Root zone heating is an effective option for greenhouses that provides heat directly to the growing media rather than heating the air of the greenhouse. This approach provides a triple benefit for greenhouse growers: faster production, higher quality crops and energy savings. If the root zone temperature is maintained at the optimum, air temperature in the greenhouse can be lowered 5 to 10 degrees F., reducing heat loss to the outside and therefore, reducing energy consumption. This is possible because …
What is a horizontal air flow (HAF) system in a greenhouse?
The horizontal air flow, or HAF, concept utilizes the principle that air moving in a coherent horizontal pattern in a building, like a greenhouse, needs only enough energy to overcome turbulence and friction loss to keep it moving. In other words, you just have to “kick it along.” Small, 1/10- to 1/15-horsepower circulating fans work well in providing the air movement needed. These are made to move air with little resistance as compared to exhaust fans that have blades designed …
Ventilation and Cooling Systems for Animal Housing
Introduction
Livestock production is significantly influenced by animal health and comfort. Ventilation of animal housing to remove moisture and odors and replacing them with fresh air is necessary for livestock productivity. Ventilation also provides air movement that promotes cooling and improves air quality for confined animals. While good ventilation contributes to profitability, if not properly designed, the energy used by a cooling and ventilation system can …
Selecting and Maintaining Greenhouse Thermostats
How would you like to reduce your annual energy costs $100 to $200 for a simple 15-minute maintenance procedure in your greenhouse? This is the potential fuel savings from properly heating a greenhouse by improving the accuracy of a heating thermostat. There are few minimum labor tasks that will give this large a return.
The above savings is based on a 30-foot-by-100-foot double covered greenhouse where the average winter temperature is 25 degrees F. and the fuel costs are $15…
Can I use the exhausted heat from a high-efficiency furnace vent to heat a greenhouse?
No. There are several reasons not to attempt heating a greenhouse with a high-efficiency furnace vent:
1) Carbon monoxide could be lethal to anyone entering a greenhouse heated by furnace exhaust.
2) Carbon monoxide interferes with photosynthesis in plants.
3) It would not be worth the investment.
You have already been environmentally responsible by investing in a high-efficiency furnace. You could run the exhaust pipe through a greenhouse, but there should be very little heat in the exhausted air from …
Introduction to Energy Efficiency and Conservation for Livestock Production
Many energy conservation and efficiency strategies can be applied to dairy, livestock and poultry production to save money and reduce fuel consumption. These include energy-efficient building design, and better management of ventilation and cooling of buildings.
Use of efficient systems for vacuum pumps, cooling milk and heating water can save money on dairy farms. Most farms can find savings by replacing incandescent lighting with high efficiency fluorescent lighting, and may also save by upgrading livestock water fountains to energy-free …
Livestock Watering Systems Energy Efficiency Checklist and Tips
Livestock Watering Systems is part of a series of Efficiency Checklists and Topics that can help you assess your farming operation for energy efficiency and identify strategies to save energy and reduce costs.
For links to other articles in the Efficiency Checklists and Topics series, see Additional Resources at the end of this article.
Livestock Watering Systems
Livestock water fountain. Photo: Carl Pedersen, North Dakota State University Extension
A dependable supply of drinking water is essential in any livestock production …
Additional Resources for Greenhouse Energy Conservation and Efficiency
Contents
- Resources from eXtension Farm Energy
- Strategies and Checklists
- Construction and Comprehensive Greenhouse Guides
- High Tunnels
- Geothermal Heating
- Greenhouse Efficiency and Conservation Case Studies
- Miscellaneous Resources related to Greenhouse Energy
Find these topics and many other related Farm Energy media resources at the Farm Energy Media archive.
This greenhouse has a double layer covering, horizontal air flow fans, perimeter insulation, an electronic environmental controller, and a high efficiency furnace that all contribute to energy efficiency and conservation. Photo: Vern
Farm Lighting Energy Efficiency Checklist and Tips
Mercury vapor yard light. Photo credit: Carl Pederson
Farm Lighting is part of a series of Efficiency Checklists and Topics that can help you to assess all areas of your farming operation for energy efficiency and find ideas to save energy and reduce costs. For links to other articles in the Efficiency Checklists and Topics series, see Additional Resources at the end of this article.
Farm Lighting
The design and management of a farm’s lighting system greatly affects its energy …
Greenhouse Ventilation
Good temperature control is vital for a productive high tunnel greenhouse, and this in turn means that the ventilation system needs to be effective and efficient. Regardless of whether a grower uses fans or “natural ventilation,” it is important to make sure that the system is designed properly and working well. Here are a few pointers that will help you improve your system.
Natural Ventilation
The concept of cooling a greenhouse with thermal buoyancy and wind goes back to the …