Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Completed Competitive Grant

Meeting on-farm energy needs through conservation, efficiency and renewable energy

Project ID: XP2009-01

Abstract

A working group centered on the demonstration and promotion of energy saving practices used meetings, field days and mini-grants to communicate with farmers.

Key Question: Can you reduce on-farm energy use by focusing on practical farm-scale things that farmers can do without a full-fledged state-run farm energy services organization or through utilities?

Findings: Yes, the Farm Energy Working Group used demonstration grants, presentations on successful national efforts, talks by Iowa farmers who are using energy efficient practices and/or renewable energy on their farms to make Iowa farmers aware of their options for and need to reduce fossil fuel use. But a full-fledged statewide program will benefit the state greatly by consistently providing the same farm energy services to all regions of Iowa.

Lead investigator: Kamyar Enshayan, Center for Energy and Environmental Education, University of Northern Iowa

Co-Investigator(s):

Carole Yates, Center for Energy and Environmental Education, University of Northern Iowa

Year of grant completion: 2012

This competitive grant project was part of the Leopold Center's Cross-Cutting Initiative.

Topics: Bioeconomy and energy