Solar Greenhouse

A greenhouse is a structure that is constructed out of glass or plastic, where all sides are usually created out of the same material. Greenhouses are used to grow plants and crops year round, even during seasons that don’t support the growth period. While all green houses are able to take in sunlight in order to keep plants warm, a solar greenhouse can actually keep plants at an ideal temperature even during cloudy or dark climate.

Solar greenhouses are very similar to typical greenhouses, but there are a few characteristics that make them different from one another. A solar greenhouse uses large amounts of insulation where there is little or no direct sunlight, in order to keep the entire structure warm the entire day. Heat storing materials are also used in solar greenhouses, in order to retain the heat given off by the sun. This ensures the plants located inside the greenhouse will stay at a constant temperature, rather than experiencing a dramatic temperature change when the sun is hidden behind clouds or a dark sky. Glazing materials and installation methods used to build a solar greenhouse minimize heat loss during the winter, while a solar greenhouse relies only on natural ventilation to keep the inside cool during warmer months.

Solar greenhouses aren’t only found in large areas owned by huge agricultural companies, but can come in a number of different sizes and styles. Attached solar greenhouses are smaller structures that attach to a home, and are ideal for raising smaller plants such as fresh herbs or limited quantities of vegetables. Freestanding houses are usually large enough to raise large quantities of plants and foods, and are typically used by commercial businesses rather than for residential use. A freestanding solar greenhouse can be one of two designs, either shed-type or Quonset. Shed-type solar greenhouses are designed to have their long axis running from east to west, in order to achieve the best sun exposure. The wall facing the north is usually insulated more than other walls in order to prevent any heat loss, and is also sometimes painted with reflective material to reduce poor light distribution.

 

 

Freestanding Quonset greenhouses are very different from the shed-style, since they are actually rounded, very symmetrical structures. They do not consist of any additional insulation on the north wall, and are not set in a certain direction in order to maintain constant sun exposure. Instead, Quonset solar greenhouses use solarization practices to ensure the plants are getting enough heat exposure, which works to enhance the absorption and distribution of solar heat entering the structure. Additional heat from the sun can be brought into the greenhouse through the soil using thermal storage, or can also be brought in using rocks, water, and other materials beneath the structure of the greenhouse.

A solar greenhouse can be used for commercial and residential use, so growing fresh herbs, vegetables, and beautiful flowers all year long is made possible with the power of the sun. different plants, ranging from vegetables, herbs, flowers, and much more. They can all be raised on a year-round basis, even if they require only warm climates to survive. A solar greenhouse can be used for commercial and residential use, so growing fresh herbs, vegetables, and beautiful flowers all year long is made possible with the power of the sun.