Smart hot water tech gives Whakamaru farmer peace of mind and lower power bills
Whakamaru dairy farmer Nick Pepper says having reliable hot water is essential for milk quality, compliance, and peace of mind.
Since installing an Eco2Energy CO₂ hot water system two seasons ago, he’s no longer worrying about running out of hot water – and is using less power in the process.
Nick milks 720 cows on 300 hectares near Taupō. Running a System 3 operation, he needed a solution that could keep up with the demands of two plant washes and a vat wash each day.
“We were consistently running out of hot water, without enough to do two plant washes and a vat wash. It took four hours to get back up to full temperature again,” he says.
“With tanker times varying, we sometimes struggled to have enough hot water when we needed it. We also wanted the flexibility to do two hot washes a day, which just wasn’t possible.”
A smarter alternative to transformer upgrades
The farm was already maxing out its transformer capacity. Any upgrade to a conventional system would have required thousands of dollars of extra investment.
“We were at the point where any other type of upgrade would have meant changing the transformer,” Nick explains.
Instead, he chose Eco2Energy, confident the technology could deliver the performance he needed.
“Installation was easy and quick. I think it went in in a day,” he says. “Eco2Energy also has a strong reputation for good service through its installation partner CPR Refrigeration, so I wasn’t worried about any issues that might arise.”
How the technology works
Eco2Energy is the first company to introduce CO₂ water heating technology to New Zealand’s dairy sector. Their systems deliver reliable instant hot water up to 85°C, while saving up to 85% on energy costs.
Unlike traditional electric heating, Eco2Energy’s CO₂ technology uses a natural refrigerant to convert 1kW of electricity into up to 3.9kW of heat output. That means more reliable hot water, significantly lower running costs and minimal environmental impact.
Consistent hot water, less power
For Nick, the impact of his new Eco2Energy unit was immediate.
“Even though it’s difficult to measure the hot water portion of the power bill on its own, our overall energy use is down. On top of that, we now have instant, full-temperature hot water on demand.
“This consistency has made plant cleaning simpler and more effective. I can clean the plant consistently with hot water and therefore better, and at a lower power usage.”
Reliability and peace of mind
For Nick, the biggest change has been the simplicity and certainty the system provides.
“It’s been so consistently reliable that I’ve basically forgotten about it,” he says. “The fact is that I never have to worry about hot water anymore – complete peace of mind.”
That reliability is now part of the everyday rhythm of Nick’s farm.
“Consistent hot water just makes everything easier,” he says. “It’s great new technology that’s reliable, and cheaper than a conventional hot water system.”
