Online Tools

The following websites offer online tools that can be used to make high-level efficiency, cost savings, and GHG emissions reduction calculations. While these calculators do not offer the level of detail recommended for project implementation, they will give a general sense of the size of opportunity linked to a best management practice for your operations.

Climate Friendly Nurseries Project (CFNP) Tools

Calculator Name / Description
CFNP Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory Tool / / GHG inventory tool created specifically for the Climate Friendly Nurseries Project. This tool enables nurseries to measure and track resource and energy use, as well as reductions in costs and GHG emissions over time.

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Calculators

Calculator Name / Created By / Website / Description
Climate Friendly Nuseries Project GHG Inventory Tool / / GHG inventory tool created specifically for the Climate Friendly Nurseries Project. This tool enables nurseries to measure and track resource and energy use, as well as reductions in costs and GHG emissions over time.
NurseryFootprint / Australia Nursery & Garden Industry / / Carbon footprint calculator designed especially for the Australian production nursery industry
Carbon Footprint Calculator / C-Plan (Central Scotland Farmers) / / Allows for a quick estimation of GHG emissions based on land use practices
U.S. Cropland Greenhouse Gas Calculator / W.K. Kellogg Biological Station / / Calculator to estimate greenhouse gas emissions from various farming practices

Agriculture Efficiency Tools

Calculator Name / Created By / Website / Description
Virtual Grower / USDA-ARS / / Tool that will model greenhouse including materials, heating setup, fuel type, heating schedule, supplemental lighting, and energy curtains; will estimate plant growth and fuel costs for the growing season
Farm Assessment Toolkit / USDA NRCS, University of Wisconsin-Extension and Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy Group / / Online toolkit that assessed farm operations’ energy efficiency, describes areas for improvement and proposes efficient equipment and management options
Farm Energy Audit Tool / Alliant Energy / alliantenergy.com/UtilityServices/ForYourFarm/EnergyConservation/023516 / Tool that estimates electricity consumption by farm equipment and appliances, recommends alternatives and calculates potential savings
Average Farm Energy Calculator / Central Iowa Power Cooperative / / Calculates typical monthly electricity consumption based on input equipment and lists ways to save energy
Food and Rural Development Crop Calculators / Alberta Agriculture / / Large selection of agricultural calculators for such operational components as fertilizer and farm machinery
Energy Estimator for Nitrogen / USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service / nfat.sc.egov.usda.gov / Tool for calculating potential cost savings related to nitrogen use utilizing farm-specific information on fertilizer types, costs, timing and placement
Energy Estimator for Tillage / USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service / ecat.sc.egov.usda.gov / Tool that estimates diesel fuel usage and costs in key crop production and compares savings between conventional and alternative tillage systems
Energy Estimator for Irrigation / USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service / ipat.sc.egov.usda.gov / Tool that estimates the energy costs from pumping water for irrigation, and savings from implementing system improvements
Organic Fertilizer and Cover Crop Calculator / Oregon State University / / Calculator that demonstrates the cost effectiveness and soil and crop requirements for fertilizer options
Farm Energy Calculator / Montana State University / ipm.montana.edu/Training/software/CPMS/2007/CropMixTillageEnergyPriceBioD.swf / Tool that helps to compare certain tillage practices in terms of energy and cost savings
Tools by Land Use / USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service / / A list of tools that estimate such components as fuel use and irrigation systems, as well as many others
Irrigation Fuel Cost Estimator / AgWeb.com / / Calculates the cost of using propane versus other energy sources for irrigation
Pumping Cost Analysis / California Agricultural Pumping Efficiency Program / ciency.org/Pumptesting/costanalysis.asp#assumed / Analyzes the cost savings for retrofitting electric water pumps
Agricultural Tools / Noble Foundation / / A list of calculators for farming, livestock care, and dairies; applicable tools for the nursery industry include those for fertigation injection scheduling and fertilizer spread rates

General Energy Efficiency Calculators

Calculator Name / Created By / Website / Description
Energy Savings Calculators / Wisconsin Public Service Corporation / / Calculators that show savings from efficient equipment including thermostats, duct sealing, gas chillers, lighting, and others
Calculators Online Center / Martindale Center / / An extensive list of online calculators and design tools, many applicable for nursery operations
Energy Efficiency Calculators / Alliant Energy / alliantenergy.com/UtilityServices/ForContractorsTradeAllies/NewsResources/013446 / A list of energy efficiency calculators for various types of equipment including air conditioning and lighting
Energy Cost Calculators / US DOE Federal Energy Management Program / www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/technologies/eep_eccalculators.html / Tool that estimates savings from the implementation of efficient equipment
Energy Calculators / Energy Trust of Oregon / / A number of calculators to gauge the cost effectiveness of energy efficiency opportunities
Energy Cost Calculator / Penn State University / energy.cas.psu.edu/costcomparator.html / Tool that provides the cost, energy content and heat conversion efficiency information for a variety of fuels
Energy Efficiency Reference / Oregon State University Energy Efficiency Center / eeref.engr.oregonstate.edu/EEREF_Energy_Efficiency_Reference / Tool for identifying and quantifying energy efficiency opportunities
Fan System Assessment Tool / US DOE / / Tool that helps industrial users quantify energy use and savings opportunities in industrial fan systems
Motor Master+ / US DOE / www1.eere.energy.gov/industry/bestpractices/software_motormaster.html / Tool used to assess motor systems and guide repair vs. replace decisions
Pumping System Assessment Tool / US DOE / www1.eere.energy.gov/industry/bestpractices/software_psat.html / Tool that helps assess pump system operations and identify savings opportunities
Fuel Value Calculator / USDA / / Calculator that compares unit costs of varying types of fuel; can be used to calculate savings for fuel-switching project technology

Renewable Energy Project Tools

Calculator Name / Created By / Website / Description
Wind Project Calculator / Windustry / / Tool that calculates a wind project’s capacity factor, cost, and savings
Clean Energy Project Analysis Software / RETScreen / / Tools that can be used to evaluate energy production and savings, costs, and emissions reductions for renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies
Solar Estimator / US DOE, American Solar Energy Society, Solar Electric Power Association / / Tool that provides cost, savings and recommended system size for photovoltaic system implementation
Solar Energy Calculators and Software / Texas State Energy Conservation Office / / Tools for the implementation of photovoltaic and solar hot water systems, as well as two GHG emissions calculators