Energy efficiency in farm homes and other buildings can reduce demand for fossil fuels, lower carbon dioxide emissions, and save money.

Windbreaks around farm buildings can significantly increase energy efficiency, reducing heating bills by as much as 25%. (1)

Suggestions for increasing energy efficiency in barns include: (2):

• Regular maintenance of fans and heating systems in barns to ensure good barn air quality and energy efficiency.
• Efficient heating sources, such as solar power, hot water heating pads and new highly efficient bulb systems for farrowing crates, will save energy for hog producers.
• Climate control systems that automatically reduce barn temperatures slightly at night can provide further savings and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Switching to alternative energy sources such as geothermal, solar, wind, biomass energy and waste heat to heat farm buildings will also help.

For more information, download our publications

• “Farming in a Changing Climate in Manitoba – Crop Edition (2013)“
• “Farming in a Changing Climate in Manitoba – Livestock Edition (2013)“