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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFarming '91, 1991-03-20, Page 4A4. FARMING ’91, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 1991. Farming ’91 Efficient lighting can save farmers (and Hydro) money BY BONNIE GROPP Ontario Hydro has been working to encourage farmers to investigate energy efficient light systems; particularly in swine barns where lights must often run for several hours a day; as a way of improving profitability. It has been estimated that there are about 1,000,000 lights on farms in Ontario, the majority of which are inefficient incandescent lamps. Most farms use “long life” (2,000 hours or more), 130 Volt bulbs. These produce about 25 per cent less light than a “standard life” (usually about 1,000 hours) bulb. Although resulting energy savings justify the shorter life bulbs, most producers prefer to pay the energy premium rather than replace bulbs more often. According to an Ontario Hydro report, up to 15 per cent of a swine farm’s electrical bill can be due to lighting. Through a cash rebate program, Hydro is promoting new cost efficient light systems that can reduce the lighting portion by 75 per cent or an overall bill reduction of 11 per cent. The normal level of light requir­ ed in a barn for general efficiency of operation, safety, and human eye health is at least five foot candles (a clear, sunny day in mid-summer produces 8,500 foot candles). For areas where lights are required for many hours a day, such as in the farrowing, hot nursery or breeding rooms, the incandescent lights are costly. The major use of the lighting program to date is the replacement of incandescent bulbs in these areas with compact fluorescent (C.F.). These are simply smaller sized fluorescent lamps. They are typi.- cally four times more efficient than a standard incandescent lamp and five times more efficient than a "long life”. The lamps last up to 10,000 hours; the ballast (when detachable from the lamp) lasts up to 60,000 hours. Though there are several models Hydro suggest Philips SL-18 for use in agricultural applications, as it is sealed from corrosive, high humidity environments. Other sizes and models do not, they say, have this feature. Also, Dennis Drennan, Energy Management Representative of the Clinton office, says the SL-18 produces close to the same light output as a 100W long life incandescent (130V, 2,000 hour rated life) or a 75W regular incandescent (120V, 1,000 hour rated life). It only requires 18W of power to do this and has a 10,000 hour rate life. It should pay for itself, according to a Hydro report, in less than 5,000 hours of operation when the rebate is de­ ducted from the purchase price. In an evaluative study completed by Hydro, using the cost of the $1.90 for an incandescent long life bulb and $26.20 minus Hydro’s $5 rebate for the C.F., the annual operating costs, life expectancy and payback period were estimat­ ed. The costs of the C.F. for eight operating daily works out to $3.15, whereas the cost of the incande­ scent is $20.29. That means with a life expectancy of three and a third years, the payback period is 14 months. At 16 hours of operation the C.F. cost is $6.30, while the incandescent is $40.59. Life expec­ tancy at that rate is 1.7 years with the payback period being seven months. For lights running 24 hours daily, the operating cost of the C.F. comes to $9.45 and the incandescent is $60.88. Life expec­ tancy at this rate is 1.2 years and the payback period is figured at five months. Capital costs, energy costs and average daily hours of use all play a role in dictating payback of efficient lighting sys­ tems. Since there is a $25 rebate minimum, at least five C.F.’s must be purchased to qualify, Mr. Drennan said. There is also a $3 rebate for each extra lamp stock to a maximum of 100 per cent of the original replacement. Another energy efficient option for farmers is lighting redesign, which Mr. Drennan noted is con­ siderably more complicated. This involves the redesigning and re­ placing the entire lighting system with a more efficient one. Typical of this would be replacement of incandescent lights with strip fluorescent tubes. These are com­ monly in four foot fixtures, al­ though two, three and eight foot are also available. They are four times more efficient than standard incandescent and five times more efficient than “long life”. When mounted in vapour proof, gasketed fixture^, the lamps should last up to 20,000 hours; the ballast should last up to 60,000 hours. The rebate offered is $500 for every KW of demand reduced with no minimum. To qualify for rebates, farmers must first call their local Hydro office, to have a representative assist in filling out the incentive form. A farm visit may be required. Only when notice is received of approval can the farmer proceed with the purchase and installation of the lights. The representative then verifies the installation and retains a copy of the paid purchase receipt. The farmer signs the approved incentive form and the rebate cheque will be sent directly to him. Anyone interested in more in­ formation is asked to call Mr. Drennan at Ontario Hydro in Clinton. 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