Equipment for Agricultural Facilities
- Most dairy farms with 35 cows or more can benefit from using a Heat Recovery Unit (HRU) to preheat hot water, reducing hot water expenses. An HRU captures heat from the bulk tank compressor(s) and transfers it to a tank of water. The tank of warm water (around 100 degrees) is then used to pre-heat the water in the water heater or boiler. Starting with 100 degree water instead of cold well water (at around 50 degrees) can cut hot water heating costs by approximately 50%. Brand names include: Therma-Stor®, Heat-Bank®, Fre-Heater®, Century-Therm®, and Super-Heater®.
- A plate cooler consists of several stainless steel plates and uses cold well water to pre-cool milk before it goes into a bulk tank. Typically, the milk can pre-cool to within 12 degrees of the well water temperature. Milk comes out of a cow around 94 degrees. By traveling through the plate cooler and releasing its heat into the water, the milk cools down, requiring less mechanical cooling via bulk tank compressors. By using plate coolers, dairy farms with more than 75 cows could save up to 50% on milk-cooling costs.
- A Variable Speed Milk Transfer System (VSMT) consists of a variable speed pump and controller that regulates the milk flow through the plate cooler. The longer the milk takes to pass through the plate cooler the better, as it releases more of its heat. A VSMT system can result in milk that is the same temperature as the cold well water (an average of 50 degrees). The milk then goes into the bulk tank and is mechanically cooled down by compressors to 38 degrees.
- VFDs control milk vacuum pump motors by varying the speed of the motor in line with the load, while maintaining necessary vacuum levels for milking. A milk vacuum pump normally runs full speed during milking. Vacuum pumps are often oversized for milking purposes. Adding a VFD will slow the pump motor down during milking times, saving energy and money. VFDs can also dramatically lower the noise output of vacuum pumps, and can also lengthen the life of the motor. VFDs can be added when a motor is replaced on an existing pump or when installing a new pump. Dairy farms with 50 cows or more could save 40-55% of milk vacuum pump costs by using VFDs.
- Many maple sugaring operations run sap vacuum pumps 24 hours per day during sugaring season. Since the pump is running all day, it can dramatically increase electrical use. One way to manage electrical use is by adding a VFD to the sap vacuum pump. VFDs control maple sap vacuum pump motors by varying the speed of the motor in line with the load, while maintaining the necessary vacuum levels for sap collection.
Lighting for Agricultural Facilities
Lighting technology continues to evolve, and many farmers are considering replacing their existing light fixtures with new energy-efficient lighting. The following guidelines can cut lighting costs by up to 50% while providing the same or more light output, better light quality, and reduced lighting maintenance.
- Replace existing T12 fluorescent and metal halide light fixtures with high-Performance T8 (HPT8) or high-output T5 fluorescent. Smaller one- or two-lamp light fixtures are ideal for barn interiors with low to normal ceiling heights, like tie-stall barns, utility rooms, and other process rooms. Larger, three- to six-bulb fixtures typically require a higher ceiling height, like that in a free-stall barn.
- Vapor proof fixtures are a wise investment in barns. These fixtures typically come with a plastic housing and a plastic lens, reducing the chance of rust that can show up on metal housing fixtures. Most vapor proof fixtures can also be hosed down with water for cleaning. The lens and rubber gasket seal limit the moisture, dust, and bugs that get into the fixture, thereby extending the life of the fixture. In most cases, Efficiency Vermont requires farms to install vapor proof fixtures to qualify for rebates.
- Due to the cold Vermont winters and the exterior nature of barns, Efficiency Vermont recommends light fixtures using electronic ballasts with cold-start ratings of -20 degrees F. This will help ensure that the light fixtures turn on during those very cold days.
- Consider replacing incandescent light bulbs in tie stalls and utility rooms with screw-in compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs). Some screw-in CFLs can operate at lower temperatures (0 or -20 degrees, for example). Check the packaging before purchasing. You can find discounted screw-in CFLs at most local hardware or lighting stores.
- Install new light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures to replace incandescent, metal halide and mercury vapor exterior wall-mounted fixtures (wall packs). Energy savings of up to 75% are possible while benefitting from significantly longer equipment operating life.