Energy Audit
Farm Energy Self Assessment Tools
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services developed a series of online tools for farm energy self assessment. These tools will calculate the estimated energy and cost savings for the use of high efficiency equipment and energy conserving practicies. The results generated by these tools help to determine which equipment or practices are worth pursuing to reduce energy consumption. These tools can be used for the following applications:
- Livestock
- Dairy
- Irrigation
- Maple Syrup
- Water Fountain
- Grain Drying
- Greenhouse
- Lighting
- Potato Storage
- Ventilation
Renewable Energy Self Assessment Tools
Renewable energy can be used to displace electricity, water heating or space heating with fossil fuels. These tools can be used for the following applications:
- Solar Water Heating
- Solar PV
- Biogas/Anaerobic Disgesters
- Biomass Combustion
- Solar-Wind Water Pumping
- Wind Energy
Energy Estimator: Animal Housing
The Energy Estimator for Animal Housing tool is designed to enable you to estimate potential energy savings associated with swine, poultry or dairy cows housing operations on your farm or ranch. This tool evaluates major energy costs in lighting, ventilation and heating costs for swine and poultry. It evaluates major energy costs with lighting air circulation, milk cooling, water heating and milk harvesting costs for typical dairy. This tool does not provide site specific recommendations.
The Energy Estimator for Irrigation tool enables you to estimate potential energy savings associated with pumping water for irrigation. NRCS technical specialists developed this model to integrate general technical information farm-specific crops, energy prices, and pumping requirement. This tool does not provide field specific recommendations.
The Energy Estimator for Nitrogen tool enables you to calculate the potential cost-savings related to nitrogen use on your farm or ranch. NRCS agronomists developed this model to integrate general technical information on nitrogen use with farm-specific information on fertilizer types, costs, timing, and placement. This tool does not provide field-specific recommendations.
The Energy Estimator for Tillage tool estimates diesel fuel use and costs in the production of key crops in your area and compares potential energy savings between conventional tillage and alternative tillage systems. The crops covered are limited to the most predominant crops in 74 Crop Management Zones (CMZ's). NRCS agronomists have identified these crops and estimated the fuel use associated with common tillage systems. The Energy Estimator gives you an idea of the magnitude of diesel fuel savings under different levels of tillage.
