HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1980-06-04, Page 50Pam ]Edltion, Week .et /nee 4, 11980
tLahgside
advanced energy products
You .;have-- an -idea- tq use- renewable
energy source but you don't know how to
apply it and you don't know where to find the
components to build it.
Petero Gerster and Andy Pratt were
running into the same problem so they
decided to open a wholesale -retail outlet
which would make available advanced
energy products at cost efficient prices.
Located in the old Langside School,
Langside Supply will help you assemble the
components or sell you a complete energy
system. Their major interest is solar and
wind as alternative energy sources but the
business is an attempt to make renewable
and alternate energy sources available. They
also offer a consultative service and,will .do.
the research necessary to learn whether an
idea is feasible as an alternate energy
system.
At the present time Peter is working on a
grain drying system which will store heat in
a rock storage system through_ the summer
and hien blow the teat'q roygi'te granary
to keep the grain dry in the fall. Other
applications of an alternate energy source
being applied on the farm is the use of water
pumps driven by wind power and compres-
sed air to drive motors and tools.
Advanced energy products available at
Langside Supply include a wide range of
wood stoves, insulated window shades,
methonal and ethanol systems, wind gener-
ators, solar panels, swimming pool panels,
biological toilets, glazing, paint, fastenings,
air systems, nordic wood saving water
furnaces, composting toilets, hardware and
tools.
Solar panels are energy efficient under a
number of systems including preheating
water in the home before it enters the water
heater. Since most of the energy is used
bringing the water up to level not in
maintaining the level, this application is also
useful in milkhouses and creameries. •
The. business started with. deltair solar
panels and one wood stove line and has
quic-kly-'expanded to include seven• types of
wood stoves and a Wide -range 'of advanced
energy products.
Peter and Andy .are open to any ideas
which use alternate or renewable sources of
energy but cost efficiency is the keyThey*
are looking .';for.. a turn a'rluri
o- time of
between five and ten years.
As we learn to become more reliant on
renewable and alternate energy sources in
the future, businesses selling advanced
energy products and building alternate
energy systems may become as common as
the hardware store.
This grain, drying system works on the principle that many granaries are built on stone
foundations. The system is experimenting with the idea that heat can be collected with the
solar panel at front and blown Into the rock,storage behind. The electric fan used to blow the
heat into the rock storage uses $3 worth of electricity a year which is certainly economical.
The heat is stored during the summer and then blown through the granary in the fall to dry
the grain. Peter is working on the experiment for a local farmer who Is hoping to use solar
heat to dry his grain. [Sentinel Staff Photo]
Aid to plant breeders
The Department of Crop
Science at the University of
Guelph is well known for
breeding new crop varieties,
but it is also involved in a
program to help private and
other public plant breeders.
Each year, the department
publishes a catalogue of
germ plasm and provides
seed materials to interested
breeders. The catalogue has
been offered to breeding in-
stitutions for the past seven
years.
"The publication lists
source material for plant
breeders," says Professor
Lyn Kannenberg of the de-
partment of crop science.
"Unlike the cultivars, these
materials are at the early
stages of the breeding pro-
cess. Certain genetic traits
can be identified, but the
material is not pure."
The catalogue is distribut-
ed primarily to breeders in
Ontario and across Canada.
However, one-third of the
subscribing breeders are lo-
cated in the United States
and Europe.
For plant breeders, the
catalogue of germ plasm.
offers the opportunity to add
a wider spectrum of genetic
traits to their breeding pro-
gram.
"Increasing the genetic
base of crop cultivars reduc-
es the chances of an epidem-
ic wiping out a crop, and
increases the potential of
higher yields," says Profes-
sor' Kannenberg. "As a
public insitution, we are in a
good position to act as cus-
tod,ian of these genetic re-
sources."
The catalogue lists a num-
ber of crops, including spring
and winter barley, oats,
winter wheat, triticale, corn,
rapeseed, and bird's -foot tre-
foil. Each breeding popula-
tion is accompanied by a de-
scription ,of primary charact-
eristics.
Breeding materials, listed
in the catalogue are the
'result of research at the
University of Guelph, funded
by the Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture and Food.
Langside Supply, located in the old Langside School, has to offer a wide range of advanced
energy products which can be used as components to build alternate energy systems for
application in the home and on the farm. They also have a hardware section and an extensive
alternate energy and renewable source library. As well as being a wholesale supplier and
retail outlet for advanced energy systems and products, Lahgside Supply acts as a
consultative service doing research to see if an idea, for using an alternate energy source or
renewable energy system, Is feasible. [Sentinel Staff Photo]
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