Energy Use and Efficiency
Energy Use and Efficiency
Information on renewable and alternative energy use and efficiency, including biogas production, biomass heating, farm energy efficiency and converting waste to energy. Tips on running diesel engine, green buildings and using wood stoves efficiently.
News Biomass Heat in the Natural Gas Era
03/20/2018
Is wood heat still a good value? More
Online Courses $69.00
Biogas is renewable natural gas produced from organic waste. This course explains how biogas is produced, the equipment needed, and how to estimate yield. More
Tools and Apps Fuel Consumption Spreadsheet
Tara Baugher, Alex Leslie
Spreadsheet for comparing fuel consumption based on row spacings and equipment size. More
The Energy Selector slide rule is a convenient tool for making "apples-to-apples" comparisons of various heating fuels on the basis of cost per BTU. More
News Part 2 in the Penn State Extension renewable and alternative energy series on high performance homes. More
Videos In this video, learn the top 10 things greenhouse growers can do to improve energy efficiency and save money. More
Articles Using Your Wood Stove Efficiently and Effectively
Daniel Ciolkosz, P.E.
Wood Stove Efficiency: Using a high-efficiency stove, using dry wood, keeping the fire hot, and not starving the fire. More
Articles Things a Greenhouse Grower Can Do To Improve Energy Efficiency
Daniel Ciolkosz, P.E.
Operating a commercial greenhouse is one of the most rewarding ways to make a living, but it is not an automatic or easy task. More
Articles The legal mandate that led to widespread deployment of net metering in Pennsylvania, has had as profound an effect on renewable electricity today. More
Articles Switch to Three-Phase Electricity, if Available
Daniel Ciolkosz, P.E.
As farms become larger and more mechanized, the need for larger electric motors also increases. Three-phase electrical power needs to be considered on all farms. More
Articles Sustainability in America - Waste To Energy
Daniel Ciolkosz, P.E.
There are many untapped potential waste streams in our state that are valuable resources for energy. More
Articles What are photo voltaic (PV) electric solar systems, the differences between roof-mounted and ground-mounted arrays, and how to determine which size is best for you. More
Articles Run Tractors and Other Diesel Engines at Peak Performance
Daniel Ciolkosz, P.E.
Achieving (and maintaining) peak performance of your engines will result in many benefits such as high fuel efficiency, reduced maintenance expenses, reduced downtime, and extended life. More
Articles Real-time pricing for electricity- why it matters, how and when prices vary, purchasing when prices are low, and knowing prices and controlling load. More
Pennsylvania Farm Energy Efficiency
Daniel Ciolkosz, P.E.
Penn State’s Farm Energy Efficiency program is a statewide initiative of Penn State Extension and part of Extension’s Renewable and Alternative Energy program. More
Utility companies offer a choices for how your monthly energy bills are calculated and how you can pay your bills. More
The operating efficiency of a ventilation fan can be reduced 30-50% by the accumulation of dust on fan blades and housing or by shutters that do not operate freely. More
Articles High Efficiency Lighting for the Farm - Part 2
Daniel Ciolkosz, P.E.
Upgrade options and common pitfalls for farm lighting. More
Articles More Efficient Lighting
Daniel Ciolkosz, P.E.
The incandescent lamp, which was developed more than 125 years ago, is rather inefficient in providing light. More
Articles Managing Your Electrical Demand
Daniel Ciolkosz, P.E.
Managing electrical demand for farmers who are classified as "commercial" or "industrial" customers of electricity. More
Articles Make Your Transportation Habits More Renewable
Daniel Ciolkosz, P.E.
Tips for Pennsylvanians wanting to go renewable. More
Articles Increasing Energy Efficiency in Your Cars and Trucks
Daniel Ciolkosz, P.E.
The ever-increasing prices for gasoline and diesel fuel should serve as a wake-up call to use our energy resources in a much more efficient manner. More
Articles How a Dairy Farmer Can Improve Energy Efficiency
Daniel Ciolkosz, P.E.
Are you looking for ways to cut your energy bill and stay competitive? If you're a dairy farmer, efficient energy use is critical to keeping your farm competitive in today's environment. More
Articles Discussion on choosing the best light source for you by reviewing typical lamp types and performance. More
Articles Green Buildings and Bioenergy
Daniel Ciolkosz, P.E., Michael Jacobson, Ph.D.
What are Green buildings and bioenergy; and how can bioenergy can work in green buildings. More