Farms could farm their own energy

The agricultural industry deserves more attention insofar as energy savings are concerned. “Farms and ranches have the potential to become completely energy independent due to available resources and space for their development,” says a student who recently received a research grant from the American Society for Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

Chantz Denowh of Montana State University, says one of the most valuable resources that farm could take advantage of is geothermal heating and cooling, since these have building complexes that are ideally suitable for a small district ground source heat pump system.

“With the addition of a natural gas or biomass cogeneration unit, a hybrid GSHP system is created that can satisfy thermal and electrical needs for farms and ranches,” says Denowh, who plans to include an economic analysis in his research.

Denowh is one of 23 students receiving ASHRAE grants. Four Canadian students are included in that figure. Konstaninos Kapsis of Concordia University is researching “building integrated semi-transparent voltaics”; James Montgomery of the University of British Columbia is researching “energy efficiency in HVAC air filtration”; Lexuan Zhong of Concordia is researching “photocatalytic oxidation air cleaners in mechanical ventilation systems”; and Massimo Cimmino of Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal is exploring the “redevelopment and experimental validation of Eskilson’s G-func