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Recouping energy costs

A bioenergy specialist says farmers can see dramatic cuts in energy expenses after implementing a few conservation changes.

Charles Gould with Michigan State University Extension tells Brownfield about 43-percent of farmer expenses are energy related.  “Lighting is probably your biggest return on investment.”

He says farmers can see a return on lighting investments in as little as three years, and in some cases it has increased production.  “The turkeys can see light spectrum—there’s different colors in light and they’re picking up a different color of light with the LED lights than they were with the T-12s and that’s had an impact on their behavior.”

Gould says an energy audit is the best way to identify energy savings and sometimes utility companies, farm groups, or the local conservation district offer incentives.

A conservation tour has been planned in West Michigan during August to highlight energy conservation practices on several farms.

AUDIO: Interview with Charles Gould