Research and Education Grant Examples

Hoop houses extend the growing season and are inexpensive to erect, but use a lot of energy for heating and cooling; as dairy farmers in the region diversify and turn to high-value greenhouse crops, they need to improve energy conservation to protect profits. The project manager will combine research into both bubble and thermal blanket insulation with education through energy audits, workshops, grower surveys, and support for conservation, in consultation with a greenhouse engineer and energy consultants reaching more than 1650 growers As a result, 80 growers will implement changes in their conservation tactics affecting 160,000 square feet of greenhouse space, resulting in cost savings of $500 per grower; three growers will adopt either a bubble or thermal blanket insulation system that will reduce fuel costs by $1000.