Energy Saving Tips - Farm

Your farm can use less energy if you are aware of ways to maximize the efficiency of your equipment. Here are our tips:
 

• Dairy Equipment
• Hog Operation Equipment
• Grain Dryer Equipment
• Poultry Equipment
• Water
• Yard Lighting
• Miscellaneous
   

Dairy Equipment

• Barn Cleaner
  Maintain proper belt tension and pulley alignment. Clean whenever needed, which may be monthly in some livestock environments. Use oil sparingly. Avoid overloading.

• Barn Lighting
  Efficient lighting can save up to 3000 kWh on a 30-cow farm, 5800 kWh on a 60-cow farm, 43,400 kWh on a 200-cow farm, or 81,000 kWh on a 400-cow farm.
  
  Regularly turn off lights when they are not needed.
  
  Light only work areas, rather than entire buildings.
  
  Switching to fluorescent lighting provides significant savings.
  
  Keep lamps, tubes, reflectors and lenses clean.
  
  Consider fluourescent lighting instead of incandescent lighting.
  
  Install mercury vapor or sodium vapor lamps for large exterior or high-bay interior areas.
   
• Barn Ventilation
  Efficient ventilation can save up to 1700 kWh on a 30-cow farm or 2250 kWh on a 60-cow farm. The savings for 200- and 400-cow farms are minimal because these usually use free-stall barns with natural ventilation.
  
  When rooms or buildings need both heat and ventilation, check thermostats frequently to assure efficient operation. Keep the controls clean.
   
• Dairy Water Heater
  Efficient water heaters can save up to 4900 kWh on a 30-cow farm, 7800 kWh on a 60-cow farm, 7500 kWh on a 200-cow farm, or 12,000 kWh on a 400-cow farm.
   
• Feed Mill
  Add rodent guards to open motors and keep motors clean for efficient use and longer life.
   
• Milk Cooler
  Efficient milk coolers can save up to 3800 kWh on a 60-cow farm, 12,000 kWh on a 200-cow farm, or 23,500 kWh on a 400-cow farm.
  
  Use reclaimed heat from bulk coolers for heating water. 
   
• Milking Machine
  Efficient vacuum pumps can save up to 1700 kWh on a 30-cow farm, 2500 kWh on a 60-cow farm, 7200 kWh on a 200-cow farm, or 17,000 kWh on a 400-cow farm. 
   
• Silo Unloader
  Avoid overloading and follow manufacturer's instructions.

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Hog Operation Equipment

• Heat Lamp
  Change to lower wattage heat lamps during summer months.
  
  Avoid long drop cords and poor connections.
  
  Check and adjust lamp heights for maximum efficiency and safety. 
   
• Heat Pad
  Keep mats as clean as possible. 
   
• Ventilation
  When rooms or buildings need both heat and ventilation, check thermostats frequently to assure efficient operation. Keep the controls clean.

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Grain Dryer Equipment

• Grain Dryer
  Keep grain free of dirt and chaff.
  
  Inspect drying floor and related facilities regularly to assure free airflow.
  
  Avoid overdrying by checking moisture content frequently.
   
• Motor(grain augers)
  Fit your motor size to the size of your job. Avoid both oversizing and undersizing your motor.
  
  Inspect motors regularly. Clean them as needed.
  
  Get energy-efficient motors when purchasing new motors.

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Poultry Equipment

• Cleaning/Collecting
  Stagger operate or rotate use of multi-motor operations.
  
  Feeding Motors
  
  Small horsepower conveyors are more efficient than large high-volume motors operating for short periods of time. 
   
• Lighting
  Regularly turn off lights when they are not needed.
  
  Light only work areas, rather than entire buildings.
  
  Keep lamps, tubes, reflectors and lenses clean.
  
  Consider fluourescent lighting instead of incandescent lighting.
  
  Install mercury vapor or sodium vapor lamps for large exterior or high-bay interior areas. 
   
• Processing
  Be sure that controls allow proper cycling of the cool storage system.
  
  In egg-packing and other areas, dehumidification can be accomplished with a heat pump or by adding a heat recovery system to the air conditioning system. The reclaimed heat can be used for the water heating system. 
   
• Ventilation
  When rooms or buildings need both heat and ventilation, check thermostats frequently to assure efficient operation. Keep the controls clean.

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Water

• Water Heater
  Set water heater thermostat as low as possible (while still meeting sanitation requirements), but not less than 120 degrees.
  
  If hot water is not needed for long periods of time, turn electricity to heating elements off.
  
  Repair all leaky faucets promptly.
   
• Water Pump
  Be sure that your system does not water log. More frequent cycling of the pump results in pumping the same gallons of water multiples times.
  
  Keep the pressure system in good shape, with no leaky fittings on joints. 
   
• Water Stock Tank Heater
  Check Water temperature monthly and adjust thermostat to a point just below freezing. A higher temperature is unnecessary.
  
  Seal all openings around waterer base to reduce cold air infiltration. Install covers and windbreakers around waterers.
  
  Don't use large tanks and float type heaters because they are very inefficient.
  
  Disconnect electric heating elements during non-winter months. Drain those that are not in use.

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Yard Lighting

• Yard Lighting (dusk to dawn)
  Install mercury vapor or sodium vapor lamps for large exterior or high-bay interior areas. 
  
  Use sodium vapor instead of mercury vapor for a significant savings.

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Miscellaneous

• Air compressor
  Select the right size motor for the compressor.
   
• Engine Heater(tractor or truck)
  Install a timer to reduce operating time.
   
• Fence
  Unplug when not in use. Keep wire clear of possible grounding.
   
• Grain Elevator
  Maintain proper belt tension and pulley alignment. 
   
• Motor
  Fit your motor size to the size of your job. Avoid both oversizing and undersizing your motor.
  
  Clean refrigerating condenser coils and ventilation fan blades and shutters monthly to avoid overloading and overheating.
  
  Locate motors in coolest, cleanest and driest environment possible. 
  
  Inspect motors regularly. Clean them as needed (this may be monthly in livestock applications).
  
  Get energy-efficient motors when purchasing new motors. 
   
• Tool Grinder
  Lubricate regularly with use. Don't overload the motor. 
   
• Welder
  Operate from separate shop outlet and avoid using long drop cords.

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