SUMMARY n^,J33'^-50 



The practicability of electric dairy cold storage has been tested for 

 two to four j^ears on three retail dairy farms in the New Hampshire 

 rural electrification experiment. 



The storage rooms vary in size from 170 to 206. 7 cu. ft. contents 

 and have been operated under a variety of conditions with similar 

 eciuii)ment of the dry room type. 



Initial investments for mechanical refrigeration eciuipment were from 

 $635 to $766, whereas initial investments for the ice method on the 

 same farms varied from $135 to $775 with an average of $455. Yearly 

 fixed charges were thus generally less for the ice method. 



Cash or money-out-of-pocket expense for operating refrigeration was 

 in general less for ice, but in one case was in favor of the electric 

 method. 



Current consumption or operating costs of the electric method ranged 

 from $37.31 per year to $75.60 on rates varying from 3-1/7 cents to 7 

 cents per kwhr. The average was $54.80 per year. Operating costs 

 (labor, ice and sawdust) for natural ice refrigeration ranged from 

 $170.10 to $320.80 with an average of $238.09. Due to the almost en- 

 tire elimination of labor, the operating costs for the electric method 

 were consistently less than for ice. Operating costs with ice were 

 approximately 150% to 440% greater, or an average of 320%. 



Total operating costs for the year, including labor, interest and de- 

 preciation, averaged $118.33 for the electric method, and $236.56 for 

 the ice. 



The annual current consumption varied from 772 to 1,479 kwhs. 

 during nine to twelve months. The bulk of the load was in July, August 

 and September. 



The storage rooms were designed to carry an average load of 300 

 quarts of bottled milk a day. Up to 420 quarts have been stored sat- 

 isfactorily and under extreme temperature conditions. 



The maximum outdoor temperatures contended with were 102° 

 104° in the sun at which time the cold storage was 50° on one .rm 

 and 44° on another. 



The equipment operated about 50% of the total elapsed time f two 

 farms and 40% of the time on the third. 



Dairy cold storage consumed from 10% to 42% of the total a ount 

 of electricity used by each farm for a year. This percent varl • ac- 

 cording to the make-up of the remainder of the farm load. 



The average total cost per cu. ft. of total contents was $1.18 for tlu^ 

 ic'-a method and $.62 for the electric. 



Tn-^ cost per 100 qts. of milk for a year was $.30 for the ice 

 method and $.15 for the electric. 



The equipment is pronounced desirable, practical and economical by 

 all farmers usmg it. 



It is foreseen that some farmers, by reason of good local conditions 

 and requirements of keeping labor steadily at work, will find the use 

 of ice cheaper. The more business a farm has, however, the more val- 

 uable will be the electrical equipment. 



