HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-03-29, Page 22PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2007.Solar powerinformation
night a success,
summit coming
Young conductors
Grade 8 students Matt Popp, left, and Brent Drost, right, chose to explore what conducts
electricity for their science fair project at Hullett Central Public School last week. The school’s
Grade 7 and 8 students all left their projects displayed in the gym while they were judged by
the faculty. Other projects included an experiment in growth in composted versus non-
composted soil and an experiment examining how animals react to music. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
Diane Peckitt, who lives just south
of Lucknow, has thrown her hat into
the provincial Progressive
Conservative nomination race.
Peckitt, a realtor, has been very
active with the constituency
association for a number of years
and decided it was time to take the
leap.
“This is something I have thought
about for several years and now is
the time for me to join the race. I am
declaring my intention to seek the
nomination for the Huron-Bruce
PCs,” said the mother of three. “I
talked it over with my family and
they are very supportive. Their
support combined with my belief
that I have the ability to be an
effective MPP led me to my
decision.”
Peckitt has a strong background in
agriculture complimented by her
business sense. She and her husband
Tom operate a pork operation.
Peckitt is currently finishing up the
two year long Advanced Agricultural
Leadership Program. She plans on
using this knowledge and experience
to address the many issues that are
affecting the riding of Huron-Bruce.
“I have traveled half-way across
the world for the purpose of seeing
how other governments ensure
healthy rural communities. This
knowledge along with my first hand
experience is what I hope to bring to
the table.”
She feels the “urban-rural split” is
the biggest issue facing Ontario.
“Dalton McGuinty has done
everything in his power to ensure
that this divide exists, because it
ensures his political survival. I on
the other hand want to work towards
a strong, united single Ontario.”
The date for the nomination has
now been officially set for April 28
for 1 p.m. at the Lucknow
Community Centre.
We know energy doesn’t grow on
trees, but it could be just as easy.
The Centre for Applied Renewable
Energy in Brussels hosted a solar
power information night last
Thursday at the Brussels Library.
Evert Schaap, president of E-vert
Energy, was at the helm of an hour-
long presentation focused on solar
energy solutions.
While spending a brief amount of
time on basic renewable energy,
Schaap said that one of the easiest
ways to help the cause is to be
conscious of your energy
consumption and to conserve where
possible.
Schaap pitched the benefits of
energy-saving lightbulbs, saying that
Australia and the European nation
are striving to have incandescent
bulbs banned by 2010. The main
benefit being that energy-saving
bulbs last up to six times longer than
incandescent bulbs. In addition to
that, incandescent bulbs emit
60 per cent heat and just 40 per cent
light.
After presenting some basic
numbers surrounding the energy that
the sun brings to the planet, Schaap
went into how much energy we use
and how much is potentially wasted.
With 72 per cent of the energy that
the sun brings to Earth being usable
and the Earth’s daily energy usage
being much smaller, a lot of potential
solar power is being left on the table.
Once Schaap got to the practical
portion of his presentation, he
stressed that solar power is not
limited to photovoltaic panels as
many think. Solar power can be used
and stored for almost any use.
Schaap says that solar power can
be used in both an active and a
passive capacity. Active being direct
sunlight heating and lighting a home,
perhaps designed with large
windows facing south to allow for
maximum sunlight exposure, and
passive being solar power collected
and stored for future use.
Photovoltaic panels was
something that Schaap covered in
depth thoroughly and honestly. He
said that with current rates, only
rather large solar-collecting
operations are viable, requiring a
substantial capital investment.
There are also many details one
enters into when signing a contract
with Hydro One Schaap said, for
those who would want to connect
solar-collectors to the public energy
grid.
One area where Schaap says solar
power is particularly viable for the
average household is in a solar water
heater.
Schaap brought along a solar water
heating tube and demonstrated how
it works. With the system being in
the neighborhood of $3,000 to
$4,000, for everything, hot water
tank included, Schaap said that such
a system would pay for itself in less
than five years.
Schaap also spoke about a system
that could be put together for
providing power to cottages. Instead
of a power generator, solar panels
could be brought to the cottage and
connected to a battery and a
converter to provide power to the
cottage.
In conclusion, Schaap called solar
power feasible, available and the
future of Canada. He responded to
questions and concerns that the more
than 20 people in attendance had,
then people were free to speak to
him one-on-one and browse products
and literature available.
The Centre will be holding two
more information nights in April and
they are in the process of putting
together a renewable energy summit
in Goderich in August.
More details on the summit are
expected within the next month.
Lucknow woman to enter
provincial Conservative race
541 Turnberry St., Brussels
519-887-9114
404 Queen St., Blyth
519-523-4792
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