New Energy Calculator Tools Now Available

Many of you may be familiar with the Online Energy Selector and the Online Annual Heating Energy Cost Analyzer tools that Penn State Extension has created.  These tools use straightforward spreadsheet files to simplify the process of comparing energy costs from different heating fuels.  

• Online Energy Selector Tool
• Online Annual Heating Energy Cost Analyzer

 Also of long standing and usefulness is the Orchard Consumption Estimator, an online tool that can be used to estimate equipment fuel use for spraying and mowing activities in a commercial tree fruit facility.  

• Fuel Consumption Spreadsheet

Recently, we added a new Electricity Bill Analyzer tool that provides methods for comparing fixed rates to tiered rates, relative to a farm's energy use patterns.  

•  Comparison Tool for Fixed and Tiered Energy Rates

We also developed an "Energy Log" tool that makes it easier for you to keep track of your energy use patterns and start shaping your energy purchasing decisions in an informed way.  

• Home Energy Log a Tool for Tracking Your Energy Usage

Now, Penn State Extension is pleased to have released six new energy calculator tools that delve into common farm-specific energy issues and provide farmers and energy professionals a simplified method for estimating savings to be had from different common energy efficiency measures.  "Farmers are incredibly busy people. We wanted to give them some useful tools that can furnish immediate, practical answers while also providing the underlying assumptions" said Gary Musgrave, energy specialist with Penn State Extension.  "All forms of energy are becoming more expensive. These tools should make it easier for farmers make the best economic energy choices regarding their farm’s energy use".

These tools can all be found online and downloaded from the Penn State Extension website.  They are spreadsheet-based and should run properly on almost any that has spreadsheet software installed.  The six calculators are:

• Field Operations Energy Calculator
• Barn Ventilation Energy Calculator
• Dairy Vacuum Pump VSD Energy Calculator
• Tractor Engine Block Heater Timer Calculator
• Farm Motor Upgrade Energy Calculator
• Dairy Well Water Precooler Energy Calculator

This latest release of calculator tools significantly adds to the suite of Penn State Extension's energy tools and provides farmers and farm energy specialists with a new option for looking at energy use and energy efficiency measures on the farm.  Supported by a grant from the US Department of Energy by way of the PA Department of Environmental Protection, these tools are intended for energy-savvy farmers or farm energy specialists who are comfortable working with numbers.  

You are encouraged to download and use these tools, and by all means, let us know if you have any ideas of ways they could be expanded or improved so that they are even more useful.  Hopefully, we will continue to improve the tool, releasing enhanced versions as time goes on.  You can reach us with your comments and suggestions at farmenergy@psu.edu

Beginning today and reaching into the coming months, we will be writing detailed articles about each of these new calculators, providing you with information about the inputs needed, proper use, assumptions, and limitations of each tool.  We hope you will enjoy using these calculators, and that they will help you save energy on the farm!