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You don't have to be a farmer to know plants need sunlight to grow. But one Sarasota company is thinking a little bit of shade might help, too.
Apollo Sunguard Systems Inc. is working with the Sarasota Cooperative Extension Service to test shade's potential impact on crop yields. The idea was inspired by research findings in South Africa, which suggested a shield from ultraviolent rays might help nurture plant growth.
Those findings were indeed significant, says Kevin Connelly, president of Apollo Sunguard, as they showed crop yields increased 35% for farmlands that used shade.
Here in Florida, Apollo Sunguard is conducting tests on an herb garden, as well as a vineyard, to see what shade can do for plant growth.
“We should see the results for the herb garden in a couple weeks,” Connelly says.
And that's not the only experiment Connelly's company has going. Apollo Sunguard is also developing a car shade for electric car charge stations. The study would look at the long-term impact on the car's battery of keeping the cars cooler when they're parked for charging.
If all the buzz about “going green” fails to subside, either one of these projects might lead to another revenue stream for Apollo Sunguard.
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