How dairy farmers practice energy conservation every day

Just like you might turn off lights when leaving a room or use energy-efficient appliances at home, dairy farmers are also taking significant steps to save energy on their farms. 

These efforts not only help reduce their carbon footprint but also ensure that the milk, cheese, butter, ice cream and many other dairy products you love are produced in an environmentally friendly way. By enjoying sustainably made dairy, you’re supporting energy conservation on dairy farms and contributing to a more sustainable future. 

At Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), our Cooperative is made up of 9,500 family dairy farmers across the United States caring for their cows, their land and their communities — all while using sustainable farming practices.

Here's why dairy farmers care about the planet

When it comes to simple upgrades to save both energy and dollars, it’s an easy choice for our farmers to make changes. By implementing energy-saving technologies and sustainable farming practices, they not only reduce their operational costs but also contribute to a healthier environment. Because many dairy farms are passed down from one generation to the next, dairy farmers are all about energy efficiency and anything they can do to make their farms sustainable and viable for future generations to continue. 

Ways dairy farmers are conserving energy on their farms

Dairy farmers use energy conservation practices — both big and small — to be both cost-conscience and more sustainable. An average dairy farm is a busy operation, and many elements contribute to overall energy consumption, including the milking system, milk cooling, water heaters, air conditioning and heating, lighting and more. 

The options to be more sustainable and energy-saving are nearly endless, but some of the simple ways dairy farmers reduce their energy usage include installing:

• LED light bulbs
• Automatic curtains
• Energy-efficient fans

LED light bulbs

Lighting contributes, on average, around 14% to an average farm’s annual energy consumption. LED lighting is an energy-efficient option and one of the easiest ways for dairy farmers to improve their energy use on their farms. Some farms span many acres and typically have multiple buildings. With each building comes dozens upon dozens of light bulbs to switch out to energy-saving light bulbs. 

Advantages of LED bulbs on dairy farms:

• Use 75% less energy: LED light bulbs are incredibly energy efficient, using significantly less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs
• Much longer lifespan: LED bulbs can last up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs, reducing the frequency of replacements
• Lower temperature: LED light bulbs operate at a lower temperature, which can help reduce unnecessary heat in the barn, milking parlor and other places on the farm

Just like you do in your home, dairy farmers make a practice of turning off lights when they exit an area of their operation to save electricity. They may also install automatic lighting.

Automatic curtains

Do you know how in the middle of the day when the sun hits a certain way through the window, it causes your house to warm up? Well, when it does this outdoors on a dairy farm through the sides of the barn, many dairy farmers use automatic smart curtains to provide shade for the cows.

Automatic curtains go up or down based on the temperatures and conditions on the outside. When it’s nice out, the curtains go up, providing natural cooling and fresh air. When it’s sunny and hot, the curtains go down, lowering the temperature and reducing cooling expenses. The reverse is true for when it’s cold outside; the curtains go down to keep temperatures comfortable for the cows.

Benefits of automatic curtains on dairy farms:

• Save energy. Automatic curtains cut down on cooling costs by using natural airflow to regulate barn temperature
• Help with cow comfort. By keeping temperatures stable, automatic curtains help prevent heat stress and improve cow health and productivity
• Improve environmental control. Automatic curtains offer a quick, precise way to adjust to weather changes, creating a more consistent environment for the cow

Energy-efficient fans

Cows like it cold. Well, at least cooler than you’d think. Keeping barns cool in the summer heat can take a lot of energy. Most barns are built with ventilation in mind, but fans installed overhead are another way to reduce the heat and to keep the ladies happy. An energy-efficient fan consumes less power than traditional fans, which leads to significant savings in both energy usage and on electricity bills. 

Benefits of energy-efficient fans installed in barns:

• Improve air circulation: Energy-efficient fans provide better air circulation, which is crucial for maintaining a healthy environment for the cows. They also keep pesky flies at bay
• Enhance productivity: By maintaining comfortable temperatures, these fans help improve the productivity of the cows — so they make more, delicious milk!
• Require less maintenance: Energy-efficient fans often have longer lifespans and require less maintenance, reducing operational costs for dairy farmers

How you can practice energy conservation in your own home

You may not have multiple buildings spanning hundreds of acres like a dairy farmer, but doing your part to reduce the energy usage in your own home is just as important. (And it’s great if you’re looking to save on your electric bill.)

Ways you can practice energy conservation and save money:

• Improve air circulation: Much like automatic curtains do, energy-efficient fans provide better air circulation, which is crucial for maintaining a healthy environment for the cows. They also keep pesky flies at bay
• Seal any gaps and cracks throughout your home’s windows, doors and attic: Proper insulation helps maintain a stable indoor temperature, reducing the need for heating and cooling
• Use energy-efficient appliances: Choose appliances with labels identifying them as energy efficient, which consume less power than older appliances
• Unplug devices when not in use: Many electronics continue to draw power even when turned off. Unplugging them can prevent this phantom energy consumption
• Install a programmable thermostat: A programmable thermostat allows you to set temperatures based on your schedule, reducing energy use when you’re not at home
• Look into rebates. Your local utility company may offer rebates for making energy-efficient upgrades — a win-win for the environment and your wallet

How you can support sustainably made dairy

For DFA’s farmer-owners, sustainability is more than a word, it’s a commitment to helping the planet that we’ve been working on for generations — because we’re serious about sustainability.

This commitment to sustainability ensures that the dairy products you enjoy are produced with the utmost care for our planet. When you purchase products from a DFA farmer-owned brand, you can feel good knowing it was made by dairy farmers who care about sustainability and energy conservation.