May 10th, 2011 
Tushar Mathur Energy is what moves the world, in fact, if there is one factor that often affects the lives of the rich and poor at the same time then it is energy. Think of the current crisis that has hit the world with the increase in crude oil prices, it is affecting both the great economies such as America and the poor ones such as Liberia.
Each of us therefore has a responsibility to understand implications of using energy and how to play a role in conserving it so that all of us have enough for our use. It is the selfish use of energy that leads to hunger and poverty across the world. It is therefore important to consider options for using energy in a manner that benefits the majority.
Understanding Energy
According to physicists, energy cannot be created nor destroyed. Instead, energy is transformed from one form to the other. This means that most forms of energy that we use are only transformed from one form to the other. The crude oil stores energy from the organic matter which has gained the energy from the sun. Hydroelectric energy is transformed from potential energy to kinetic energy through turning of turbines. The kinetic energy is then transported through the electric wires and we use that energy in our homes in computers, refrigerators, and heating incubators for chicken.
There are two types of energy, renewable and non-renewable. When a source of energy can only be used once and expended, then it is non-renewable. This is the case for gas or hydro-electric power. Renewable energies cannot be exhausted and include solar energy. Renewable energies are also considered as being eco friendly hence called green energy. They do not leave behind waste products that destroy the environment.
How much energy is required to heat up incubators for chicks?
Did you know that you will need about 5617.92 Joules of energy to heat up 32gram water from room temperature to 42 degrees centigrade’s? This is not small amount of energy in any way. Heating an incubator for 100 chicks spread across 10 meters by 10 meters room will even require much more energy. In any case, you need to heat the room and the incubators at double the temperature of about 95 degrees centigrade. By the time we complete the process of hatching which takes about 6 weeks, you would have used energy enough to drive a truck of 20 tons across a 500 miles distance. Yet this is a process that could have waited for natural means of incubation.
Why recommend solar energy to heat up chicken incubators?
There are several benefits associated with using solar energy to heat up incubators.
- It is the original source of energy: if the sun went dim for a few days, most of us would get hungry over several months. The entire ecosystem will suffer because the chlorophyll filled leaves would not any more produce foliage and fruits. This means that there will be no organic matter to feed the browsers. Simply put, without the sun then there is no life. It is the original source of energy, and why not tap from the original source rather than a secondary source as you heat your incubators!
- It is much cheaper: a lot of people who have installed solar heaters for both water heating and lighting will tell you that they have no regrets in having spent relatively much money in installation. The savings made out of not paying the electricity bills over many years often surpass the cost of installation within three to five years.
- It is green: solar energy used in heating incubators would not leave behind any waste products unlike coal or gas. Even the use of electricity often leaves behind radiations that can be harmful. This is because the energy amount required to heat the incubator is often too high.
- It is safer: solar energy is clean as alluded to in the above paragraph. It is safe even to the chicks because it is natural. You can easily control the amounts that you allow into the incubator.
- It can be used directly thus simpler: you have the option of using solar powered bulbs to heat up incubators or to concentrate the energy and use it directly in heating the incubators. The second option is most applicable in the tropics where the sun rays are more direct and you can achieve a higher temperature by concentrating the rays.
- Adds vitamin D and Calcium to the poultry products: the most reliable source of vitamin D is the sun. The rays and heat from the sun activate the precursors of vitamin D and therefore make it more available. By exposing the eggs in the hatchery and the chicks to direct sun’s rays, we enhance the production of Vitamin D which also helps in making calcium ions more available.
In conclusion,
The choice of a source of energy for any use is vital to making the planet earth optimally utilize this limited resource. We should all encourage the use of renewable and green energy. Solar heated incubators for hatching chicks are both cheaper and safer to human race. The products from these chickens would be much better compared to those hatched using non-green energy.
Author: This article is contributed by guest author Aqeel Syed, who blogs passionately about nature and mother earth at his blog www.dahnyogaca.com/
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