M&E provides Technical Services for the installation and certification of conservation practices associated with energy audits. The installation of those practices and final certification of NRCS Conservation Practice Standards Farmstead Energy Improvement, Building Envelope Improvement and Lighting System Improvement are implemented according to contract specifications.
One of M&E’s team leaders, Stanley Mathis, PE is a TSP for NRCS; he has and continually completes the USDA Information Security Awareness Training course presented on Aglearn+.
These energy improvements yield numerous benefits including but not limited to the reduction of costs, increased productivity, and reduced air pollutants and greenhouse gases.
Financial assistance may be available to inventory and analyze farm systems that use energy and identify opportunities to improve efficiency through the development of an Agricultural Energy Management Plan (AgEMP). Examples of items that may be eligible for energy efficiency improvements include:
- Lighting
- Plate coolers
- Ventilation and fans
- Irrigation pumps
- Grain dryers
- Greenhouse improvements
- Maple syrup evaporators
- Heating and refrigeration units
- Insulation and building envelope sealing
- Motor controls and variable speed drive
Quality Assurance
M&E personnel works directly with NRCS and with participant’s contractors to ensure material specifications are met, proper installation procedures and safety standards are followed. M&E will make recommendations to participants based on the following:
- Contractors will be required to provide required licenses.
- Contractors will be required to provide evidence of demonstrated capabilities.
- Contractors will be required to show proper quality controls.
Project Quality Specifications
Work shall be carried out in accordance with requirements of the conservation practice standards and specifications for Farmstead Energy Improvement (374), Lighting System Improvement (670), and Building Envelope Improvement (672). When locations are determined, building codes or industry standards shall be applied to the scope of work.
Inspections and Tests
Quality Control and inspection efforts shall be in accordance with Farmstead Energy Improvement (374), Lighting System Improvement (670), and Building Envelope Improvement (672). Each improvement will be inspected and tested for quality control, physical inspection along with testing of each improvement.
Project Completion Inspections
Checkout of the installed energy improvements and a certification that the installation meets the appropriate conservation practice standard will be accomplished by the inspector and contract manager. The Technical Service Provider Certification, NRCS-CPA-6 Notes will be provided as documents of completion.