Food production accounts for a quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Crop cultivation and supply chain processes require energy and generate associated carbon emissions. Greenhouses and vertical farms use a variety of energy sources such as electricity, natural gas, propane, and gasoline, depending on the type of facility and location.
The Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) industry is growing rapidly across multiple crop categories globally. While CEA facilities use less land to grow more food and reduce waste, they may also require more energy. Many states aim to mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from different sources and partner with utility and efficiency programs to help industrial operations reduce energy use. As the CEA industry expands and more resources are consumed to fuel production, businesses can develop more sustainable habits by adopting strategic energy management (SEM) practices. SEM is a data-driven systematic process that enables organizations to conserve energy and make better use of their energy resources by laying the foundation for continuous energy efficiency improvements. In many states,
The Resource Innovation Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating a better future for all. Our member coalition brings perspectives from across the field – uniting architects and engineers, growers and operators, researchers and analysts. Together we measure, validate and celebrate the world’s most efficient farming ideas. In this article, RII’s technical director and members of the organization’s Technical Advisory Committee working group highlight several ways growers can optimize substrate availability and set up water recycling facilities.
Efficiency comes in many forms. Advanced equipment and automation may be a path, but technology strategies may require substantial capital investment. Behavior change is a powerful productivity strategy that costs very little by comparison. To reduce energy costs over time, SEM embeds efficiency into organizational culture, engaging employees at all levels to control energy use. Continuous monitoring of facility performance can eliminate unnecessary equipment upgrades, enable incremental and long-lasting energy savings, and support more robust capital investment project planning.
The Efficiency Program offers free strategic energy management resources specific to industrial customers, so participants can learn from each other, receive dedicated guidance from energy experts, and achieve lasting energy savings. Since 2017, participants in the New York SEM program have seen electricity savings of 5-7% annually. Most programs use established SEM frameworks such as ISO 50001, 50001 Ready or the Energy Efficiency Alliance’s SEM Minimum Elements to provide programs and participants with a structure to support the development of SEM business practices. the
These continuous improvement approaches are applicable across industries to help CEA operations reduce energy use and environmental impact. SEM coaches identify and recruit cross-sector “energy champions” who join a “cohort” of similar businesses such as manufacturers. Coaches work independently with staff and invite them to participate in peer-to-peer learning opportunities with other cohort members. These opportunities include “treasure hunts,” site visits and group discussions, training, and identifying low- and no-cost changes to save energy and money. While some growers often cite proprietary growing processes and may be reluctant to accept field visits from potential competitors, the experience of “show and tell” emerging and high-performing technologies offers strong and informed advice for improving efficiency.
Benchmark for continuous improvement
Energy advocates can establish patterns of sustainable behavior and actions to persist long after the SEM program ends. Benchmarking is the first step to continuous improvement. To validate the impact of behavioral changes, operations must measure resource efficiency before and after deploying new strategies. Benchmarking is one of the best leverage points to help CEA producers adopt energy efficiency practices and verify the effectiveness of advanced equipment and automation. Benchmarking resource efficiency in buildings can lead to annual energy savings of 2.4 percent, according to the EPA, and complements other strategies such as efficient technology and strategic energy management.
Energy champions can use benchmarking to ‘step on the scale’ to validate the performance of their operation, increase their knowledge and understanding of technologies and their benefits, and demonstrate success through analysis of key performance indicators (KPIs) and case studies. Widespread benchmarking of a diverse range of production approaches and facility types in many locations can emphasize certain efficiency benefits based on size and method of cultivation and help producers have a better understanding and value for the benefits of efficiency.
There are not many benchmarking tools specialized for greenhouses and indoor cultivation facilities. The USDA wants that to change, and funded RII to expand the PowerScore resource benchmarking platform to serve CEA operations growing diverse food, floriculture, and hemp products. PowerScore calculates KPIs for efficiency and productivity of energy, water, and emissions.
Increasing Efficiency Program Support
Performance-based incentives are offered to CEA producers by efficiency programs in ten states. Expanded outreach and education can support the inclusion of CEA in SEM programs offered across the country. Program administrators report broad satisfaction with the cost-effectiveness and persistence of savings from SEM programs targeted to other industrial customers, but may not be aware of savings opportunities in CEA facilities. The North American SEM Collaborative supports a growing community of practice with research, training, regional coordination, and resources to engage utility and other efficiency programs with opportunities to expand implementation of SEM.
Growers across America need more incentives for strategic energy management. RII is working with the Utility Working Group of our Technical Advisory Council to encourage efficiency programs to launch more pilot SEM programs for CEA and create cohorts for greenhouses and indoor vertical farms. In February, RII will release our latest best practices guide for CEA efficiency programs funded by the USDA. In March, RII and members of the Utility Working Group will share highlights from the guide at a live workshop which will also be available for streaming on-demand on RII’s catalog.
