CEA install a new propagation control system, Takao's grower was referred to Dana Koppes, an energy consultant at Agritech Energy. " We were told that Dana might be able to help reduce our energy costs by assisting us in applying for applicable grants for energy-efficient equipment, " said Lisa TakaoMcCall, director of operations at Takao Nursery. " Dana visited our facility and made recommendations on where he thought we could qualify. He identified grants and rebates applicable to us and also assisted us with the initial application process. A REAP grant was one of his recommendations based on our rural location. " We initially were hoping the propagation control system we were replacing would qualify for a grant. Dana told us it didn't qualify because it wasn't more energy efficient and was just a replacement of our existing system. REAP projects are required to save energy and lower costs. He said that we could replace some exhaust fans that would qualify for a grant, but since the fans were still working well, we chose not to include those in our grant proposal. " Takao's greenhouse energy curtains had begun to deteriorate and became difficult to operate with the automated open/close control based on sunlight/ temperature. There are programs growers might qualify for that they aren't aware of, and this is where a consultant can be a valuable partner. - Lisa Takao-McCall Lisa Takao-McCall, director of operations at Takao Nursery, applied for and received a USDA-REAP grant to replace the company's deteriorating greenhouse energy curtains. All photos courtesy of Takao Nursery. GREENHOUSE PRODUCT NEWS 29