DECORAH, Iowa – Despite the uncertainty of COVID-19 and propane supply concerns, farmers have energy-saving options for the upcoming winter months, according to industry experts.

“I always recommend getting an energy audit for your farm to take a look at the big picture of all energy uses on your operation,” said Joel Zook, a certified energy manager and a National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) technical service provider for on-farm energy audits for Winneshiek Energy District. The district implements locally owned, clean energy transition in Winneshiek County, Iowa.

“The National Resources Conservation Service has cost-share opportunities through the EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) that can help cover the cost of a farm energy audit, as well as cost share for energy saving upgrades, from more efficient heating options, insulation, grain dryers, LED lighting, and more,” he added.

He said older shop buildings and heated barns can often benefit from an evaluation of their insulation levels to ensure they are as efficient as possible.

“Attic insulation is usually a great place to start since blown-in insulation can be installed at a reasonable cost,” he said. “I recommend insulating building attics to R50, which is about 15 inches of blown cellulose. Increasing attic insulation is a great option for any heated building that currently has less than eight inches of existing attic insulation.

“Walls can be more difficult to insulate and are often not as cost-effective if they already have some insulation, or if adding insulation would require removal of existing siding, or an interior finish.”

Scott Wagner, Indiana NRCS agricultural engineer, said, “Once the on-farm energy audit has been completed, either through the National Resources Conservation Service or another qualified provider, eligible producers can apply through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program On-Farm Energy Initiative for the purchase and installation of certain building materials and equipment to improve energy efficiency.”

Recently, NRCS announced the Conservation Activity Plan 136, Agricultural Energy Design Plan, which utilizes the recommendations from the NRCS-approved energy audit to provide design and installation alternatives.

“This plan takes the guesswork out of what materials or equipment will need to be installed to make your farming operations energy efficient,” Wagner said.

In Indiana, he said, “We offer several energy conservation-related practices,” which include the Energy Efficient Building Envelope, Energy Efficient Lighting System and Farmstead Energy Improvement conservation practices.

“The Energy Efficient Building Envelope is modifying or retrofitting the building envelope of existing agricultural buildings,” he said. “This includes upgrades to the attic and/or wall insulations, along with insulated curtain.

“The Energy Efficient Lighting System is replacing or retrofitting an agricultural building’s lighting system,” he added. “This includes upgrades to indoor and outdoor lighting. Finally, the Farmstead Energy Improvement is the development and implementation of improvements to increase energy efficiency on-farm. This includes upgrades to the mechanical systems, such as the heating systems.”

Zook said an often overlooked area on the farm is uninsulated concrete stem walls, in either barns or shop buildings.

“Many times, the foundation will be exposed and uninsulated 2 to 4 feet above the ground,” he said. “While the framed wall is insulated, the uninsulated base of the wall can lose an incredible amount of heat over the year.

“Closed-cell spray foam is usually a good option to remedy this situation in a retrofit situation,” he added. “Additionally, any heating source that is only 80 percent efficient could be replaced with a high-efficiency furnace to reduce heating costs by 10-15 percent.”

He said since propane prices are expected to go up considerably this year, he also emphasized heat pumps as a supplementary heating system.

“Maybe in a regular year, it makes sense to use the heat pumps down to 20-30 degrees (that exact temperature will depend on your model),” he said. “But in years when propane prices spike, that equation can change. Heat pump users might want to see how much they can get out of their system this year to conserve propane.”

For farm homes, he said, air tightness (or the amount of leaks) can often be one of the largest drivers of heat losses, as well as uncomfortable drafts.

“I recommend a home energy audit from a contractor or home building specialist that can use a blower door to measure and find air leakage areas,” he said. “Air sealing, proper insulation and correctly-sized heating equipment are the three key steps (in order of importance) to a healthy, comfortable and energy-efficient home.”

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. propane inventories as of Sept. 24 nationwide were 72.921 million barrels, or 70.4 days of supply.

Unlike other fuels during the pandemic, the U.S. propane market demand did not decrease, said Deb Grooms, Iowa Propane Gas Association CEO.

“There was slightly higher demand because people spent more time at home and invested in outdoor living, while restaurants and other businesses adapted to pandemic mandates by using outdoor appliances powered by propane,” she said.

But propane supplies could be a significant concern this coming heating season, said Jean Bowen, River Valley Cooperative energy business lead in Davenport, Iowa.

“Many analysts are stating that until U.S. propane is at a price disadvantage to the export markets, we will continue to see concerning inventory levels,” she said. “Of course, the light grain drying season will help alleviate the initial propane surge as we come into the winter season. However, any significant or prolonged cold weather could cause a drain on propane inventory.”

As the U.S. propane industry nears peak demand season for 2021, Grooms said propane supply is currently below the five-year average range.

“This does not mean there won’t be enough propane to satisfy domestic customers,” she said, “but it is critical that propane suppliers and consumers communicate early regarding needs and adjust their supply plans accordingly.”