On the House

By Jonathan Susser Q:I own a farm with a barn and a few outbuildings. What are some steps I can take to lower my energy bill each month?

A:New, proven products and technologies on the farm offer a number of opportunities to improve energy efficiency. And beyond saving you money, many of these upgrades can also make your life a little easier by enhancing convenience, reducing maintenance requirements and benefiting safety. Let’s walk through a few areas.

Lighting One of the more straightforward actions you can take is to convert any older, lower efficiency lighting to higher efficiency solutions. This could come in the form of swapping out incandescent, high-intensity discharge (e.g., mercury vapor, metal halide) or fluorescent tube lamps with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that are bulb, lamp or tube shaped. These latter options are more efficient than their predecessors, and they should last longer, meaning you’ll spend less time and energy climbing ladders for changeouts. Research has also found that you shouldn’t have to worry about them harming animal production.

Pumps Pumps play a big role in many aspects of farming, from cultivating crops to raising livestock to improving land utilization. Engine-driven pumps have traditionally been used for these applications, but electric motor-driven pumps are growing in popularity.

Operating pumps on electricity can be significantly less expensive than on diesel/gas because prices are more stable and electric motors are more energy efficient than internal combustion engines. Electric motors also have fewer moving parts, and they are quiet and easy to use, with some systems offering remote operation. In addition, there are no tanks to refill, no spillage or contamination concerns, and no oil changes.

Farm tools, machines and vehicles Thanks to recent technological advancements, electric farm and lawn equipment continues to arrive. You can

Improve energy efficiency on your farm with these tips.

already, or should soon be able to, find battery-powered versions of forklifts, backhoes, tractors and riding mowers. On the smaller side, there are trimmers, leaf blowers and chainsaws. And for traversing your land and light hauling, consider electric utility vehicles, which can cover acreage across a variety of terrains with no warmup time needed.

All of this machinery can benefit you in several ways. It’s often cheaper, simpler and less noisy to run, and with no hazardous exhaust or emissions to deal with, it can be used easily and safely in enclosed environments.

Ice machines Cooling and freezing are essential to keeping crops and produce from spoiling. Ice machines may help boost your existing cooling/freezing strategies when needed. The ice can be made, stored and used to keep your products in favorable conditions during really hot times.

Savings until the cows come home These measures should help you save energy and reduce headaches over time, though they may require some behavioral changes and cost you more upfront. Be sure to do your research to see what specific technologies will work best for you and your farm, and consult with your local electric cooperative about incentives, energy audits and assessments regarding electrical infrastructure needs.

Jonathan Susser is a writer and editor for Advanced Energy in Raleigh.

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By MaKayla Killens

On September 30, Tara Dower of Raleigh walked among the dunes of Jockey’s Ridge State Park to become the fastest hiker to complete the state’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) — covering nearly 1,200 miles in just over 29 days. The trail spans the diversity of our state, from Clingman’s Dome in Great Smoky Mountain National Park to the Outer Banks.

Tara, originally from New Jersey, grew up in Wake Forest. Tara has a husband and a brother who are both in the military, along with two loving parents who introduced her to hiking.

“My parents were huge on getting outside exposure and always being active,” Tara says. “We started going on simple walks, which turned into miles and then eventually exploring local hikes.”

Tara began backpacking around 2013, which was when she decided to take hiking to the next level. Backpacking, as Tara describes it, “is essentially gathering everything you need for a hike and going out into the backcountry.”

After completing the more than 2,000-mile-long Appalachian Trail in 2019 with her husband, Tara decided to backpack the MST in January 2020 by herself, as a self-supported mission with no help from anyone following her. Individuals referred to as “regular thru-hikers” typically hike around 15 to 20 miles a day. However, when the pandemic hit, plans changed, as Tara did not want to rely too heavily on “trail angels” — those who provide hikers with food, shelter and other support— and possibly risk COVID-19 exposure. That is when Tara set her sights on completing the trail quickly, as the fastest-known attempt.

One day at a time Tara prepared for the hike for two-and-a-half months, focusing on preventive care and elevation changes. Tara had to hike 40 miles a day to break the speed record, and she needed help from someone following her in a vehicle to carry gear and provide support.

Tara endured many challenges throughout her journey. Physically, she suffered from what could have been shin splints and possibly bursitis in her ankles. She also shares how she suffered from anxiety throughout the hike.

“It was as if part of my brain was telling me I couldn’t complete the journey, while the other part of my brain was believing that I could do it.”

The motivating factor that encouraged Tara to keep going was her husband and family. One day, her husband asked her on the phone: “Why don’t you just stop?”

He wanted her to know it was OK to stop if the hike was getting to be too much. But with that question, it hit Tara that she didn’t want to stop. She kept thinking about what both her mom and a friend would say when hiking long journeys: “One more day.”

Co-op trail angel On a particularly stressful day due to malnourishment and knee issues, Four County EMC, based in Burgaw, served as a trail angel to Tara.

“I couldn’t think straight, and my brain felt like scrambled eggs,” she says. “I was having a hard time forming sentences and was very weak.”

But once she contacted Don Gatton, vice president of Human Resources at Four County EMC, she was relieved at the hospitality she was met with. The electric co-op partnered with YMCA Camp Kirkwood to provide shelter and assistance for Tara and her support crew.

“By the end of the day, I was exhausted,” she remembers. “Four County and Camp Kirkwood provided me with clothes, a shower, a place to lay my head … it was extremely helpful to be genuinely taking care of.”

Journey’s end Along the last mile of the trail in Jockey’s Ridge State Park, Tara was crying as she reflected on everything that she had endured up until that point — as well as her support groups and knowing it was all over.

“I felt free,” she explains, “like I could do whatever I wanted.”

MaKayla Killens lives in Leland and is the communications specialist for Four County EMC.

Visit mountainstoseatrail.org to learn more about North Carolina’s long trail, including an interactive map and a 40-hike challlenge.

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