As the vibrantly colored leaves drift slowly down from the trees in the woodlands of the Ozarks, there comes a cacophony of sounds that we've come to associate with fall. The roar of the chainsaw and the crack of wood being split by experienced hands echoes through the trees.
As the days shorten and the temperatures drop, all thoughts turn to how to stay warm through the winter. The minds of poultry farmers turn to how big the propane bill will be for those cold months. Propane prices are watched acutely by everyone in the poultry industry. The prices and amount of propane used can drastically affect the profitability of poultry flocks. Poultry farmers and the poultry industry continually evaluate new products looking for energy efficiency and cost saving products. Spray foam insulation is not a new product, but the use of closed cell spray foam insulation has taken off in the past few years.
In open cell foam (barn foam), the tiny cells of the foam are not completely closed. This makes the foam weaker or softer feeling than closed-cell foam. Closed cell foam has cells that are closed, packed tightly together, and are filled with gas that helps the foam rise and expand, and provide greater insulation. Closed cell foam is denser than open cell, making it heavier, stronger, and gives it a better R-value. This dense type of foam also provides greater resistance to the leakage of air or water vapor.
Most poultry barns are older and weren't designed originally for energy efficiency. Even newer buildings sometimes have leakage issues. In addition to allowing air into the barn, large cracks and joints allow the passage of water, insects and rodents. By sealing and insulating a barn with a closed cell spray foam insulation, you not only improve energy efficiency, but you limit disease vectors, such as rodents. Closed cell insulation is considered a “green product," that will aid farmers in their aim to improve agriculture by being more energy efficient and sustainable. The products are soy-based and use water as the sole blowing agent. Closed cell SPFs not only contain varying degrees of renewable resources in their formulation, but the energy savings alone can significantly decrease fossil fuel consumption. The USDA has certified the product to be eligible for its REAP (Rural Energy for America Program), and the cost of having a barn retrofitted and sealed with the product can qualify for a 25 percent grant and a 50 percent loan to help pay for the improvements. Farmers can contact their local USDA office to have a staff member help fill out the necessary paperwork and submit for an energy audit. Even if a farmer chooses not to go through the USDA for help in funding their retrofit, the payback on closed cell SPF's is fairly quick. In study findings reported by Auburn University in May of 2007, the payback is reported as 1.74 years. Live weights and litter quality were also noted to have improved in the study. Visit www.ozarksfn.com for links to your USDA page.
As you begin reviewing your propane bills, remember, closed cell spray foam insulation is definitely an alternative to review that will help in the fight to keep production costs down.
