1

“Energy Free” Stock Watering Systems – Deemed Savings

Analysis

September 16, 2003

2

“Energy Free” Stock Watering Systems

• Energy free fountains are closed, “super-insulated containers filled with water.

• These water heaters rely on the heat from incoming water to keep them ice free during cold weather rather than electric or propane water heating devices

• Oregon Trail Electric requested that the RTF review “Energy Free” stock watering systems to assess:– 1) Whether they could qualify for C&RD and– 2) What the potential savings might be from such a systems.

3

What Is An “Energy Free” Stock Watering System?

4

5

6

7

Summary of Available Data

• Field Study of Electrically Heated and Energy Free Automated Livestock Water Fountains - Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute, Alberta and Manitoba– From 1990 to 1993 PAMI compared 3 energy free

livestock water fountains and 4 electrically heated ones

– Energy savings ranged from 440 – 1800 kWh, depending upon the efficiency of the electrically heated unit

8

Summary of Available Data (cont)

• Oregon Trail Electric Metering Study– Metered single electrically heated tank use for most

of 2002-03 winter– Full season use for tank was approximately 1,134

kWh/yr– If “Energy Free” heater eliminates electric resistance

heating, savings would be 1,134 kWh/yr– Average savings from PAMI research = 1,127

kWh/yr

9

Summary of Available Data (cont)

• Three manufacturers

• Incremental Cost = $350 to 450 /tank depending on tank size and location. (New installations can also avoid wiring costs)

• “Professional judgement” = average measure life = 7 yrs

• Used “Residential Space Heating” Load Shape

10

Results of Deemed Savings Calculation

• Current data restrict application to heating climate zones 2 & 3– Option – reduce savings to reflect milder winters in heating

climate zone 1 and provide zone specific savings & credits

• C&R Discount Credit = $172• Still need “product specification” prior to establishing

deemed value =>– “We unconditionally warrant that our two-hole hog drinker,

Model WPM10, has more freeze resistance than any other two-hole hog waterer on the market” – Polar Max Energy Free Waterers