Ag Opportunities Volume 19, Number 2 February 2008 Renewable Home Energy Editor: With the cost of oil today and the high prices at the gas pump, people are only looking at ways to cut costs elsewhere. One place to cut costs is home energy use. Here are two articles that will apply to both town or farm homes. What are the key issues with decreasing home energy consumption? by Barbara Buffaloe, College of Human Environmental Studies, Univ of MO Improving the energy efficiency of your home reduces the amount of energy you need to use to keep it warm or cool. The highest amount of home energy consumption is done by your home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. *An easy, low-cost way to increase efficiency in your HVAC system is to clean or replace your furnace’s air filter on a monthly basis. *Annual checkups of your HVAC system by a professional are also an easy way to maintain the appliance’s efficiency. *A programmable thermostat has a moderate upfront cost but can save around $150 annually by automatically adjusting your thermostat to energy-saving temperatures while you are not home. *Maintaining your system’s ductwork is an easy way to ensure overall efficiency. *Updating these systems with Energy Star-rated appliances can have a significant initial cost that ends up saving you money on your utility bills. In addition to saving money on your utility bills, many energy efficient appliances qualify for tax credits. For more information please refer to the Finance Feature article "Take Credit fro Saving Energy”" Additional low-cost methods for reducing your home’s energy consumption: * Cleaning refrigerator coils; removing frost from freezers * Keep lights clean; shut off when not in use * Replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents * Leave your South-facing windows’ curtains open in winter and closed in summer to collect or prevent solar heat gain. * Installing insulators behind electrical outlets * Re-leveling your blown-in attic insulation * Insulating attic access door * Setting ceiling fans in up-flow mode * Insulating Water Heater and set its thermostat to 120° * Weather stripping around windows and doors * Additional moderate to significant upfront cost methods for saving energy include: * Adding insulation to walls and ceiling * Replacing / adding ventilation systems * Replacing doors and windows with Energy Star-rated models It can be helpful to do a home energy audit to determine your household’s current energy use. For additional information please refer to the Housing Feature article on heading off your rising heating bills at http://missourifamilies.org/features/housingarticles/housing2.htm University of Missouri Extension publications available from your local county extension office in the area of energy efficiency are: * GH2100, Managing Interiors for Energy Control - http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/intdes/gh2100.htm * GH2815, Shades and Shutters for Energy Efficiency - http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/intdes/gh2815.htm * GH2816, Sun Screens for Summer Heat Control - http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/intdes/gh2816.htm * GH4860, Obtaining Comfort and Fuel Economy With Your Thermostat - http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/intdes/gh4860.htm * GH4862, Managing Your Hot-Water Heater - http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/intdes/gh4862.htm * GH4878, Computing the Cost of Using Home Appliances - http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/intdes/gh4878.htm * GH4879, Energy Quiz for Home Appliances - http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/intdes/gh4879.htm * GH4881, Weatherstripping Doors - http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/intdes/gh4881.htm * GH4882, Home Energy Management: Weatherstripping Your Windows - http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/intdes/gh4882.htm * GH4950, Energy Efficiency of Major Appliances - http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/intdes/gh4950.htm * GH5261, Interior Storm Windows for Energy Control - http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/intdes/gh5261.htm * GH5981, Heating System Maintenance - http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/intdes/gh5981.htm * GH5983, Energy Management Checklist for the Home - http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/intdes/gh5983.htm * GH5990, Conserve Energy in Your Apartment - http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/intdes/gh5990.htm * GH5995, Hot Water: Use and Conservation - http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/intdes/gh5995.htm *************************************************************************** What is a photovoltaic energy provider and how does the system work? Barbara Buffaloe, College of Human Environmental Studies, Univ of MO Photovoltaic (PV) systems produce alternative energy from the sun’s energy. The PV panels are a semiconductor material (no moving parts) that works as a generator to turn sunlight into electricity. Typical components of a system are: * Manufactured PV modules * Wiring that takes the produced electricity from the roof to the * Converter, which changes the direct current (DC) to an alternating current (AC), which is the most common type of electricity used in homes. The system is typically connected to your meter and can flow energy back to the grid, this rolls the meter backwards. Some PV panels are more efficient that others. On average they are 10% efficient and have a 10-25 year warranty. In case of blackouts or continued period of no-sun days, batteries can be used to store generated electricity. You can get power on an overcast day because the photovoltaics can see light at very low levels. A partly cloudy day can provide half the energy of a sunny day. A PV system can produce anywhere from 400 kWh /month up to 1200 kWh/month. For an average 3 bedroom home of 1,500 square feet a PV system is usually made up of 2-3kW modules. When designing your system a good rule of thumb is to have 1kW for every 100 sq ft of roof. At this date, alternative energy sources are more expensive than traditional energy providers. A total final cost between $5,000-25,000 is expected for homeowners, however when deciding on an energy provider it is important to think about the lifecycle savings that add to the worth of the system. In the end your system costs an average $0.10-20/kWh. Current energy prices are not expected to stay this low and investing in an alternate energy system will save you money down the road. For more information see: http://missourifamilies.org/quick/housingqa/housingqa44.htm *************************************************************************** Selling Strategies for Local Food Producers By Robert Thomas MU Information Specialist The growing popularity of local markets for fresh food presents farm families with opportunities to increase profits, said a University of Missouri Extension community food specialist, but the challenges of marketing and selling directly to consumers can be daunting to some. "While many farmers may be intimidated by the idea of selling, it is important to remember that selling skills can be learned," said Bill McKelvey of the MU Extension’s Community Food Systems and Sustainable Agriculture Program. McKelvey, along with MU Extension sociologist Mary Hendrickson and Joe Parcell, an MU Extension economist and director of the Missouri Value Added Development Center, have written an eight-page guide sheet, "Selling Strategies for Local Food Producers." The guide sheet describes ethical, customer-friendly selling techniques and offers practical advice on building relationships with customers, discovering customers’ needs and preferences, advocating for one’s products and providing quality service. The number of farmers markets in Missouri has doubled in the past decade to more than 130. In addition, farmers also have opportunities to sell at roadside stands, through cooperatives and to institutions and supermarkets, he said. "Customers are looking for food that is fresh and local. They also want to get to know the people who grow their food," said McKelvey. However, it takes strong selling skills to attract and keep local customers," he said. Sellers also need to do their homework to assess the competition and stay abreast of consumer trends and new developments in direct marketing and farming. Customers are willing to pay for food products that are clean and of a high quality, McKelvey said. They also are willing to pay more to have the opportunity to get to know the farmer and be a part of the community. "People consider price, but they also take value into consideration. The stereotype that farmers markets are the place to get cheap food is not accurate," he said. The guide sheet includes an extensive list of resources, including publications, Web sites and contacts. MU Extension Guide G6222, "Selling Strategies for Local Food Producers," is online at http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/hort/g06222.htm and available through your local Extension county office. *************************************************************************** Seminar in Spanish in Marshall, MO The University of Missouri Extension and the Women and Minority Farmers Program of the Department of Rural Sociology is offering a seminar in Spanish in Marshall at the University of Extension office this coming March 10th from 6:30 to 9 pm. The purpose of this seminar is to discuss about federal or state funding and other resources opportunities to start a family farm or to develop an agricultural enterprise. Representatives from state and federal agencies as well as the University of Missouri will discuss topics such as grant writing, cost-share programs, as well as how to establish a wildflower and vegetable garden. A representative of the Missouri Department of Agriculture of the AgriMissouri program will be discussing about a proposal to create a Farmers Market in Marshall which could be a potential outlet for Marshal residents and neighboring communities to sell their produce and value added-products. To register for this free workshop, please contact Guadalupe Martinez at 660-815-2010 or for directions check our website http://extension.missouri.edu/. Everyone is welcome to attend. *************************************************************************** IN PRINT/ON-LINE The National Agricultural Law Center at the University of Arkansas is the only agricultural law research and information facility that is independent, national and international in scope, and directly connected to the national agricultural information network. The center has expanded its coverage to include food law as it recognizes the expanding scope of agricultural law and its convergence with food law topics. A team of law and research professors, lawyers, other specialists, and graduate assistants from the University of Arkansas School of Law Graduate Program in Agricultural Law make up the center’s staff. Their free bi-monthly e-newsletter provides information about new research and information on their website, important events in the agricultural and food law communities, and agricultural and food law developments in the nation and the world. In addition, it fosters a dialogue between subscribers and the center on needed areas for research and information. To subscribe to the e-newsletter go to http://www.nationalaglawcenter.org/about/newsletter/ *************************************************************************** IN THE NEWS Researchers at the Mass. Institute of Technology report that the shape of an avian flu protein that must attach to a human receptor molecule in order to make people ill fits hardly any of the human receptors. That reduces the chances for the bird flu to mutate to infect people. True, some humans are susceptible after contact with infected birds, but they’re few and far between...not enough to generate a pandemic. The research will also help scientists monitor bird flu more precisely. Meanwhile, cases of bird flu in humans dropped in 2007 from 2006 levels. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/miot-mfk010208.php (Kiplinger Agriculture Letter, Jan 2008) *************************************************************************** ON THE CALENDAR Feb 22-23-Grow Native! Landscape Design with Missouri in Mind, St Joseph, MO. Call 573-522-4170 Feb 22–23-Missouri Woodland Owners’ Conference, Columbia, MO. Contact Glenda Fry at 573- 634-3252 or Glenda@moforest.org. For more information go online to http://www.moforest.org or http://www.snr.missouri.edu/forestry/extension Feb 22-25-Western Farm Show, Kansas City, MO. Feb 23-Beekeeping Short Course, Clayton, MO. Call 314-894-8737. Feb 26-Beginning Vegetable Production Workshop, Barnett, MO. Call 573-378-5358. Feb 26-MO Farmers’ Market Workshop, St Louis, MO. Call 573-526-4984. Feb 26-Beginning Vegetable Production Workshop, Jamesport, MO. Call 660-663-3232. Feb 27-MO Farmers’ Market Workshop, Cape Girardeau, MO. Call 573-526-4984. Feb 28-MO Farmers’ Market Workshop, Springfield, MO. Call 573-526-4984. Feb 29-March 2-MO Assn of Meat Processors Convention and Trade Show, Columbia, MO. Call417-237-0410. March 3-MO Farmers’ Market Workshop, Jefferson City, MO. Call 573-526-4984. March 4-MO Farmers’ Market Workshop, Kirksville, MO. Call 573-526-4984. March 5-MO Farmers’ Market Workshop, Kansas City, MO. Call 573-526-4984. March 7-Grow Native! Landscape Design with Missouri in Mind, Cape Girardeau, MO. Call 573-522-4170. March 7-9-Fiber Retreat, Jefferson City, MO. Email Carroll-BartlettL@missouri.edu. March 10-Women and Minority Farmers Program Workshop in Spanish, Marshall, MO. Call 660-815-2010. March 11-Marketing and Local Foods Workshop, Ames, IA. Call http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/research/marketing_files/workshop08/index.ht m March 12-Sheep Shearing School, Jefferson City, MO. Call 573-681-5540, x 30. March 14-15-MO State Beekeepers Assn Spring Meeting, Springfield, MO. Call 636-394-5395, www.mostatebeekeepers.org March 25-27-SARE’s 20th Anniversary Conference: The New American Farm: Advancing the frontier of sustainable agriculture, Kansas City, MO. Contact outreach@sare.org March 28-29-Goat Conference for Goat Producers & Youth and AI Clinic for Sheep & Goats, Jefferson City, MO. Call 573-681-5540, x 30. April 1-3-National Extension Women in Agriculture Education Conference, Oklahoma City, OK. Call Lgw@udel.edu or 302-831-2538. May 17-19-Conference Celebrating 30 Years of Missouri Fiber Artists, Fayette, MO. Call 573-443-1731. Aug 3-5-MO Young Farmers/Young Farm Wives Summer Tour, Kirksville, MO. Call 660-626-1476. Aug 7-17-2008 Missouri State Fair, Sedalia, MO.