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46 THE RURAL VOICE
AgriTech
Check the net for fuel options
By Janice Becker
While this column is geared to
technology and interesting websites
to provide valuable and thought-pro-
voking information to readers, there
are times when a response with
respect to a previous column is war-
ranted.
In the last issue, I wrote about sites
which offer info on alternate heating
sources for the residential use.
I was pleased to receive a letter
from a Huron County supplier of
heating oil, reminding me that there
are energy efficient models for "con-
ventional" heating sources as well.
"...we are a local fuels and lubri-
cants distributor who also specializes
in Home Comfort (especially oil
heat).
Fuel oil dealers are definitely con-
cerned with the cost to the consumer
and the cost to the environment. (If
consumers) want an environmental
choice in furnace oil, we have it, BUT
be prepared to pay the difference.
You want to increase your efficien-
cy and therefore save money and
fuel? Replace your old furnace, insu-
late, replace old windows or simply
turn down the heat when you go to
bed (programmable thermostat). If
you want biodegradable lubricants,
we have them, but again bring your
wallet.
If you think of how many hydraulic
lines blow in just our local fields, and
how much hydraulic fluid they leave
on the ground, then you must wonder
why farmers would not use a
biodegradable fluid. PRICE.
Please do not discount our efforts
in making inroads for the environ-
ment, keeping the price down for the
consumer and our involvement in the
community. We are not faceless enti-
ties. Our children play in the same
woods and schools."
The writer of this letter is absolute-
ly right. We must consider all options
when looking to technology to help
improve and protect the environment.
It is not just alternative energy source
companies that are making strides.
To that end, I went searching the
net for other traditional source com-
panies which included material on
steps being made to increase efficien-
cies of the systems and environmen-
tal safety.
With the starting point of Edward
Fuels website at www.edwardfuels.
on.ca, I discovered a site which pro-
vided information on alternative
types of heating for the home or out-
buildings including in -floor radiant
heat, tube heaters, wood/oil combina-
tion furnaces and oil stoves.
The tube heating link was a good
site for those seeking heat sources for
large building such as workshops,
chicken and hog barns or greenhous-
es. Details told of the burn efficiency
and cost effectiveness. Environmental
matters were also discussed.
The oil stoves, designed much like
a decorative wood or gas stove, were
an interesting option. A plus was that
no electricity was required, great for
those power outages in the cold win-
ter months.
Specs and diagrams were available
for most products.
After a considerable amount of
time using search engines to find
other sites, I came across Walker
Heating and Air Conditioning,
www.walkerheating.com, of Ajax,
Air Treatment Heating and Cooling,
www.airtreatment.net/index.html of
Toronto and Boucher and Jones
Fuels, www.boucherandjones.com of
Kitchener -Waterloo.
Each site provided basic informa-
tion about the services provided with
Boucher and Jones being the best.
However, when checking out infor-
mation on updated heating equipment
or a new system for your home or
buildings, remember to check out
sites for propane (www.sparlings.
com) as well as natural gas. There are
an unlimited number of suppliers of
good products which may suit your
situation best. If you have trouble
finding a local company though a
generic search, try entering the com-
pany name to see if they have a site.
Also remember, websites are oper-
ated by companies trying to sell a
product so there definitely will be a
promotional aspect to any site. Do the
research.
Contact me at becker @wcl.on.ca.
(The letter was edited for brevity.)0
Janice Becker is a computer enthusi-
ast and journalist living near Walton,
ON.
i