Connecticut Greenhouses can cut energy use and costs with the Connecticut Farm Energy Audit Program.

CTRC&D’s Connecticut Farm Energy Audit Program provided funding to cover 75% of the cost of energy audits for Connecticut greenhouse growers and agricultural producers. The program evaluated cost-effective technologies to solve energy challenges faced by today’s growers, with a focus on innovative technologies. Examples of projects that were analyzed through the energy audits include dynamic temperature controls, waste heat recovery systems, thermal energy storage, adaptive lighting controls, and more.

Funded through a REDA grant from USDA Rural Development, CTRC&D partnered with EnSave, Inc., an agricultural energy efficiency firm, to deliver the energy audits. The goal of this project was to examine innovation in greenhouse energy efficiency and agricultural operations.

Two types of audits were provided to farms and ag based rural small businesses, based on their needs:

·        Comprehensive: This detailed energy audit analyzed the entire operation and provided recommendations for all cost-effective energy efficiency technologies for the farm.

·        Targeted: This energy audit focused on one or two specific technologies the grower wished to investigate.

Both types of audits included energy and cost savings and anticipated payback period for the recommended equipment.  Once an audit report was complete, growers can make sound business decisions and apply for funding through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to complete the recommended energy efficient projects.

Program flyer. This pilot program concluded in 2022.