PA Farm Energy Audits Program
An audit consists of a careful analysis of your farm's energy use, combined with scientific analysis of possible ways to reduce energy use in a cost effective manner.
Penn State Cooperative Extension, in conjunction with USDA Rural Development, is now offering a program to provide low cost energy audits for farms in Pennsylvania. USDA will pay 75% of the cost of the audit, leaving a cost of only 25% to the farmer. The audits are carried out by Penn State agricultural energy specialists or specially trained private consultants, depending on the location of the farm and availability of personnel.
For example, a typical, medium sized dairy farm energy audit might cost about $1500. However, a farmer participating in this program will only have to pay one fourth of that amount, or $375 (the actual cost for your farm might be a bit higher or lower, depending on your location and size of farm). That's a remarkably good deal for professional guidance on improving your farm's energy profitability.
Depending on where your farm is located, your local utility company might even be able to help reduce that cost even more. We will post information on that as it becomes available.
Energy audits will be carried out starting on 01 May 2011, and the program runs through 2012. Funds for this program are on a first-come, first-served basis, and are limited to farms (including greenhouses) that are in eligible rural areas in Pennsylvania (use this website to check your location: http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov).
Benefits of an Energy Audit:
The energy audit will include an easy-to-understand report that lists recommended ways to improve energy efficiency on your farm, plus information on possible funding for installing energy efficient equipment. It will be up to you to decide what to do with this information, but we will help you understand your options and see how you can upgrade your farm's energy performance. An energy audit is a required first step for many funding programs, so this is an important first step for taking advantage of a variety of energy installation programs.
How to Sign Up:
If you are interested and have questions, contact one of the program contacts listed below to find out more.
When you are ready to request an audit, we will provide you with a price quote that you will need to sign and return to us before we begin work. The audit generally takes less than 4 weeks to complete, and we will go over the results with you, as well as provide guidance on how to take the next step to improve your farm's energy performance.
Program Contacts:
Daniel Ciolkosz - Program Coordinator
Penn State University
Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering
249 Ag Engineering Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-3484
dec109@psu.edu
Peggy Fogarty-Harnish
Agricultural Economic Development Educator
Penn State Cooperative Extension, Lancaster County
1383 Arcadia Road, Room 140, Lancaster, PA 17601-3149
717-394-6851
pfogharn@psu.edu
George Hurd
Penn State Cooperative Extension - Franklin County
181 Franklin Farms Lane
Chambersburg, PA 17202
717 263 9226
grh5@psu.edu
Dan F. McFarland
Sr. Extension Educator - Ag Engineering
Penn State Cooperative Extension
112 Pleasant Acres Road
York, PA 17402
(717)-840-7560 Voice
(717)-755-5968 FAX
dfm6@psu.edu
Susan Parry, Coordinator
Capital Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Area Council, Inc.
401 East Louther St., Suite 307
Carlisle, PA 17013
Office Phone: (717) 241-4361
Office Fax: (717) 240-0548
susan.parry@pa.usda.gov
Alan Zepp
Center for Dairy Excellence
2301 North Cameron St
Harrisburg, PA 17110
717-346-0849
717-705-2342 FAX
azepp@centerfordairyexcellence.org
