LED Lighting in Turkey Barns

CERTs is helping turkey farmers reduce energy use by upgrading to LED lighting in their barns.

Switching from high pressure sodium or incandescent lighting to LED lighting presents the greatest savings opportunity.

Local and federal funding is available to help Minnesota poultry farmers move forward with on-farm lighting retrofits. CERTs is here to help you as a turkey farmer understand and apply for these funds.
 

Reduce energy use and save money by upgrading to LED lighting in your barns. Switching from high pressure sodium or incandescent lighting to LED lighting presents the greatest savings opportunity.

• Watch a short video
• Read about past events to view photos of LED lighting and presentations on funding LED lighting for poultry

Take an inventory of existing lighting

Barns with mostly incandescent or high pressure sodium light bulbs currently are your best bet for an upgrade.

• Write down the types (e.g., incandescent, CFL, high pressure sodium), quantity, and power consumption (in watts) of each bulb type as you walk through your barns
   

Run the numbers

The project should make good economic sense for your business before any incentives.

• Use this calculator to determine the energy costs of your existing lighting technology and compare it to LED lighting technology (If you’re switching from incandescent to LED, assume 12 W for the proposed system. If you’re switching from high pressure sodium to LED, be sure to add the ballast energy use (40 W typically) onto the bulb’s energy use, assume 54 W for the proposed system. For just ball park numbers, assume $45 to upgrade each fixture.)

Get help from CERTs

CERTs can answer questions about LED lighting for turkey barns and will guide you through the three funding options available for barn lighting retrofits.

Get available rebates from your electric utility

CERTs can help you connect with your electric utility to be sure you get all the rebates ($$$) you can.

• When you note your electric utility on this form on our website, we will send you relevant rebate information from your utility
• View the funding comparison chart list to see how utility rebates compare to federal funding
   

Decide which USDA funding you want to pursue, if any

The two federal funding programs suggested to you through this campaign have significant differences. 

Note: The audit through EQIP can be used as the energy evaluation for any of the three funding options (utility rebates, EQIP project funding, REAP grants or loans). The cost of the audit is generally covered in full by NRCS (it’s nearly free!).

• Contact CERTs to talk through the options available – we’re here to help!
   

Get started with USDA NRCS EQIP

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) helps farmers evaluate energy saving opportunities and provides financial assistance to help make energy upgrades happen. EQIP requires an audit first, which the program pays for most, if not all, of it. After the audit, you can apply for financial assistance for the lighting project or any other recommendations in the audit.

EQIP applications are accepted on a continuous basis. See your local NRCS office. The application cut-off dates in 2014 are: October 17, November 14, and December 19.

• Follow EQIP audit and funding flowcharts
• Learn about the EQIP program and deadlines
• Review NRCS’ Top Ten EQIP Tips
• Contact office nearest you by clicking on your county in this map
• Visit this campaign website regularly for updates about this funding opportunity
• Contact CERTs to get the latest and greatest!

Get started with USDA RD REAP

Rural small businesses and agricultural producers can apply for grants and guaranteed loans to fund energy efficiency improvements or renewable energy systems through USDA Rural Development (RD) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).

Grant applications due April 30, 2015 and June 30, 2015. Submit guaranteed loan applications anytime.

• Confirm that you are in a rural area and therefore eligible for REAP
• Read the announcement that REAP funds are available
• Follow REAP funding flowchart
• Watch a webinar about REAP, the application and project examples
• Visit USDA website to download application
• Review the application scoresheet
• Visit this campaign website regularly for updates about this funding opportunity
• Contact CERTs to get the latest and greatest!

This segment from Farm Connections features the Zimmerman Farms and their LED lighting retrofit project.

Click here to watch the full episode of Farm Connections

Toasty Turkeys: LED Lighting and Solar-Transpired Air

Nearly 40 people, including several local turkey farmers from central Minnesota, gathered at Lake Region Electric Cooperative in Pelican Rapids on December 3, 2014 to learn about LED lighting options, funding options, and solar air heating technologies. The event, dubbed “Toasty Turkeys” was a big success. 

Minnesota Turkey Growers Association 2014 Summer Conference

The Minnesota Project served as a panelist in the Energy Sustainability with an Eye on the Future session at the 2014 Summer Conference of the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association in Alexandria on June 19, 2014. Attendees learned about LED lighting for turkey barns, outcomes from a study on 23 barns with LED lighting, and learned about utility and federal funding options to get LED lighting in turkey barns.

CERTs shared this opportunity at the Midwest Poultry Federation Convention in Saint Paul on Wednesday, March 19 and Thursday, March 20 at the University of Minnesota Extension Booth. 

Willmar Event on LED Lighting in Turkey Barns

The West Central Clean Energy Resource Team (WC CERT) and The Minnesota Project presented an educational program on how to pursue funding to support an LED lighting retrofit project on Thursday, March 13, 2014 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Life Center Auditorium of MinnWest Technology Campus in Willmar. Attendees learned about LED lighting for turkey barns, heard candid farmer feedback on this type of retrofit, and learned about utility and federal funding options to get LED lighting in turkey barns.