This project will determine the potential of pre- and post-consumer waste collected from ISU Dining for bioethanol production. The investigator will gather data about the quantity and composition of these wastes and how much energy could be produced.

This project makes a variety of policy recommendations for cities and the private sector to help deal with the consequences of emerald ash borer infestations.

From 2009-2012 the COBS team used a standard method to estimate carbohydrates in the biomass harvested from the biofuel systems in order to determine the cellulosic yields. This project performed the same analysis for 2012 harvested biomass, and further analyzed biomass from 2009-2012 using a method that is less commonly used due to its expense, but is much more accurate.

Work continued on a plan to increase the renewable, sustainable fuel sources available to power operations at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. A team of researchers from multiple institutions collaborated to create a tool that would allow the UI to evaluate its alternative energy options more effectively.

The Farm Metered Energy Analysis project was conducted to help farmers learn about their energy use patterns. The metered energy data was reported to the farmers in a variety of formats such as average monthly kWh usage by type of fuel, average cost of energy per kWh over time, etc.

The Farm Energy Working Group (FEWG) provides a one-stop shop for information and expertise on meeting on-farm energy needs. FEWG has increased communication among individuals and organizations interested in on-farm energy, including farmers, utility representatives, policy organizations, Extension Service, higher education institutions, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), farm organizations and renewable energy businesses.