Energy use on the farm

Energy use is a vital component of farms today, replacing human labor and performing tasks that could not normally be carried out. Typical sources of energy include electricity, natural gas, propane, fuel oil, and biomass. In the Northeast United States, energy use remains a relatively small portion (<10%) of total farm expenses, but is nonetheless essential to the effective operations of the farm. Energy Use Indices (EUI) can be used to characterize the efficiency with which a given category of farming operation consumes energy, and as such are a useful benchmarking tool for assessing the overall energy efficiency of a farm. Assessment of energy use patterns, in terms of temperature-dependent and production-dependent loads, can yield insights into the energy use patterns of a given farm and provide guidance as to opportunities for improved efficiency.