Approaching Energy Efficiency:
On-Farm Energy Use
Characterizations
Elizabeth Brown
Researcher
The American Council for an EnergyEfficient Economy
1
USA: Total Number of Farms by Output Value and Year
2500000
$500,000
or More
$100,000-$499,000
2000000
Number of Farms
$50,000 - $99,999
$25,000 - $49,000
1500000
$10,000 - $24,999
1000000
$5,000-$9,999
$2,500 - $4,999
500000
Less than $2,500
0
1978
1982
1987
1992
1997
2
$500,000
or More
USA: Total Number of Farms by Output Value and Year
100%
$100,000-$499,000
90%
Percent of Total US Farms
80%
70%
60%
$50,000 - $99,999
$25,000 - $49,000
$10,000 - $24,999
50%
40%
30%
$5,000-$9,999
$2,500 - $4,999
20%
Less than $2,500
10%
0%
1978
1982
Source: 1997 Census of Agriculture
1987
1992
1997
3
Agriculture Sector Fuel Mix
35
1997
1992
1987
Percent of Fuel Mix
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Electricity
Gasoline
Source: Census of Agriculture 1997
Diesel
NG
Other
4
Challenges to Viewing Energy
Efficiency Opportunities
• Data Challenge
• Sector Challenges
5
Agriculture % of Gross Regional Product
4.0
Plains
3.5
Rocky
Mountains
3.0
2.5
National Average
Southeast
2.0
Southwest
1.5
1.0
Far West
Great Lakes
New England
Mid Atlantic
0.5
0.0
6
Ways of Viewing Energy
Efficiency in the Agricultural
Sector
• The End-Use Perspective
• The National/Sector-Based Perspective
• The Regional Perspective
7
Next steps
• Energy efficiency potential study
• Current energy efficiency program review
Elizabeth Brown, ACEEE
Lbrown@aceee.org
(202) 429-8873 x 716
http://www.aceee.org/industry/agriculture.htm
8