Greenhouses
On of the most direct uses for solar energy is the simple greenhouse. In essence, a greenhouse is a small building with a narrow skeleton which holds a glass or plastic. Greenhouses can have solid walls but must have transparency in the roof to work - either using glass or plastic. Because of the transparency the incoming sun rays warm in the interior making it a nurturing atmosphere for plants who have a warm place to grow and the solar radiation for photosynthesis.
Hot Air Storage
The added feature is hot air storage. When the interior parts are warmed - soil, metal, wood etc. - this heat is kept in the building by the roof and wall allowing this atmosphere when the air gets cooler. In fact many greenhouses have a stone or brick floor for this purpose.
Greenhouses can be almost shape. In some rural areas people still use discarded storm windows, glass destined for the landfill. However most are proper buildings either clad in glass or plastic. Commercial glass greenhouses may include equipment like screening installations for soil, heating, cooling and lighting.
The large greenhouses, made famous by the English during their glorious Victorian period were made from wrought iron and took up acres of property. They were called botanical gardens and conservatories and housed tropical plants garnered from the corners of the British Empire
Plant Starters
Greenhouses are a great way to start spring plants in cold weather. This is especially true with tomatoes which cannot take a late spring frost. Seeds are started here and the plant are put into the garden when the air temperature is higher.
Unlike their fore bearers the modern greenhouse uses special glass designed to let in solar energy and keep it longer within the structure. Fans keep the warm air near the ground level to prevent its exit through the ceiling glass when the temperature goes down. In hot weather the fans are reversed and skylights open to let superheated air out.
Easily Built
For a homeowner a sophisticated greenhouse can be purchased in kit form and built by a carpenter. A simple lean-to greenhouse starts at around $500 for a 4′ X 6′ X 3′ kit but a carpenter can built you a much larger, free-standing one with plastic sheathing for less than that.
For information on getting your greenhouse built contact Renovation Experts
Add comment February 28, 2008
