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Getting Started With Clean Energy Farming
MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT
Calculate air conditioning,
heating and utility costs and potential savings. Western Area
Power Administration Energy Services Team.
Plate
coolers, variable frequency drives and other on-farm energy-saving
measures. Center for Ecological Technology.
BUILDING EFFICIENCY
Improve
Energy Efficiency in Agricultural Buildings. ATTRA.
Energy
Estimator for Animal Housing. Online tool to estimate energy
costs and savings for lighting, ventilation, heating, air circulation,
milk cooling and water heating. NRCS.
ENERGY AUDITS
Sample
energy audits of Maryland dairy and poultry farms. EnSave
Professional
or do-it-yourself home energy audits. EERE.
Do-it-yourself
online energy efficiency calculator. Alliant Energy.
FOOD MILES
Marketing
Strategies for Farmers and Ranchers. A bulletin on marketing
strategies that save transportation-related energy costs. SARE.
Links
and publications on reducing food miles through community supported
agriculture, farmers markets, direct marketing, etc. ATTRA
DIVERSIFIED CROPPING SYSTEMS
Transitioning
to Organic. A bulletin on organic farming practices. SARE.
Energy
Estimator for Nitrogen. Online tool to calculate nitrogen savings
based on fertilizer type, costs, timing and placement. NRCS.
WATER SAVINGS
Energy Estimator
for Water. Online tool to estimate energy savings using different
irrigation methods. NRCS.
Energy
Saving Tips for Irrigation. ATTRA.
Smart
Water Use on Your Farm or Ranch. A bulletin on sustainable water
use. SARE.
DIVERSIFIED ANIMAL OPERATIONS
Grazing
Systems Planning Guide. A comprehensive guide to grazing. University
of Minnesota Extension.
Rangeland
Management Strategies. A bulletin on creating and sustaining
a healthy range. SARE.
REDUCED TILLAGE
Comprehensive
no-till web page for farmers. New Farm/Rodale Institute.
Energy
Estimator for Tillage. Online tool to estimate diesel fuel use
and costs for key crops. Compares energy savings between conventional
and alternative tillage systems. NRCS.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND CARBON SEQUESTRATION
Information
on carbon and greenhouse-gas trading. Chicago Climate Exchange.
On-line resources
for farmers to make practical and profitable decisions regarding
climate change. Climate-friendly
farming page from Washington State University.
WIND
Calculate local wind speeds from the The
Iowa Energy Center and The
Wind Energy Resource Atlas. For western regions only: www.windpowermaps.org
and www.energyatlas.org
Government incentives
and other information on small wind systems. The American Wind
Energy Association.
Wind
maps and resources, online calculator to evaluate wind projects
and determine feasibility of small wind systems. EERE.
SOLAR
Small
photovoltaic systems for homes and farms, and tools to estimate
local solar resources. NREL.
Solar-powered
livestock watering systems, greenhouses and renewable energy on
the farm. ATTRA
ANIMAL DIGESTERS
Anaerobic
Digestion of Animal Wastes: Factors to Consider. Introductory
publication on digesters. ATTRA.
Farm-based
Anaerobic Digesters-Potential Benefits and Types. Michigan State
University Extension.
Information
on biogas recovery to reduce methane emissions from livestock
operations. Ag STAR.
BIODIESEL
Biodiesel:
A Primer; Biodiesel: The Sustainability Dimensions; Biodiesel Production
for On-Farm Use: A Curriculum for Agricultural Producers. ATTRA.
Comprehensive
information on biodiesel. The National Biodiesel Board.
Biofuels curriculum
and general information on biodiesel. Piedmont Biofuels Cooperative.
ETHANOL
Alcohol Can
Be A Gas. Comprehensive book on sustainable ethanol production.
International Institute for Ecological Agriculture.
Ethanol
Opportunities and Questions. Publication on uses and benefits
of ethanol. Includes suggestions for further reading on corn and
cellulosic ethanol. ATTRA.
Economics
and energy balance of biofuels. USDA.
GRASS PELLETS
Grass
pellet information from Cornell University. Research and equipment
from REAP Canada
SUSTAINABLE BIOFUEL PRODUCTION
Biofuel library
and information on making your own biodiesel. Journey to Forever.
Articles
on sustainable approaches to ethanol and biofuel production.
The Institute for Self-Reliance.
Bioenergy, Climate
Protection, Oil Reduction. Newsletter of current information
on biofuels, bioenergy and biobased products. The Environmental
and Energy Study Institute.
Alliance
to build sustainable biodiesel practices, including harvesting,
production and distribution. The Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance.
FUTURE FEEDSTOCKS
Switchgrass
as a Bioenergy Crop. Switchgrass as a cellulose-to-ethanol and
direct-combustion feedstock. ATTRA
Up-to-date
research findings on biomass feedstocks and conversion technologies.
EERE.
Research-based site on biomass
resources for bioenergy and bioproducts. The Bioenergy Feedstock
Information Network (BFIN): The Sun Grant Initiative.
FINANCIAL RESOURCES
Energy-related
equipment, funding and technical assistance by state. ATTRA.
State-by-state
listing of state, local, utility and federal incentives, tax credits,
local audits, net metering regulations and available rebates.
North Carolina Solar Center.
Grants
and loan guarantees to assist agricultural producers with purchasing
renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements. USDA-Rural
Development.
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