WNY farm an example of green living

APPLETON, N.Y. (WIVB) - On Sunday, Representative Kathy Hochul toured Singer Farm Naturals in Appleton. Over the past two years, the farm has concentrated on increasing their use of green energy by installing solar panels and wind turbines, something Hochul thinks makes them an example for other farms.

"This place we are standing in is an incredible model for other farmers to utilize wind, solar and other kinds of energy to stop our reliance on foreign oil." Hochul said.

Hochul's visit was a chance for Singer Farm Naturals to celebrate the completion of their energy project.

"We have solar power to produce electricity in the summer and to supplement us in the winter, we now have a wind turbine which was made possible by the legislation that some of these political people have helped us with," said Tom Szulist of Singer Farm Naturals.

The solar panels were put in in 2010 at a cost of $68,000. The turbine costs $82,000. However with grants, both systems combined cost the farm only $29,000. They are expected to pay for themselves in less then 5 years.

"When we produce excess, our meter goes backwards and we get credits," Szulist said. "On a day like today, between solar and wind, we are putting net power back on the grid that our neighbors are using in the system."

When both are running, they will produce $10-$20 worth of electricity a day.

With the credits, Szulist knows they can do more things with electricity instead of other energy sources and can save money elsewhere.

The farm also other practices other green measures, such as using straw bails as insulation and a boiler that works more efficiently and emits less pollutants.