This case studies highlights the energy savings opportunities from audits at a number of pork farms. It highlights potential to reduce heating energy in average 20% per site with an average payback of 4.6 years by replacing heat lamps with electric heat mats. Additional benefits include greenhouse gas emission reductions of 142.7 t CO₂-e per year if all the recommendations are implemented.

Energy audits were completed for several piggeries in Southern Queensland where electric heat lamps or heat mats are used on farrowing crates for temperature control. A farrowing crate is an enclosure in which a sow farrows (gives birth) and then remains with her litter and it is designed to protect piglets from being crushed by the sow. New piglets are allowed temperatures of 38°C and this is gradually decreased to 30°C over three weeks. Heating for young pigs and sows accounts for between 36% and 61% of total energy consumption across sites audited.