The Goderich Signal-Star, 1983-10-26, Page 39e icieney
edea. Wfllrtechiullogical
exponentially,,' con-
must.t wary of `energy, consump-
Von.
While the gasoline crisis affected the
population of the '70s, guiding . people to
give;up/heir gas -guzzling cars iii favor of
smaller autos, the ' r s issue of concern is
alternative energy.
Due to current leaks in nuclear power
plants, the public is concerned about the
safety of such plants. What to do with
nuclear waste is also of chief importance
as decaying nuclear waste gives off
radioactivity which is potentially harmful
to humans (it can lead to cancer) and the
environment.
Long before nuclear energy was
harnessed, natural gas, oil, coal, wood aid,
other organic matter provided man with
heat and power. Fossil and nuclear fuels
are irreplaceable m once they are used up
they are gone forever.
Wood and other "biomass" represent
energy sources that are constantly being
replenished, but must be nurtured and
managed.
The U.$. Department of Energy (DOE)
defines biomass as standing vegetation:
agfatic crops; forestry and agricultural
re ldues, and animal wastes.
The 100 billion tons of biomass produced
in the world each year contain about six
times the energy required for all our
Saturday
morning
car check
Next Saturday morning take a few
minutes to do a quick "walk: around" your
car. With the cost of car repairs climbing,
it makes good sense to inspect your vehicle,
regularly. By doing this, you can avoid
major repairs and save money in the pro-
cess.
Shell Canada car care experts recom-
mend the following 12 -point inspection pro-
cedure.
Start on the outside
(1) Begin by checking the tires to make
sure they are properly inflated and not
worn.
(2) Check your lights: headlights, turn
signals, brake lights, tail lights and park-
ing lights.
(3) Make sure that your gas cap is on tight-
ly, and
(4) That your windshield wipers are not
rough or cracked.
Under the hood
(5) Check your oil level and drive belts.
(6) Make sure your battery cables are
clean and dry.
(7) Check your radiator coolant, and
(8) Power steering reservoir, and
(9) Automatic transmission fluid level.
inside your car
(10) Check all the gauges and warning
lights and step on the brake to make sure
that it is firm.
(11) Check your parking brake and, finally
(12) Move the car a few feet to check for
wet spots which can indicate leaks.
If you follow these 12 basic stens, it will
mean safer driving for you and, at the
same time, give you early warning signs of
any major car trouble on the horizon.
The whole inspection takes just a few
minutes and you can soon be on your way
to complete all those "delightful" chores
associated with Saturday mornings.
Keep wiper
blades free of ice
Wiper blades may become clogged with
ice in snow and freezing rain. The best way
to clean the blades is to lift the wiper arm
several inches off the windshield and let it
snap back against the glass. Do this
several times to fully clear the blade.
If your blades fall into a recess below the
windshield clear all snow out from that
area. Spraying a de-icer along the length
of the blade may keep the ice from ac-
cumulating.
needs. As alien alive energy Sources are
sought both in,,jhe United `States and the
rest of the world, DOE has placed great
emphasis on its fuels from biomass pro-
gram.
Growing our fuel
Even in today's sophisticated energy
economy, wood makes an appreciable con-
tribution. Present use of forests is prin-
cipally for construction materials and
paper pulp, but some wood is used for fuel
in areas where scrap powers sawmills and
paper pulp plants.
One proposed biomass approach is the
"energy farm", where crops would be
grown primarily as energy feedstocks.
DOE research includes the identification
of those plants that will yield the greatest
energy content as fuel. Candidates include
not only fast-growing trees but sugar crops
and other herbaceous plants.
Oil and gas make up about three-fourths
en r ,„
of our fuel economy. Fortunately it is
ros ible, to produce liquid and gaseous
uelafrom wood and other biomass.
During wartime, for instance, some
of Europe's tuel was methanol produced
from wood, alcohol from potatoes, and gas
from a variety of sources including `char-
coal.
charcoal.
Many processes can be used to convert
biomass to energy or chemicals. Some
biomass materials may require pretreat-
ment, which usually consists of drying or
further reduction, After suitable prepare.
tion9 biomass can theoretically be process-
ed using any one of a number of methods.
While biomass may never provide' a
large share of our energy, it,appears to be
an attractive alternative source of fuel
that; is easily stored and constantly renew-
ed.. What seems a step backward in
technology may really be a big step for-
ward for our energy -short world.
ROT
Mrd IOFB A1,14T0
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woeLDstF*fl oeuro;(P rigssnotosis
KIRKEY'S CAR CARE
80 Victoria St. Goderich
At The Five Points
5246015
111611116
Q
TIRES
OVER 1000NEWTl
IN STOCK
SIZES TO FIT MOST CARS & LIGHT TRUCKS
GOOD SELECTION OF
SNOW TIRES
TO SUIT YOUR WINTER DRIVING NEEDS
We're
Speclausts!
We self and install
Re -built And Used
TRANSMISSIONS
We Service Any Make & Model
Of Car Or Truck
TOP DOLLAR PAID
FOR YOUR OLD USED CAR
24 HOUR TOWING SERVICE
LH. JENKINS
NEW & USED
RADIATORS
Now is the time to
check out any of those
annoying rad problems before
winter sets in. If you need a
replacement rad, we have a good stock
of New or Used radiators for most cars & trucks
R.R. NO. 4
AUTO WRECKERS
GODERICH
524-2181