Delivering water to crops costs $2.6 billion energy dollars every year, according to the U.S. Department of Ag. The National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service reports 25% of that energy was wasted due to poor irrigation pump and motor efficiency.

Here are a few ways to start saving today:

MAINTAIN: Maintain equipment and facilities following manufacturers’ recommendations for proper use and maintenance.

TURN OFF WASTE: Turn off equipment when not in use or needed. Educate employees on the importance of not running all equipment at the same time.

MOTOR SAVINGS: Use National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Premium Efficient electric motors. These highly efficient products meet the needs and applications of the farmer and manufacturers based on a consensus definition of “premium efficiency.” Learn more at www.motorsmatter.org.

WATCH RATINGS: Always consider energy consumption ratings when replacing or installing new equipment, typically the lowest cost equipment is the least energy efficient.