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Energy Efficiency
(Farm News - September 2009)

Tap Into Focus on Energy Opportunities for Agribusinesses

Financial incentives can make energy-saving projects on the farm more affordable. Are you aware of the latest updates and limited-time offers from Focus on Energy?

Make some improvements this fall and you may be able to get a bigger bang for your buck.

Dairy Refrigeration Tune-ups
A refrigeration system tune-up can save 5% in energy costs. If you complete that tune-up by September 30, 2009, you may qualify for a bonus incentive of 50% of the total project cost, up to $150. Plus, regular preventive maintenance can extend the life of your compressor system.

Ventilation Fans
If you plan to update your ventilation system, remember that Focus on Energy offers incentives for exhaust and circulation barn fans at $2 per blade inch.

• Exhaust fans must meet airflow requirements of 21 CFM/watt at 0.00 static pressure or 20 CFM/watt at 0.05 static pressure.
• A new standard is in effect for circulation fans. They must meet thrust performances of at least 18.0 pounds per kilowatt (kW) for 36-inch fans and at least 23.0 pounds per kW for fans that are 48 inches or larger.

Focus on Energy also offers a $1,500 incentive for HVLS (high volume, low speed) fans that are 20 feet in diameter or larger. Custom grants may be available for HVLS fans of other sizes.

Milk House Water Heaters
To give farmers more options, updated standards for milk house water heaters took effect in July.

• Electric water heater incentives are available only for commercial or agricultural designed units with a Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association energy factor of 90% or greater.
• Natural gas water heaters must have a thermal efficiency rating of at least 80% to qualify for an incentive. Heat loss efficiency requirements have also increased:

Tank Size (gallons)	Previous Standard (BTU/hr.)	New Standard (BTU/hr.)
74 - 80	≤1040	≤989
81 - 99	≤1238	≤1107
100 & over	≤1219	≤1084

• Incentives are no longer available for residential water heaters used in dairy milk houses. These units are not designed to handle the higher temperature demanded by milk houses.
• Tankless water heaters require a thermal efficiency rating of at least 80% to qualify for incentives. If the tankless unit feeds through a holding tank, the tank must meet the current BTU loss standards.

25% Bonus Coupons
If you are a producer who stopped by the Focus on Energy display at the WPS Farm Show or Farm Technology Days, you may have received a 25% bonus coupon. This bonus applies to non-lighting projects, and at least two energy-efficiency measures must be installed.

• Farm Show coupons: projects must be completed between March 1, 2009 and October 30, 2009. Mailed incentive forms must be postmarked by October 30, 2009.
• Farm Technology Days coupons: projects must be completed between July 21, 2009, and November 30, 2009. Mailed incentive forms must be postmarked by November 30, 2009.

Other Incentives
Focus on Energy has new incentive forms for projects installed after July 1, 2009. Prescriptive application forms are available for incentives on lighting, livestock waterers, ventilation, milk house equipment, water heaters, scroll compressors and variable speed vacuum pumps. Custom incentives are available as well. Contact Focus on Energy for a no-cost energy assessment to help identify ways you can save energy and money through the program.

For More Information
If you have questions about financial incentives for energy-saving projects at your farm, call the Focus on Energy Agriculture and Rural Business team at 800-762-7077 or send an e-mail to focusinfo@focusonenergy.com. More details are also available online at www.focusonenergy.com.