The Rural Voice, 1982-10, Page 26FARM ADVICE
Using the sun to heat buildings
Using the sun to heat livestock build-
ings is one of the most promising applica-
tions for solar energy management,
according to Helmut Spieser, OMAF
Energy Specialist at Ridgetown College of
Agricultural Technology.
"We are in the process now of
constructing a solar wall on an existing
swine barn at the college to serve as a
demonstration unit to show farmers how
this system works," says Mr. Spieser.
The solar wall uses 75 per cent solid,
25 -centimetre (10 -inch) concrete blocks as
the south wall of the swine barn. The
exterior surface of the block wall is
painted black. Covering the outside of the
wall is corrugated fiberglass sheeting.
This acts as the solar collector.
"What we are doing is drawing outside
air through inlets in the soffit, down
between the fiberglass sheeting and the
concrete wall to collect heat," explains
Mr. Spieser. "The air then passes through
a bottom inlet inside the holes in the
concrete blocks, some of the heat is
absorbed by the blocks to stretch the solar
heating available from eight hours to 12
or more. The air enters the barn through
the ventilation inlets."
The system can provide up to 30 per
cent savings during the heating season
from November to April, but a back-up
heating system is necessary. Mr. Spieser
estimates it would take about five years
for the system to pay for itself.
The solar wall can be built into a new
barn for about half the cost of adapting it
to an existing structure. However, it can
be incorporated into an existing building
providing certain conditions are met.
"You must have a building with a
south -facing wall, preferably one with no
fans spaced along it," says Mr. Spieser.
"To save costs, it's best to have side inlets
inside of centre inlets."
The solar wall offers potential savings
for other livestock operations with con-
tinuous ventilation systems, such as
poultry. Five pork producers are already
using solar walls to preheat ventilation
air.
Prepaying
services
V*, hen finances are tight, many farmers
are examining their policies to prepay for
services.
Some services have to be prepaid.
Insurances are necessary in case you need
them. There are other services that are
prepaid and we don't think about them.
One area is farm books. Some firms
require prepayment for the year or more.
Are you aware if the firm refunds partial
policies if you happen to discontinue
business before the contract runs out?
Does the firm require extra payment and
how much for extra cash flow statements
which bankers seem to need with increas-
ing frequency.
Some farmers have been prepaying
their land rental agreements. The un-
certain grain commodity prices would
justify careful consideration before sign-
ing this type of contract. Some thought to
profit-sharing with lessors would spread
the loss factor.
Farm magazines and daily and weekly
papers are prepaid on yearly or longer
subscriptions. Taking the least term might
not appear money saving, but if you
figure the interest on the money, in a lot
of cases it is more profitable to pay for
these quarterly or half yearly.
Life insurance is a type of prepaid
service that has to be examined periodi-
cally to check if you are getting your
money's worth. The policy that requires
you to save money and pays out when the
policy comes due may not be what you
need. A term policy that pays well for the
years when the need is the greatest is
sometimes the best value for your
insurance dollar. Checking with your
agent will pay dividends and be sure to
shop around. Some farm insurance
policies now carry a longer deductible
clause which will decrease the cost of the
premium substantially.
Prepaying your funeral expenses is an
individual choice, since it will be needed
eventually but caution is also advised
since scams have been perpetrated in this
area too. Don't sign or give dollars away
unless the matter has been given careful
consideration and all aspects of the
business transaction are clear to you and
hopefully in your favour.
Gisele Ireland
August 25, 1982 - 12th Production Sale Top Selling York
Boar 51,700 to Murray Junker of Tavistock
13TH PRODUCTION SALE
WH). OCT. 6 at 7 p.m.
100 Open Gilts75 Boars 10 Bred Gilts
We offer you one of Ontario's largest selection of R.O.P.
tested and veterinary approved stock. Our herd is maintained
as a closed minimal disease operation.
A good selection of boars and gilts available for sale at all
times at the farm of Warren Stein. Located 1 mile south and 2
miles west of Tavistock.
R.R.#6, Woodstock, Ontario N4S 7W1
519-655-2942 or 462-2704
RICHARD AND WARREN STEIN
1MS 11
YORKSHIRE DUROC HAMPSHIRE LANDRACE fJ HYBRIDS
PG 26 THE RURAL VOICE / OCTOBER 1982