Heavy dairy equipment such as vacuum pumps, coolers, and lighting consume large amounts of power. To make dairy farms more efficient and yield higher returns energy can be conserved in a number of ways. Some of them include saving energy on commercial applications that are applicable everywhere and can be implemented on the farm, while others refer to farm specific savings.
Energy consumption in a dairy farm:
The process of cooling milk in dairy farms consumes a substantial amount of electricity. Pumps used in collection of milk, lighting, heating, and cooling equipment also contribute to the already large electric consumption of a dairy farm. Energy consumption through these processes can be reduced by using more energy efficient equipment.
Plate coolers on a dairy farm:
Milk needs to be cooled from a temperature of 98F to 40F to prevent spoiling. Using a plate cooler will help in reducing the temperature of the milk substantially in a short span of time. These coolers reduce the demand on the compressors of dairy coolers and helps in lowering the bacterial count in the milk.
Using plate coolers on the farm is an energy efficient way of warming water. These coolers work like heat exchangers which utilize the heat of warm milk to warm cold water. Water and milk is run in opposite channels over a number of metal plates. The system effectively pre - cools the milk before it reaches a refrigeration tank. These coolers are installed between the transfer jar and bulk tank.
Simultaneously the system also manages to pre-warm water that may be used for other purposes. Factors that affect the system include the temperature of the water and the ratio of water to milk in gallons per minute. The number of times the milk will pass through the cold water channels also affect how effective the system is.
Water that is heated in this process is utilized in other farm chores or other purposes such as heating the milk room. The water can also be pumped and stored in a tank near the holding pens to supply warm drinking water to the cows. Using these systems help in reducing the cost of cooling and warming around the farm.
Lighting in dairy farms:
Using energy efficient CFLs to light the farm helps in reducing the amount of energy spent on lighting. These bulbs use only a quarter of the amount of electricity that an incandescent bulb may use. Using high-intensity-discharge HID lights allows you to use the light for longer periods. These lights should be installed 12 to 16 feet above the floor. A timer should be used along with lights that allow lights to be automatically switched off when daylight is sufficient. Using energy efficient lights can help reduce lighting costs by as much as 65%.
