According to an environmental specialist, a typical farm could save around £2,000 a year ‘relatively easily’ thanks to modern technology.
On average, a finishing house holding 1,000 pigs can have 20 fluorescent lights left on for 16 hours a day; ARM Buildings’ Tim Miller says that, even if windowless, buildings will not need this level of lighting, as long as they fulfil welfare requirements.
“Pigs are basically forest animals living in a shady environment. So four lights should be sufficient, with full lighting only switched on when needed by the stock person for work or checking the pigs,” Mr Miller states.
“20 53 W LED tubes on for 16 hours a day in a large finishing house would each use 16.96 kW/day, costing £2,913 a year at 40p per kW hour.
“Instead of having all lights on, using just four would cost £1.36 per day or £496.40 a year, saving over £2,000 annually,” he explains.
Savings can also be made automatically by resetting lighting timers, and using light and motion sensors. “Lights are only needed when the corridors are used by staff or when moving pigs, so sensors can reduce energy wastage considerably,” Mr Miller continues.
He advises that a professional ‘light audit’ could be a sensible investment for many farms too, with soaring energy costs and the darker days of winter drawing in.