Farm Energy Field Guide
A Publication of Farm Energy Partners
All publications are available for download from this page. Most resources are available in PDF format, and you will need Adobe Reader to view them. Within Adobe Reader, you can search each document for specific contents using the binoculars button at the top of the page. Two files are available only as Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and are labeled accordingly.
Farmers may also request a free printed copy of individual resources from this Field Guide by e-mailing cleanenergy@mainerural.org or by calling Maine Rural Partners at (207) 873-2108.
Feedback
Please send feedback on the usefulness of these materials, the organization of this Field Guide, and how we can serve you in coming years by e-mailing cleanenergy@mainerural.org or calling Linda or Lauchlin Titus of AgMatters, Farm Energy Partners Network Coordinators, at (207) 873-2108.
Receiving Updates
To join the Farm Energy Partners network and receive Harvesting Clean Energy program updates, e-mail cleanenergy@mainerural.org.
About Farm Energy Partners
- Farm Energy Partners Network (pdf), Maine Rural Partners
- Harvesting Clean Energy Program Brochure, Farm Energy Partners / Maine Rural Partners
- Farm Energy Partners Network Resource Guide (pdf), Maine Rural Partners
- Farm Energy Partners Energy Audit Application, Maine Rural Partners
Energy Efficiency
General Agricultural
- Dairy Farms Energy Saving Ideas and Efficiency Checklist, Efficiency Maine
- Maine Dairy Farms Benefit from Energy Efficiency, Efficiency Maine
- Farm Energy Calculators, National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT)
- Reduce Energy Costs in Agriculture, Mississippi State University
- General Energy Management for Agricultural Facilities, Dick Peterson, NATC, from January 2008 training
- Overview of Agricultural Electricity Use, Richard Hiatt, NFEC, from January 2008 training
- Energy Management for Dairy Farms, Dick Peterson, NTAC, from January 2008 training
- Dairy Farm Refrigeration, Dick Peterson, NTAC, from January 2008 training
Buildings and Lighting
- Efficient Agricultural Buildings, NCAT
- Energy-Efficient Agricultural Lighting, University of Wisconsin
- Agricultural Lighting, Richard Hiatt, NFEC, from January 2008 training
Conservation Practices that Save
- Energy Conservation in Confined Animal Operations, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
- Integrated Pest Management, NRCS
- Living Snow Fences, NRCS
- Nutrient Management, NRCS
- Prescribed Grazing Systems, NRCS
- Windbreaks/Shelterbelts, NRCS
Cooling
- Well Water Pre-Coolers, University of Wisconsin
- Energy Conservation in Cold Storage and Cooling Operations, Jim Thompson, Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UC Davis
Energy Audits
Farm Energy Partners & Efficiency Maine Audit Program
- Pilot Project for Energy Audit and Energy Conservation Practice Adoption, Kennebec County Soil & Water Conservation District
- Energy Audit Flow Chart, Kennebec County Soil & Water Conservation District and Maine Rural Partners
- Farm Energy Partners Energy Audit Application, Farm Energy Partners / Maine Rural Partners
- Farm Energy Audit Workshop, AJ Ballard, Efficiency Maine
- Excel spreadsheet: New Farm Energy Audit Template, AJ Ballard, Efficiency Maine
Audit Tools
- A Suggested Approach to Farm Energy Audit, Richard Hiatt, NFEC
- Dairy Energy Savings Calculators, DLtech and NATC
- Estimating the Efficiency of an Existing Ventilation Fan, Richard Hiatt, NFEC
Sample Audit Reports (included with the cooperating farmers’ permission)
- Daydream Farm, NTAC & NYSERDA•FlexTech Services
- Aldermere Farm, Walk Through Energy Report, Maine State Energy Program
- Cooper Farms, Inc., Walk Through Energy Report, Efficiency Maine
- Grassland Farm, Walk Through Energy Report, Efficiency Maine
- Broad Acres Farm, Walk Through Energy Report, Efficiency Maine
Fuel Usage
- Conserving Fuel on the Farm, NCAT
- Save Big on the Farm by Conserving Fuel, Washington State University
- Getting the Most from Your Tractor, Kansas State University
- Radial Tire Inflation Pressure, Kansas State University
- Let the Air Out! Advantages of Properly Adjusted Radial Tire Pressures, Ohio State University Extension
Greenhouse
- Greenhouse Energy Conservation Checklist, John W. Bartok, University of Connecticut
- Greenhouse Energy Consumption Web Site, Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University
- Energy Conservation for Greenhouse Growers, Mississippi State University Extension Service
- 10 Ways to Lower Your Spring Heating Bill and Save Money, Erik S. Runkle, Michigan State University
- Root Zone Heating for Greenhouse Crops, Steve Diver, NCAT Agriculture Specialist
- Solar Greenhouses Horticulture Resource List, Barbara Bellows, NCAT
Irrigation
- Energy Saving Tips for Irrigators, NCAT
- Maintaining Irrigation Pumps, Motors & Engines, NCAT
Motors
- Energy-Efficient Farm Motors, National Food and Energy Council
Potato and Apple Storage and Processing
- Energy Conservation in Cold Storage and Cooling Operations, Jim Thompson, UC Davis
- Potato Storage Research Shows Promise for Boosting Grower Profits, University of Idaho
- Paragon Farms — Potato Storage Facility Eyes VFDs, Focus on Energy
- Crop Storage: Potatoes, Focus on Energy, University of Wisconsin
- Ripe with Energy Savings, The Apple Farm Case Study, Efficiency Maine
- Opportunities for Energy Conservation in Apple Storage and Packing Facilities: A Case Study Example from Central New York State, DLtech, Inc. and NATC, Ithaca, NY, 2004.
Vacuum Pumps
- Vacuum Systems, University of Wisconsin
- Variable-Speed Milk Pumps, University of Wisconsin
- The Importance of Accurate Savings Estimates When Deciding to Install a Milking Vacuum Pump Variable Speed Drive, EnSave Energy Performance, Inc.
- Vacuum Pumps, Dick Peterson, NTAC
Ventilation
- Controlled Livestock Ventilation, National Food and Energy Council
- Gold Top Farm Case Study, Efficiency Maine
- Fan Ventilation Efficiency, Richard Hiatt, NFEC
- Estimating the Efficiency of an Existing Ventilation Fan, Richard Hiatt, NFEC
Water Heating
- Heating Water on Dairy Farms, University of Wisconsin
- Water Heating for Production Agriculture, National Food and Energy Council
- Energy Implications of Wool Fleece Washing and Drying, Northeast Agriculture Technology Corp, Ithaca, NY
Renewable Energy
Assessment
- Farm-Based Renewable Energy “First Steps”, Farm Energy Partners / Maine Rural Partners
Anaerobic Digestion
- Anaerobic Digestion of Animal Wastes: Factors to Consider, NCAT
- Case study: Manure Digester to Generate On-Farm Heat, Climate and Farming.org
Biofuels
- Biodiesel: a Primer, NCAT
- Biodiesel: the Sustainability Dimensions, NCAT
- Biodiesel Production on Farm, Piedmont Biofuels
- Ethanol Opportunities and Questions, NCAT
- Considerations for Diversifying the Farm Portfolio to Include Biofuels, Climate and Farming.org
- Spring Canola, An Oilseed Crop for Potato Growers, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
- Case study: On-farm Biodiesel Production from Waste Vegetable Oil, Climate and Farming.org
- Case study: Waste Vegetable Oil for Heating Greenhouses, Climate and Farming.org
- Case study: Closed-Loop Biodiesel Production on the Farm, Climate and Farming.org
Biomass
- Growing Energy on the Farm, Union of Concerned Scientists
Carbon Trading
- Case study: Carbon-Trading Opportunities, Climate and Farming.org
- Maine Carbon Credit Program, Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District
- Video presentation: Voluntary Carbon Credit Market in Maine (pdf), Androscoggin Valley Soil & Water Conservation District
Hydro
- Micro-Hydropower Systems: A Buyer’s Guide, Natural Resources Canada
Solar
- Solar Energy for Your Home and Business, Maine State Energy Program
- Up with the Sun: Solar Energy & Agriculture, Union of Concerned Scientists
- Solar-Powered Livestock-Watering Systems, NCAT
- Solar Energy Applications for Agriculture, NYSERDA
- Passive and Active Solar Domestic Hot Water Systems, North Carolina Solar Center
- Solar Energy and You, North Carolina Solar Center
Wind
- Wind-Powered Electric Systems for Homes, Farms, and Ranches, NCAT
- Farming the Wind, Union of Concerned Scientists
- Case study: Installing a Used Wind System to Produce On-Farm Electricity, Climate and Farming.org
- Small Wind Electric Systems: A U.S. Consumer’s Guide, Wind Powering America
- Excel spreadsheet: Payback Analysis for Small Wind, Trudy Forsyth, Wind Powering America, Fall 2008
- Community Wind Introduction, Windustry
- Community Wind Development Overview and Checklist, Windustry
- Additional documents can be found at Windustry’s website
Implementation Assistance
- Financial Resource Guide (pdf), Farm Energy Partners / Maine Rural Partners
- Technical Resource Guide (pdf), Farm Energy Partners / Maine Rural Partners
Efficiency Maine Incentives (as of January 2009; updates may be available at the Efficiency Maine website)
- Efficiency Maine Guide to Business Grants, Efficiency Maine
- Small Business Low Interest Loan Program, Efficiency Maine
- Business Program: New Cash Incentives, Efficiency Maine, February 2007
- Business Program: Agricultural Prescriptive Cash Incentives, Efficiency Maine
- Maine Solar Rebate Program (the second paragraph at the top also gives information about the state’s Wind Energy Incentive), Efficiency Maine
- Wind Energy Rebate Application, Efficiency Maine
- Kennebec County Dairy Cost-Share Efficiency Practices, Kennebec County Soil & Water Conservation District
- Vendors of Energy-Efficient Agricultural Equipment, Efficiency Maine
For a list of pre-qualified Efficiency Maine Agricultural Trade Allies, go to their database site and choose “Agricultural Equipment” under Business Type - Renewable Energy Vendors, Farm Energy Partners / Maine Rural Partners, January 2009
- Maine Certified Solar Installers, Efficiency Maine
This document is current as of January 2009; an updated list may be available at Efficiency Maine’s website. - Rural Energy for America Fact Sheet, USDA Rural Development
- Grant Programs of Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education, NESARE