Provide Minnesotans with clear, actionable ways to implement energy efficiency

Alphabet Soup:

EQIP: Environmental Quality Incentives Program

NRCS: Natural Resources Conservation Service

RD: Rural Development

REAP: Rural Energy for America Program

CERTified Campaigns

Gobbling Up Savings

LED Lighting in Turkey Barns

Campaign Overview

Fund

Apply

Assess

Awareness LED Lighting

for Turkey Barns

Energy Assessment

Electric Utility

Rebates

USDA RD REAP

Grants or Loans

USDA NRCS Energy Audit

USDA NRCS EQIP

Product Cost-Share

100

farmers

30 farms

20 barns

For more information, visit: mncerts.org/turkeys

USDA RD REAP for Energy Efficiency Determine Eligibility • Located in a rural area

(population less than 50,000) • Agriculture produces at least

50% of income or rural small business

Determine Effort • Download application • Review what all is involved • Apply on your own or hire a

grant writer

Assess Energy Savings • Energy assessment for

projects less than $50K • Energy audit by CSM or PE

for projects more than $50K

Apply • Submit to State 60 days after

NOFA • Single applicant can submit 1

RE and 1 EE project

Start Project • Anytime after application

submitted • Funds are competitive –

Responsible for project costs if funds aren’t awarded

Projects Awarded • State and National offices

score projects: • Less than $20K by Jun 30 • More than $20K by Sept 30

Complete Project • State needs to confirm project

completion by visiting the project

• Call and schedule visit when project complete

Receive Funds • Must complete project and

receive funds within 2 years of being awarded

Annually Report Savings • EE projects report energy

savings for 2 years (RE for 3 years)

1 2 3

4 5 6

7 9 8

Determine Eligibility • Own or operate on

agricultural land (tract number with FSA, recognized as production land)

• Compliant with farm bill (able to receive FSA payments)

Apply for Audit Funding • Visit local NRCS office (staff

help with paperwork) • Complete application for

Conservation Activity Plan #122

Identify Auditor • Select a NRCS-approved

Technical Service Provider (TSP) & confirm they can audit within a year

• Don’t sign any contracts now • Notify NRCS office that a

TSP is confirmed

Audit Funding Approval • Two weeks after applying for

audit, farmers receive notice whether they can proceed

• Need to complete audit within a year

Schedule Audit • Schedule a farm visit for an

energy audit by a TSP

Receive Audit Results • Two to five weeks after the

audit, farmers receive a report with recommended upgrades

• Apply for financial assistance for recommended upgrades in audit within 5 yrs

USDA NRCS EQIP for Audits

1 2 3

4 5 6

Apply for Project Financial Assistance • Select one or more upgrades

recommended in audit report • Complete corresponding

“Conservation Practice” application at local NRCS office

Project Financial Assistance Approval • Two weeks after applying for

upgrade, farmers receive notice whether they can proceed

Start Project • Only after upgrade funding is

approved, farmer can begin project

Receive Project Financial Assistance • NRCS issues payment for the

upgrade completed

USDA NRCS EQIP for Projects

1 2

3 4

#1 Turkey Producer in US

46 million turkeys raised (2012)

250 farmers, 600 farms

Average 13 hours lighting each day (range of 5 to 24 hours depending on season)

Incandescent: Phasing-out, unavailable soon

CFLs: Some hesitant to install

LEDs: Viable alternative, high upfront cost

MN Turkey Market & Lighting

Distribution and Density of Turkey Production

Conservation Applied Research & Development (CARD) Grant

April 2011 – December 2013

12 farmers , 23 barns

ONCE Innovations AgriShift 12W

Studied LEDs for:

Potential energy savings

Cost-effectiveness

Practical performance

Turkey Barn Lighting Bulb Type Key Attributes

High Pressure Sodium (HPS)

• Eliminates ballasts • Each bulb provides

a lot of light

Incandescent • Dimmable • Hi replacement rate • Phasing out

CFL

• Poor dimmability • Challenge to recycle

in rural areas • Mercury concerns

LED • Dimmable • Directional • High installation cost

150W 250W

40W ballast

60W 75W

100W

13W 23W 26W 12W

Turkey Barn Lighting (Cont’d)

Bulbs Life (hours)

Life (years)

Lumens/ Watt

Power Consumption

(watts)

Bulb Cost

(each)

HPS 24,000 5.6 100 150 + 40 (ballast) = 190 $14

Incandescent 1,000 0.23 15 100 $0.75

CFL 10,000 2.3 70 23 $3

LED 50,000 11.6 100 12 $35

Annual Lighting Runtime: 2,000 – 7,500 hours per year, 4,300 hours on average

Maintenance costs reduced when switching to more efficient lighting

Bird’s Eye View

Poultry see more of the visible light spectrum than humans

LEDs more closely match poultry’s spectral response curve

LEDs might appear as 500 lumens to humans / 800 lumens to poultry

Bird’s Eye View (Cont’d)

Study Results: Energy Savings

Switch to LEDs from…

Number of Barns

Range of Energy

Savings (%)

Average Energy

Savings (%)

Average Energy Savings (kWh/yr)

HPS 4 76% - 79% 78% 32,500

HPS/Incan. 4 NA 77% 10,300

Incandescent 6 84% - 88% 86% 15,300

CFL 4 8% - 48% 34% 1,900

Switching from incandescent and HPS bulbs result in greatest savings

Study Results: Cost-Effectiveness

LED bulb costs continue to decline

Upgrade from CFL to LED is not cost effective

Switch to LEDs from…

No. of Barns

Total LED Installation

Cost ($)

Range of Energy

Savings ($)

Range of Simple

Payback (yrs)

HPS 4 $9,200-12,200 $1,500 - $5,900 1.6 - 8.3

HPS/Incan. 4 $4,700 $1,100 4.2

Incandescent 6 $2,100-3,100 $1,300 - $3,000 1.0 - 2.1

CFL 4 $3,200-15,800 $150 - $260 14 - 92

No measureable poultry production decrease

LED dimming techniques mimic sunrise/sunset

Ample and even light for birds

Low light level for barn staff

Also observed: Improved feed conversion Calmer birds

Study Results: Practical Performance

Mission: We connect individuals and their communities to the resources they need to identify and implement community-based clean energy projects

CERTs: Minnesotans Building a Clean Energy Future

Regional focus: Staff in seven regions with diverse teams that share common goals

How Does CERTs Work?

Learn: Blog, website, case studies

Connect: Events, local groups, conference

Act: Community-based projects, research-based campaigns

How Does CERTs Work?

Helped Minnesotans save over 93 billion BTUs of energy and avoid $1.6 million in energy costs since 2010

Awarded over $922,000 in seed grants to more than 220 energy projects since 2006

Impacted 87,700 people through grants, events, and programs since 2009

Major Accomplishments

Learn More: Visit the CERTs website, attend an upcoming event, or connect with a member of our staff. www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org

CERTs: Minnesotans Building a Clean Energy Future