters

17 Tomato season Green- house Field Fall high tunnel Transplant production Growth Harvest Spring high tunnel D J F M A M J J A S O N D

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19 Sanjun Gu. 1998

20 Chinese-style solar greenhouse Zhang & Boris, University of Manitoba & Manitoba Hydro.

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22 Eighteen raised beds, 6 x 36 Five mulch treatments in four replicate blocks: Bare control Black Plastic Silver Plastic Black Landscape Fabric (2 reps only) Hay

23 Varieties tested Six heirloom varieties randomly assigned to six 6 sub-plots in each bed Green Zebra Pruden s Purple Red Pear Rose de Berne Yellow Pear Yellow Perfection Transplanted at 6 weeks on June 22, 2011 Plants spaced 18 apart

24 Monitoring Soil moisture June 22 Sept. 29 Field Scout TDR-300 Soil temperature June 30 Aug. 10 Temp. recorded hourly 2 cm below soil surface Probes attached to CR-1000 datalogger Yield All fruit harvested Sept. 16 and Sept. 29 Counted, graded & weighed

25 Results Soil Temperature Temperature lowest at sunrise; highest mid-afternoon Hay moderates daily temperature flux Black plastic maintains warmer temperature throughout day Temp. ( C) Bare Black Fabric Hay Silver 24

26 Results Soil Moisture Higher soil moisture under landscape fabric than other mulches

27 Yields higher with hay mulch than with no mulch or landscape fabric Results - Yield

28 Resources A Farmer s Guide to Energy Self Reliance (Vermont Law School Institute for Energy and the Environment, 2008) Handbook: How to Decrease Consumption and Increase Profits Report: A Guide to Using Energy Efficiency, Biomass, and Renewable Energy on the Farm extension.org Sustainable Ag Energy Community of Practice (

29 Contact: Michael Bomford Learn more: EnergyFarms.wordpress.com Organic.KYSU.edu Thanks to Tony Silvernail Jon Cambron Joni Thompson Mike Ward KSU Farm crew CASS & SEED programs Post Carbon Institute Teferi Tsegaye Kimberley Holmes