Johnson County CES

Title:

Selecting safe, energy efficient options; managing farm

MAP:

Environment and Safety

Agents Involved:

Cockerham and Jeffiers

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Home Energy Management

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities (general)

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Chemical Crop Management Tools

Situation:

Energy inefficiency has become a deterrent to families being able to effectively manage their budgets. With rising costs of energy, aging homes, an elderly population, all combine to make a perfect storm of unbalanced costs of living when there are better options available. The flood of 2015 in Johnson County left many without homes compounding the problem. Finding an affordable, energy efficient method of safe housing has become a strategy to also be able to manage the family budget more effectively. Keeping the environment safe has been an ongoing problem, Johnson County Agriculture Council has prioritized the safety for both farmers and the communities they live in, while the FCS Council has prioritized the development of energy efficient plans for safe, affordable homes for everyone.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Citizens will own safe, affordable energy efficient homes.
Pollution from farm operations is minimized.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Citizens will select energy efficient options and set new energy efficient standards for themselves.
Farmers utilize appropriate types, rates, and techniques with farm chemicals.

Initial Outcomes:

Citizens will learn about energy efficient methods of construction and remodeling.
Farmers understand pesticide action and the effect of pesticides on the environment.

Evaluation:

1. Long-term Outcome:
Indicator: Citizens will have access to energy efficient homes.
Method: observation
Timeline: 2016-17
Intermediate Outcome:
Indicator: Citizens will make decisions to adapt homes and select new building methods for energy efficiency.
Method: Observation and responses to questions
Timeline: 2016-17

2. Initial Outcome:
Indicator: Citizens will learn about energy efficient methods of construction.
Method: Attendance to programs, questions and responses to media
Timeline: 2016-17

3. Long-term outcome: Pollution from farms is minimized.
Indicator: Ground water and surface water shows acceptable levels of pesticide byproducts.
Method: Water testing
Timeline: 2020

4.Intermediate outcome: Farmers utilize appropriate types, rates, and techniques with farm chemicals.
Method: Producer feedback, observation
Timeline: Annually

5.Short-term outcome: Farmers understand pesticide action and the effect of pesticides on the environment.
Indicator: Farmers reporting knowledge of how to choose chemicals, application conditions, equipment, and rates.

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Flood Victims and moderate to low income families
Project or Activity: Affordable, energy efficient housing
Content or Curriculum: Pilot project working with UK College of Architecture and a Louisville Architectural Firm
Inputs: Flood Victims of 2015, UK College of Architecture, FCS Council, Extension Council, Louisville Architectural firm, Housing Corp., Paintsville Utilities, Long Term Recovery, Communities of Hope

Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: Pesticide education
Content or Curriculum: UK curriculum
Inputs: Specialists, agent
Date: Annually