Web portal houses energy-saving strategies

Growers searching for strategies to reduce energy costs have a comprehensive online resource developed by Erik Runkle, horticulture professor, and Matthew Blanchard, graduate student, at Michigan State University.

The two collaborated with horticulturists, agricultural economists and agricultural engineers to create this resource at http://hrt.msu.edu/energy/notebook.htm.

Since 2004, energy costs have soared by 30-50 percent, Runkle said. And increased energy costs reduced the Michigan greenhouse industry’s profitability by more than $20 million in 2005, he said.

“Energy is usually one of the greenhouse industry’s top two highest priorities because, on average, it accounts for 8-12 percent of a producer’s total expenses,” Runkle said.

Growers can search for strategies related to lighting, temperature and scheduling, energy-saving technologies, alternative fuels and energy grants and loans.

The information is applicable to Northern U.S. regions with similar climate patterns to Michigan.

In other energy research, Runkle is working with the USDA to build a computer program to generate mathematical models to forecast how well crops can be expected to grow at specific temperatures. Runkle said the computer program, which is still under development, will allow users to select the type of crop they wish to grow and recommend the most profitable temperature at which to grow the plants.

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For more: Erik Runkle, Michigan State University, (517) 355-5191; runkleer@msu.edu.

June 2008