Gaining your edge
Energy Edge is an initiative of Greenhouse Canada magazine aimed at turning what is a liability for most growers – fluctuating energy costs – into a competitive advantage. With energy accounting for as much as 40 per cent of the operating costs of many greenhouse operations, small and steady improvements on this front can move the needle in a big way on the bottom line. Energy Edge will look at new technologies, innovative projects, case studies of growers finding their own Energy Edge.
You can read about it in each issue of Greenhouse Canada, but we’ve also created this dedicated microsite. Here you can find regular news items on the subject, new technology and products, video, and in-depth archives on the subject.
We’ll also produce a bi-weekly enewsletter to keep you up to speed on what we’re covering. It is free to all Greenhouse Canada digital subscribers. You can sign up for it here.
If you want to add to the conversation, please drop us a line and let us know about your project, technology, services, or concerns at energyedge@annexweb.com.
You can read about it in each issue of Greenhouse Canada, but we’ve also created this dedicated microsite. Here you can find regular news items on the subject, new technology and products, video, and in-depth archives on the subject.
We’ll also produce a bi-weekly enewsletter to keep you up to speed on what we’re covering. It is free to all Greenhouse Canada digital subscribers. You can sign up for it here.
If you want to add to the conversation, please drop us a line and let us know about your project, technology, services, or concerns at energyedge@annexweb.com.
Energy audit report will show audits a very wise move
Wednesday, 16 May 2012-
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Aluel Go is a farm energy auditor and visiting researcher in the MSU Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering.
Greenhouse energy audits are worth it. That’s the preliminary conclusion of a study soon to be released from Michigan State University (MSU).
Aluel Go, a farm energy auditor and visiting researcher in the MSU Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, is currently spearheading a study which looks at the savings that can be reaped from greenhouse energy audits. The finished report, involving graduate student Trevor McLean, will be available to the public in about a month. Audits of 25 greenhouse businesses are being examined.
In Go’s view, the study is going to be crucial in convincing industry members that spending money on an audit is a very wise move. Of the 15 audits analyzed so far, eight are typical small operations which Go says could each be saving an average of $15 000 to $20 000 (USD) every year if the recommended energy efficiency improvements from the audit were put in place.
Aside from the seemingly high cost of audits and a perceived lack of their benefits, there are other reasons that industry members have shied away from energy audits, says Go.
These reasons and much more will be available in June’s feature story on greenhouse energy audits in Greenhouse Canada Magazine and here on Energy Edge.
