Solar Greenhouse For Heat and Food
Solar Greenhouse For Heat and Food
Solar Greenhouse For Heat and Food
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&S/IS A BOOK BY AND AB&JT DOERS. THE,&&jS, THE NOTION THAT ECONOMICAL SOLAR ENERGY APPLICATION,? @g :&#A. DECADEAWAY.F YOUWANT To MAkE,THESUN APRAC~ICAL~++~T:~~,~~~UR Lv?FETODAY...THISBOOK_~ILL TELL YOU+HOW. ,. 0: ! : I, 1.: /j/ ) 9 I
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\I: .,,!,, ;" Fe.jfibYi'%.:.:,';-;. : .*. AND F'E.OPLE IN :&$$&$?.I,~~:~~ :::y:t,- :.'
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THE ,.
LonsmwcTConoixrmldn,
-~PlSHER WWlDR L-
Cop~~riyllt 0 1976 by Rick Iyislicr and Bill Y3ncla Lihrqr), ol Corlpws (atalog Card No. 7&47003 ISBK O-0 1751s-I 7-5 Puhlislictl 171, . John Muir Iul>lications P.O. uos 613 .Sunta I-t>. hcw hlcsico
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BIOSPHERE.. CYCLE . _. _. .
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1 .. : .......... Principles. ......... /be Site .......................... :/Extrrior Design .. ................. Interior DeGgn . . , . , . . . . . . . . . . . .
l CHAPTER IV . CONSTRUCTION ....... , .... c. ...
_ .............. Gyeral Tips ....................... d .. ................ ......................... Tllb Site . _ _~__~_.-~ .... . ............. . The Fbunciatic~n ............ .I_ ..................... MaSsivr Walls ................. Frame Walls (Clear and Opaque) ........................ .. .... . ._ .! .......... Roof Kafters . .-. .................... :. ........... 1 .. Puinting the Fr3iiic .... : ............. Choosing the clc3r C;lnzing ............................ .-_ .................... Clear Walls . .*...... Koof Installation .......................... .: The Interior Ilastic ....................... Insuluth~g Frame Walls ................................... r ........................ Interior Paneling .............. ., ............... .. ........... Doors and Venti. .......... tstcrior Paiielin~,.a.yd Insul3ting b. .......................... ..l. . Scaling the Grechlidlise ................................ : ................... Tools Necdt,d ...................... ! ... ..... Materials List Ior IO s IO Attached Solar (~~-~~nllousc
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CHAPTER
PERFORMANCE
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IMPROVEMENTS
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The Basic LJnit ......................................... Increasing Collection ..................... Increasing Storage ...................................... Decreasing Losses ............................ Active Systems ........................ Conven tional Heating .................
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. GARDEN
Greenhouse Layout . . . . . . . . . . : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . Soil......;...-...................................... : ; : .......................... Hydroponics vs. Soil .......... ?. ................... Fertilizers : ...................... ? ... i .......................... .. ,plan ting Layout ........ The Vegetable Planting Cycle .............................. . Flowers in the Greenhouse ................................ ?................ .: ........... Maintenance ................ .-. ........................ Bugs in Your Greenhouse .. ..... Peopleand Plants. ....................................... f :
VII THE STATE OF THE ART ......................... .. ... *
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Individuals ............................................. Reseakh Institutions and Organizations ............ ...................... Manafacturersa., ........
A 8 c C SW/ MOVEMENT PLANTING ONGOING CHART CHARTS .. .' .................
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APPENDIX
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APPENDIX APPEND@
RESEAFiCH
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BIBLIOGkAPHY
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This book spans three years hard work with about sixty greenhouses hilt or exanined along tile way. The final result coulcln~ occur with tllc efforts of only two individuals. 1 Here are some of the people who helpccl dake it happen: v All the contributors &I Chapter VII The Solar Sustenance Project Volunteers I Keith Haggard 1 Petter Van Drcsscl i Joan Loi tz , 3 Frances Tyson i , Ken and Barbara Lubofl / Jetlt Lyon for permission to reprint sections and drawings ~IXJIIIAn 64~~~,~/~~d_A~~l~,. , GI~ctIlIlc~Llst~ The en tire Robert Bulnkcr family ,! Also the following farsighted agencies which have mpportcci our cffcrrts:: The Four Corners Regional Commission The Energy Resourcgs Board ot illc State of New Mcsico For grapliic con~r~ibution to the book: Los Alamos Sciclltific Lahoratorics-C)-l)ot Division Tucson Environpcntal Research L~,~,Or;ltC)rS~U,liv~,-sit!,04 Arizom For being there whenever we neeclcd tllch: The New Mexico Solar Energy Assochrion ..: Finall>~, the two rllo.st irlzpor[arlt p&o~~s: Lisa (;ray Fisllcr who put all ouI;;draIts to~gctll~r OII her dusk ~II<I p~~llecl oLlt 21b~()k. As a-reborn gecnhousc farillcr. Slit also wrote mLicli of Chapter VI. Susin HLIllker Yan~l;l...tlie only, woman 1 know wllo can sininltaneously lay ;IdObCS, feed and c;Irc f(jr,twc) infants., order Iiiatcrials, teacli physicists how, to nail ILlIll\ beI-, plan ;i garclcn iayout and culni ;I h)fpcr IlLlshand.~
>IalChaptcrs 1 throughV1. thc illustraticjns were clbne c by Bill Yanda unless 0tJlcrwise noted. * / +
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IN!lYRODUCTIOtN
..- ---FiTyt, a definition is &order, as there is some confusion created by the term solar greenhouse; The confusion is understand,able since, by defini \ ion, .all greenhouses are in fact, solar. However, traditional greenhouse hesign has.rar.ely be&concerned with the most \ .effectdve use of the suns etnergyr Those described in, this book;are. I;n their design and . operation, we have incorporated three basic elements: . 1. The most efficient.collection of,solar energy. 2. The stprage ofsolar energy. 3.. The prevention of heat loss during andfplldwing ,Bg attention to those elementqwe reHp the following
collectioti benefits:
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1. Surplils tl>mlal energy @+ed-i-r-XIj-in-tw-which can be used immediately in an , t adjo@ing structure or stored for later use. 2. Independence from mechanical heating and cooling devices powered by fossil fuels. 3. Utilization bf an.opiimuni amount of insulatidn and thermal storage on an efficient,., _- -. ---c~~t=e+t&ti vejms_ J?si s. . -; ----. __ -. , ,: --- _._ ---_ _-_ This book. the designs and the subsequent benefitsi~~~~l~~~-a-ll-~eo*n-r_frol!!-a basic con_-tern with peoples relationship to their envirunm6nt and the forces &ithin it. Working on the premise that one basic environment21 problem is ten tered around ,rnisusc of energy, we _- realized that, while ni&y.-pebple wish for .*; alternative systems, the success of such systems < is totally~depe,ndedton the individuals q,@l+mitrnent to the sys:em coup1e.dwith an under- staqdirrgof what makes it WO;~. That means you, and we want you to know exactly Iwhats &v-6ived in build+g andmaintaining your own solar unit. In the ftillo@ingpages, weve s.hown methods whjch can be used to make an aiG%i?+ble addi,tion to thqqualitjl-of y.qur life through a close; involvement with your food chain, fresher (and chea?er) vegetables~~afree source of partial heating for your how.e, a more realistic integration with thecycles of the S&I, the syasons, the weather and thg world, afix independence from corporate eneigy and food gam&. \X;hether or not you actually build a greenhouse depends on mal;yfactor ._ ; econ&iiics1 appropriateness to your loca.F=-yytion and determination, to naqle- tew. But even it :you dont build, reading this book can deepen and enlarge vour understtinditirr of yourienvironment and your relationship with it. This-book ,6 out of the Solar Sustenance Project and -that in turn grew out of a basic cancer% with _ the matters mentioned above. rli$ Project ;was a modest ($15,000) attempt to see if a sensibly designed. attache I oreenhouse(s) cduld lengthen the pitifully --A 3 short growing season in the mountains of northern New Mexico-. The Project also had the goal of finding out 110~ much, if any, heat pro.duced by the greenhouse could be used by
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:\ r ---. --_. _ ,,\., :.. ,t D . tl~eaadjoining hoile. 1 . Whenwe began the Project, some: engin&,&s-and architec?s insisted that ou-r simple greenhouse wouldnt le.ngthen the growing seasoneven a week. We were tdld by others that the 90 degree heat produced by tliewits wasvirtually itseless. Fortunately, we didnt listen. to them. T6 balance the ne.@tivism of the cynics, \;e dicJ have the support of many people in the field: Keith Haggard and Peter Van Dresser. of Sai@ Fe, T.A. Lawand of the Brace 14,stitute ib.Quebed, and several of the people mentioned inChapt5r VII. .... I Through the Sblar Sustenance Projecf, we provided eleven solar greenhouses for lowin/zome families Scattered throughout the New Mexicd hills. We attached them to the side of any structfire we could tie-in with and that wouldn! blow a&ay in a good wind. Some; ii . of the families.looked on them and us as more of ai curiosity than a functional addition to thiir homes. That was before. Now, we get universally pbsitive re?ctions from owners, .. I toi-u-i&s and interested bystanders. Our work on the project and on this book is founded ,011 two principles: the first :., : ._ that food production should be a low-energy process. The process is begun by growing ~ as much as you can at home, avoiding anytlri=fig .that requires more units of ener_gy to produce than it contains;For that~~reasbi;~&hly-controlled, close tolerance food produc --tlon te&niques relying on outside energy sources to maintain them are not included in our . 1 * work. . T I _I Th; second principle is that greeghouses aid other habitable, strut t&es. shouI8 ke de, ...Y signed to make mBximum use of natural energy flow a17*;1 make niinimum use of fossil to .. ,: 7. ,/ fkl&ls. This means designing a passive structure with proper orientation, thick walls (high ..I .) mass) and good insulation; This is Ijot a n.ewi.deaybut it is being re-examined, today in the light *of present teohnolo$cal capabilities. While a passive structure delivers obvious beni fits, it also demands a-o,reat deal more tilought, design work, labor and care in building. ---A. _ -- --*--Ill- many ways .the.l~~,sively designed structure is in direct ,opposition to the current American,,mode of liyjl>g. Its not temporary by nature. The teiilperatures fluctuate--it / doesnt rema.in 72 degrees night and day: the structure itself has a~therm~l momentum that is mL;ch likz the pilysiologicalprocesses of 4 human body, charging and discliarging, i!lh$ling and exhaling. Most importantly, ti well-designed passive structure doesnt depend a. on a constant skpply of $nergy to keep it liveable. The building uses the sun as the Earth .. \ does, only better. 4 Although the units wyve presented are designed specifically for the dry, high;altitude, high-s;inshine Rockies. the principles which make them work arc valid adywhere in the world,. Depending on, where you live, you may need to iilcreai! the-perforni>nce of your uni~;hrough modifications in design or addition of more sopfiisiicated heat collection and &rage systems. For those to whom this applies, weve presented/a wide range; of svch im< * provements in Chapters V ai;d (11. . :I _, ,, . If you decide !o build and operate a solar greenhouse of your Awn, you will ibe joining /, , a group of experimenters in what is still an infant science. You do not need to be a scientist , i to participate. All the principlesifivolved are elementary and 1ogical:Their simplicity makes I . . the benefits derived from becoming an active membfzr of the solar community easily access.. t .p ible to you. Welcome. , IP I , :
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APTER
he Greenhouse Biosphere
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The .concepts.of ~~~l~~i1.o/~~~~(~/~f ccsos.ls.st(vll and have been around for a long tihle, but only in the past few years have these ideas become part of theopublic awurcncs% Ma,ny of 11s only realized the prgfound implications of, these concepts wllcn we saw the first photographs of the earth taken from space by the astronauts. The earth is indeed ;I closed system, oiic that must sustaiji itself through a liarinonious balance of its elements. When you build your greenhouse, you will be creating L; very special space. an cart11 iii mici~ocosm. You will control the character of tllc space to a great cstcnt. Your iniaginn.tion and design will deterininc how well the natural life force sustains itself and what you derive from it in return. Y-011arc, in cllcct, produci~lg ;I Iilyi/lg place that wfll grpw and evolve with a life force of its own. The special cnvironnlcnt that yoLi will crcatc is called a hiti.r/~l~c~/*c~. Wcbsters~clcfinition of a biosphere is: A part of tlic world in which life can exisi;..living beings being toAs, a living hing, Y(ILI arc an essential clcmcnt ill maintaingether with their environment. ing your biosphere. Sowing seeds, nurturing the c$rtll, watering, fcrtiliziiig phints and soil, and controlling the temperature and humidity will 1~ your contribution to tllc biospller~. The y-eenhouse will reward you with the persolial fulfilln~ent of living witllin tile cycle of
FIGURE
Biosp]lcrcs vary gr?atiy in the nun;ber of their components and -iifc systems. dcpcnding upon tlw inttrest, time and cncrgy invcstcd in them. A simple, easily n?aintaincd examplc wo~11d consist oir~ sill311 struclurc with 3 tcw planting L lrt;is. (loscl! rtl;rtccl. Iiarcly varietigs of vegetables and/or flowers would be ci~oscn for cultivation. As tllcir ~lccds arc similar, they wou.1~1not rtquiic 3 great dcqi 01 time or attcnti Yoki may. iiowcvui-. prelcr tiic role of niaintaining ;I co~j~plcx biospllerc containing ;I wide variety of lift forms. Sonic cxpcrimcnt~l units tit this type combine plant growth (soil or nutri-culture) with tllc procluction of :~~jinj:~l protein iii the form of fish and rabbits. Tllesc systclns attctnpt to aciiitlvc ;l sylll17iotic halancc between tllc various organisms, Lisiiig tilt by-pf0dLIcts and WastC 01 CaCil /O support tllc*otllcr. Tile ~norc compics environments may also t~nlpioy Wind generators to power i~~depencl~nt ix-at co]lcctors. sopl!isticatcd storage Iacilitics and otlicr improvcmciits arid ;I strong ((llapte? VII). Tii~se systcins obviously dc-iiiand int~cil more timc . attention iiitert2st in csi~~rilncntation. As ;1living spzcc. your hiospllcrc will grow and allcct things ar-OLIII~ it. 11it is attached to your limsc or aliot1lcrstl.llltLII.C. 211intci-action hctwccn tllc two will occur? Tilt> condi~~rccnliohst~ will bc sliarctl wit11 an ncljact~nt roonl or building in tions that dcvclop in the e the forins 01 iic:iTt. humidity a11d the csliilni-sting Irag-ancc 01 p rowtll. in addition to pLirc se~is~io~is deligilt. bciietits c3n btt rcaiizccl in ;In cconoinic scnsc 2s wcil:ls tilrc~u~il ;I rctiuc.fi-on in iicatiiig costs and foot1 bills. The cll~~n~in~ IncWds c>I tllc iitc s!,st, 11 will soon bcti come c.vici<n t aticl you may find yourscil rcactin, to tll~lll muct1 3s 4011w011icl tr, ;I I111111a11 personality. i
FIGURE 2
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Along with thes6 iewards are the heal& benefits that you will enjoy. Greenhouse-fresh prodLice, especially if it is organically griwn, can be $r.$up7Grior to its supermarket qhunt&rpart.. Comn\ercially produced foods n$y contain harmful chemicals, and in many,,cases lose uch&f their food value during the/days they are in transit +d on the shelf. N,dt ?nly,will welcome the added n$rition of home-grown produce;but you,w,~l &b experunbelievable incre-a$eid- flavor from the fresh vegetables. The environment of the --- - -~ greenhouse can also produce/;,t( feeling of wellbeing aiid tranquili.ty; It Iyiyzbecpme a spiritual.refuge from the autsicje world. .Perbps the most gnamic aspect of your newly created biosphere is itsrelationship to the life force outs/id: of our earths environment-the sun..Soia< energy affects every facet! {f-life and ch,ahge bn earth. The sun ploducesmo~eme~~tin the atmosphere, water and land mass&., I/t acts ypon the earths orbit an~seaSol7~~ci?~aIiges. Ifi,waves of visible and iinvisible efirgy are the basi,s of all growth ahd lifeL9y& awesome force will be the 4nedium thr&gh which you wo%k. YOLI wificoQ+% its,&egy, ,co.ntai-Ii and store it, alter a#!direct it in ths way most beneficial to the suppbrJ,c# your biosphere. ?he,sun will cornbine wit lc air, earth and water to produce the fi)& essential element in the greenhouse, vnllrrnle will 1~ tn rnAnlPte thiGfivePqil ife. In the manaPement of voilr hiosnlie.r2 vi si$d cycle.
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CHAPTER
II
The. Dppendence
Cycle
The mass-iiiIlrk.cl , ;igc is t tic Inllss-clcI~endciicc age. L)angcro~~s qsp*;cts of the dcpcndcncc cycle are self-evident-. ~Iepcndencc is addiction. Whcthcr its ;I dock loaders strike in Ihiladclpl~ia or ;1 two cent jutiilp-&l..+ per-gallon price 01 gasoline, the result is the same. (hanges are made in your life, upilal~y~~l?~F+Ix worst, without your h;iving any say in tllc matter. L.lrbanization is part ol this cycIc: sI,cciaii:;~;i:idn-ii~ cnlploynicnt is ;IS well. Evcryonc -... in ttijs country has felt the effects of tliis situation and suttcrc;is~jm~-uf _t_lle~ons~c~it~iiccs. When those conscqucncts aftcct basic Iilc functions, it beconics, 3 serious ~GGT,TFiii:Th -L -< w qucztion is, HOW do ,WO break the ~~~c~!~TIKc cy&? Going back to tlic land is oilc inctllod, I3u t for tlic mxjority ot pcoplc, t host wllo live and work in urhall ;Irc:ls, tllis isnt ;I vi;lblc altc&txltivc. Rural lilc isnt cvcryoncs ctrcam a~;tl its dillicult. to iay the Icast, to turn ;I 40 x HO city lot into ;I sclI-sutlicicut I2rin. But on the systc>m. A grc~nhousc ncik~s il possihlc one clo~~ss~t ii~~c~ilto 1x2clrllirc~/,l dcpciidciit t-0 ~I(I\\ ;I ~Lil,!,tLillti;il.;liliO1iiil of Ioocl in ;I very small ;irc;i. Morcovcr, it 9 cngtllcns the growiiiy ~CJSC~II trciiicnd~~iisly in most parts olthc country as well 3s protecting CI-olis Irom tlaiii. r. . 2,ti-i~ hzil, wind and animals. by In order to prevent tL3ding clepcndcncti on one p:irlZ 01 tlic cyc.lc for aiiotticr, 3 tusic rule of thumb is to make ;I carclu1 evaluation of how n~uch ctlcrgy goes into Io6cl procl~~ctioii fro;n seed to table, tlicn coniparc that with the ainount 01cncrgytInt conies out ot the food to an ~lninlal or person. Think about llow much cncrgy it takes to grow, harv.c>st, pck, store and ship tlic lcttucc in your salad and youll quickly see wllat &at mc;ins. Considcr gasoline and oil for trxtors AIILI trucks. cnorgy cspcnclcd to rl<iIl !h;lt oil, to tr;lnsport r6uglinccks to the oil t;icl&s, to-gcncratc tlicgclcctriciity iiscd iii sLipcrin:irkc~t Ircc>mrs and lighting, 2nd on. And on. It ;iclds tip. Obviously ;I tlioiiglit tul long-r;lngc tood/cncrgy view takes production tcchniqucs into coiisicIcr;ition, giving top pri0rit.y to low-cii~i.gy-ill, lli~l-rncrgy-oLit,al,l~i-oa~llcs. Again wc conic back to the I;rmiiy qr ~OiiiiiiLitiity-O1~~r;it~Cl grcciiI;0usc. Its hard to find 3 bytttr cs3nipIc. It short cuts ttl.C cniirc process. lllc family 1113 grows ;I ticad ot I lcttucc rcalizcs 3 ~iicusi~rul~lc pctro-cliciiiical savings. SIiippin,- 0 costs ;irc c~li.minatccl. IJuod iS caten trcsh ImIn the earth: no ,l>roccsslngI, G packaging costs ;Irc involved. And it, is pro-. Jr duccd by llunl;lil labor without ni;ichinc~ ( p~~rchasc. operation and iii;iintcnaiicc) cspcnscs. Aside from economic bcnctits, tllerc (is always tllc fact ot quality toocl, trcsh and healthy wit11 amazingly good tlavor. Tllc pllcasurc 01 raisi-ng >our own tood ccologicallq and a fccIing of se-If-reliance a& additional 1rewards. 1 / Fo\ all the above rgasons, lirivatc grocibhnusc salts have incrcasccl trciiiciidotlsly. The problcni~~witli buying prct.ahriCatCdFrCCIiIIOUScs or plans is that tlicy were designccl without regard for tlrc specific climate and solar conditions in your region, and they wcrcnt pla~~~iccl for your site or your IIOLISC. In fact, the majority ot prcf;lb grc&)~lscs at-c designed as free-standing structures and ~driiiand additional fOssi fuel in winter. Kathcr than adding heat to your hoinc, they actualI)/--i+ncrcase your consumption of tucl. t
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While we obviously havent been able to see your home or your site, weve provided enough basics along with destgn modificatitins and information on how to use them, that youll be able to use this book, spve some money, understand why your grmnhouse is . working-and-best of all, end up with a life supyort system custom desig for your home. ,.i
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CHAPTER
III
PRINCIPLES The principles involved in the dynamics 01 a solar greenhouse are share8 by all solar applications. Factors that apply specifically to an attached greenhouse will be discussed here.
is energy that Solar ,Radiation. In the context of a TreenlloL,sc, radiation or i~~solutio~l, arrives from the sun in the torm of sll i!k t waves. Its intensity rind direction arc r~ffcclcd by 3 multitude of t3ct.ors (latitude, smog, thl~ of drly, etc.). i . +,. (7 Radiatiop; Heat energy is reradiated in tllc form of 1011, waves from ol3.je>t~ that sunlight strikes. Thcstz long w;1vcs Ilt;lt objects and air ,GolecLllcs in tllc greenhouse and do not rcklci-
tht rlazed
as the uecn-.
-,e$+, -------I
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Angleof Incidence. Ttli4 rc~lcrh to ttlc aiigtc at wtIic.11 tt1c 511115 htritic ;I cottc>ctor ~LI~~;IC.C~. i-ayh OII ali> Ii\txd ~Llrl;ic~cttiih aiigtc ctl~lilgc~scxv~~ryilloinc~rlt 01 ttic year. Solar radjatioll is iiiobt c~ttcctiI~c1)~ tr;inwiit tcct Lit 211~iiigtc iiicidc~iicc tc~1-t~c~iicli~~it~iIot (Ij~Jl.l,lrr/) to ttlc colleclo~~ ~LII-lacc, ljt~hidc~h ttlc aiigtc01 incidc~iicc~, ttlr ;iiiioutit olciic~r-gy tr:liistilit tL,d d~~p~~~icts ttl\~011 Itlc \icat trotlclr-tic~c,t. ttlc 4kiii ( i.cl.. iroti colltciit iii gtasb) ttlc iiLlililx~r olt~iyc~i-h gta/ing. ;iiid iii ttlc
FIGURE
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Sot~ir ~iic~i-g tw 4101.~>;1 ill c~hjc~cthttlat it striliclh. ltlc ;iiiioL1iit c~tc~tic~i-g~~ ~211 iiir~~~~tt~~ 4toi~~d. r~ttc \tor;lgc a1111 r:itc~,ot IlL,at rc~radi;rtcd 11.0111oi~jc~ct tllc 01 ttic tlic dc~I>c~ndh ttic ilpc~ii
Storage.
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and ths temperature of the surrounding air. Com~lloIl stora& media used in a greenhouse are water. rocks and earth. ye recommend two gallons of enclosed w,iter or 80 pollnds of masonry, (rocks. bricks. etc.) per 1 square foot of clear glazing. For maxini~lm effect, they shoilid be visibtc to the winter sun. Set FigL1.rc on the preceding page. *4. Absorption.
ones. r )
Dark. tow-reflective
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Reflection of light..As the north wall of an attached gr~nhousc is solid ?rnd does not transD _I .mit tight, it is necessary to rcllect (or bounc~).s~iiie tiglit from it in order to duplicate J11-c .d * naturally diffused tight that a plant wout,d receive outdoors. If this is not done;tlie- plants can become abnormally pIlototropic, or light-seeking. and-will-no-t cXhibif healthy gi:owth .9 patterns. 1-n a freestandin g greenho~lsc, the north watt can l;c titte,d t.0 rctlect more light to
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Dark and opaque surfaces combined with heat, storage are required in the sotai greenhouse to absorb Ld conscrvc heat, while tight and clear surfuces are essential fo; healthy *plant growth. The solution .to these contlicting needs is a compromise. Some surfaces wilt absorb white others wilt insulate and! reflect. The retlective areas cd11 be ptaced.directty behind the plants 011 ttlc north side of the greenhouse. The chart in <Figure 6 shows the reflective propcrfies of various flat surfaces in the visible tigh-t range.
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of materials (Percent) .
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WHITE MIRRORCD MATTE PORCELAIN PoLlsHED ALUMINUM STAINLESS WHITE PLASTER, &l-ASS
Reflecthnce
90 80 - 92% - 90%
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PAINT ENAMEL
7 5 - 9 0 % 60 60 - 9uvo .- 70%
6 0 - 7 0 % 5 5 - 6 5 %
.
FliURE 6 k :
Heat lo&. Heat moves to cold, rcgardtcss of the direction it has t6 go. It is indiffcrcnt to up: or rdown. inside or out. There are several types of he:\f tdss to 17~co$ccrnt>d with in the greenhouse. One type is direct trlinsfer. or condurtioil ot heat from warmer. regions to cooler olies. In the greenhouse. heat energ) friini warm inside air witi bc transferred through the skin to the cooler outside air. The proctss is -slowed down by a i: dead? air space between tt)e glass or double glazings. Air pockets in fibcrgtas batt. styro-j foam, %awdust or other types of ins~~tation.~nstitutc dead air space and arc the primary i&utators in most insulating maieriats. They stow dow11 conductive tlcat IOSSCS but do not 4 - +$or, them~entirely. The ability of..a material toinsulate is rated as an R Factor. The higher tlje R factor, the better the in tor. c N@urnal or clear ski radiat IS another source of heat toss. Warm earthly bpdies lose their heat to ;he night (and day) y...to st>acc. Cloud cover, fog and haze are natural barriers to clear sky radiation tosses. Smog is an unnatural, but effective. barrier. The loss occurs most rapidly through clear surfaces: This is particularly impor[ant in the Rockies and (fhroughout the Southwest on brystat clear nights. Convection js a third source of heat toss. 611 insulating barrier \~iilt..lose its efficiency if there is air circulation within it. The faster thcair movement. the greater the heat-toss. .. 11 .?
--
Ls
_-
-,
This circulation cannot 13~ stoppccl cntircly, 17~1tit ~a11 be cut down to pres~r-vc heat. You . soticts and convection as ticat moviii~ can t!link of conduction as heat moving through through Iluids and gasses. Infiltratibn t%$scs arc teaks -aroiiiid doors and vcnls, or ttirougli cracks alid+stoppy c joints. Ttit>>a allow rapid ticat toss and cold dralls and cannot bc totcralcct in ;I sotar greenIloUSc. Air teaks UC a major heat loss in buildings and ttlc casicsl OIICS lo stop. Evaporation could be a inajbr source of tlcat toss but it stiould not t?c kiti imphr(ant factor in a property wutcrcd grccntlousc. In ttlc SUII~I~CI-, evaporation wilt 1~ us+ to tlctI< coot-..your grccntiousC. d All hcat losses are greater in Ihc higher (wamcr) arcas of tllc grccnho~lsc, through the clear watts and around ttll perimctcr of ttlc structure. , ,, Air ,circulation. Hcatcd air in the grccntlollsc rises and flows into ;I tligtl npcning to ttlc home. A tow openin, tr in ttie shared vbatl alloGs coot air from tllc tiousc to cxntcr ttic green. tlousc for heating. Without any Incctianiul ctcviccs this natIirat cycle will function continuobsty on any rcta!ivcty INTO HOME Csuiiny day (see this figure as welt 2s figurc 5 on page IO). Two additional bcncfits arc providcd~by this type of air circLit;ition. Ttic plants in ttic unit convert .carboii dioxide into oxygen-rich air tc)r ttii tiomc.;i.~tcfinitcikdil bcncfit for Also. in arcas ot the ttic occiip;ints. country with very tow huniicti~y~ ttx ..J l.!,,.B FIGURE 7 addcci moisture Iroiii t tic pciitlousc will be ~~ICOII~C in thu tlomc. Ttlc cjrcutating pattcrll hecomcs hcttcr as ttlc vcrt.~~at distalice between tlie Iii& and tow vents to ttic tlome is incrcascd. Try to get ;I 0 toof vcrticat dis\ - tance bctwccn the high and tow vents. Ttic wiiic is true ;Gitti suiiiiiicr venting.. ltlt~ tot31 square tootagc of cx,QSm~~&~ts dloutd bc about one sistti of tt1.c floor al-c2 of ttlc greenhouse. Tt~~~~!&&~6~~~ is one i,tfird tnrgcr than ttlc tow?r OIIC. The cstcrior drjor counts as a c vcirt;FGcx~*i~~pte& in3 160 SC\LI~I-c loot greenlionsc JC have: \ i , i i = 3 sqll;lrt feet Exterior.- LOW vent ( I6 iiictics off ttic $huiid) J/x 7 6 square- feet HigIl vent (7 to 8 feet off ~JI< grouhct)/2 x 3 =
Lhor 3 x 0 EZ 1 S square f&t
r I/I
Venting
ami
7K square feet
Venting to the home does?t tiavc to bc tfii<.targc. (16may be greater if there is a door/ window combinatiop.) Try to have at tcast isqplarc feet of tow mpnings and 6 sq-uare feet of-hi& opening for 3 grcentioiisc ttlis size. Scjitc up (II- do&n for ~OLII- own application.
_ .
THE SITE
..
lhc mc!alIihg oi:tIlc term tlwdr o,f./will hc>coillc ;Ipparcint when you hcgi:;1 to sclccl ;1 site IoI- tl~c ~~-L~cII~~o~I~c. All ills conclili~~ns ;irc not likely to l7c idcal, I>ul it is itnpc)it;lnt that - positive tllctr,ri ;~rc cmph;lsi/:ccl arid clctriinc~nt;il otics kept to ;I minitiiiinl. 111~ Iirst stcxp in clloosing ;I site is to tlctc~rininc Ilow your Iloiiic aiid Ilhpcrty arc alignL>d in rclatioll to solar Inovclll~~nt 2nd otllctr ti;itiir;iI c~l~~incnts. Stand 011 t.hc south side of your IIO~ISL>. Wllclrc did tlic sun conic up today? Wllcxrc will it set? Wllat wi! its rising and settilig positions Ix> 011 I)cccnibcr 72nd ;lnd .lunc 27nd (tllc solsticcd rclativcf to your south a wall? Wha.t arc the prevailing wiiitcr ~iid siiiiiIlIcr winds!
i
Orjentation. A sollll-pr~~Iil1oiisc rcquircs at Icast ;i partial sol\tlI,grn csp~~st~l-$. ITilid nlagnctic sn(itli 13) using ;i sonrp&s. i\ survey ni;11~ c;iii tell you Ilow mall) tlc.grc~c$~~:ist or wcst (ticI) c!in;itioti) 11-0111 >oiir sitc,,lI.uc soiitll is. Add or sul?tr:ict tilcsc clc:rc~cs to Ii$ lruc sou 111.flit 1 inagctic ~Jc)lc rc~ams;rroujitl ;i bit. so try togct ;I I;iirIy rccc>iit siirvc) iiiaj. Wlic~ii )*oii cstalb lisll true soutli. dctcrlllinc I10w l.:ir Irom ;I I~c~r~~c~iillic~ilai soutli )~ouI~l~o~isc wall is. Illis to M.vt-\\c.sl asis will IJc tllc north wall 01 the gr~~ctilious~ , .and it c;iii Ix $5 il~ucl~ 2s Iorty dcpees oll true cast-west without losing ;iti apprc~ciahlc ;iinot1nt 01 wi$tcr siinligllt. 11 you find that you Ilavc no Iloiiic wall tliaj is oricntcd witlliii Iorty dcgr~~cs.t~l* tllc---e:&w~+&+p+-------consicicr 2. corner location. II no acc>ptahlc lo~ati~~~~f~~ad~~~~~~~~~ Iiolis~~. then 311 __---. P indcpcndc~nt structiirc must 13~1 plaiiiicd. All 01 the naturdl colisicl~~irati~,ns appl)~ to inrichp~ntlcllt 2s *\vclI 2s 10 ;I ttacllc~tl sola1 g~~cnl~oiiscs. 11s~ tlic cll;lrts in AI~Ix~nclis A 01 tllis oricn ta tion; sun ~iiovc~iicti t ;incl ljook ax aids iIi visii;ili/in: tifjns Lit Jcjiir location. . Tlic\, h!jc,ulcl prove YicII)IuI. lllc Iollowiii, 0 twr, scctions will I 1lSC tllcl11.
-
-3-%_
Sun nioveni.ent-. 111~ su II is constantl~~ clxringing its 132111 thrybigll tllc sky. dropping low on the Ilorimii in tllL>. winter and rising to 211 overIlerld positimin tlic suninlcr. A solar ~grc~~~nllousc clillcrs 32.,,,,, lrom nlost solar systciiiseiii G---, d /\l that it is-not ncccbssary to ohtain the I1iasimum intensity and duration 01 suiiligllt \ South tl~roiigl~out the ciitirc year. It sIiouIc1 lx tlcsignc~cl allcl located so tliiit it rcccivcs tile greatest possihlc *imount and ,-.c----.~ intensity ot light during the winter, when daylight hours
I \
\
1 \
\
a
\ \
* \ 3 ti
u, * 1 \
SUMMER
--,
WINTER
SUNSET\
Wm.1
SUNSET
North
are few, *and less light in the summer whe? overheating is. a problem. The photoperiod \ (1Fngth of sunlight in a say) be-comes fiarticularly importa& for char@ng the thermal mass in the greenhouse during winter. Because the photoperiqd is so short froT October to March, both tlje plants and the heat storage features of the greenhouse need kveqy available t patterns gives t&e solar greenminute of it.. Designing in acco,rdance with SIII move1 I ,&! housb automatiC advantages ov-erconv&ntionalunits $r wint&r heating+nd sun!mePcooliI~g. L This type of natural konservation has been widely neglected l$cause of the availability. df .I inexpensive heating fu-els. However, pit and atlaclied solar greenhouses were built in the late 1880s in New England and exhibited ah&e&e understanding and yse of sun move* 9 ment. i The quality of light the. greenhouse receives it various times of tQe yearisalso an Ianportant consideration. In Santa Fe, New hlexicc/, a-winter morning is mofe likely o be clear than a winter afternoon. F?; this reaso?i, it if advisable here to ha-ve a greater a/ lotint ii+-ally, an astern bf clear wall on ,fhe eastern side of th ni&,rays .after 2i is when the plants I
factors. Where is ii .in is it blocking the sulp and ally shades th; green11 foot evergreen ten feet souath of the unit is a ierious, problem, The page 139, can be useful tools in c$L,the year. For best midwinter operation, be lost to obstructi,ons. ! n urban areas the possfbility of a neighbor plantin another story td his home directly in front of your greenhouseis <, considered. There is a great deal of legal resdarch now underway !: If in doubft, check into.th-is possibility before you begin. Your home may present ti sun obstructioil on the blqck some of the light, particularly in the sumnier wind and acting 3s an insulating.barrier against the elements. The important thing to remember is that. an obstruction can be
t.various times
exterior reflectors can make up, in intensity and duration, for light ocked by an obsti-llction. Rememb& that whenever light is sacrificed, the perfo~ianc6 of the greenjlouse is altered. Try to ,achieve the full winter photoperiod and at least tgn hours of summer sun.
Wind. The natural ?ow of prevailing . winds can be used to your advantage in the design 5 of _~~._ .~ , ~~~~ ._.~. _T ~~uuse. 111 many pa-the country the summer-winter patterns will vaIy as micl~ as ninety degrees. N,ew hl$xico has a.pattern of winter winds fkom the northwest*a$d sum\ mer breezes fromthe soGthwdst. Bv Iiounting a low Gent in the southwest corner*of the
14
,ii
1
,34
,
-f
summer winds are use,@ natural in r .h <- S. matter is locating t\le exterior greenhouse entrance.on the opposite ,winds. Iii thi$ way th,c: entrance is partially protected from drastic heat losses when opened in the cold period. This is.a necessity in a greenhouse thtit :/ has no doorway to the hotie,Pe 1
* Drainage. Adequate,drainage away from the home and the gree,nhouse structure is essen- 12 tial. Most buildings are consiructed w.ith a gradual slope away from tl;em for runoff. When the extra rodf area of the greenhous; is added, will this still bc effective? Be sure to check the dI-ains and gutters f&m the hou~~where t!w locations it may . . @ate. KZZj --1 mssible to connect to&existiag drainage lines.Try to have tl!e ground runoff from the : greenhouse follow tll&Vexisting Ijatterm of drainage. Some, pick and shovel work may be / --flecessar$ to faoili(at~+?~ljis. O _.. _ . ---. i P&jlutiorl, the rate at which Gater can tlow hp&ward through t& soil, is particular0 /I ;:, ; Jy -.:.yi%$portant if you plalfto have ground beds inthe greenhouse. Although correct waGring , ., L;~ro&$LirgI$b ould never allo4 satilkation of the:beds, accidents (such as leaving the.lTose bn ci;:over$&t),:.do happen. Whensoil condition* at the greenhouse- site are not conducive to .. . I _ , ~1 good percolation, you can add se,ve;al inches of coarse sand or gravel to the ground level of the unit to a&l drainage: Wat& accymulating under the floor is not beneficial to the.plants or the thermal dynamics 0Y the greenhouse. It lessens thk ef+ectiveness of any insulatiag , a@ barrier. $1 ..A 79 y. a .-5- Utilitie:. It is convenient tq, /lave*wrlter andO,eie~t~icity, a&ailable at the greenh&S.e site. A water faucekccuts ddwn-on the manual labor involveda ili hauling water to th$ plants: but needs 0 as plants in a-greenhouse do not require as much water as they would outdo&,Utl,eir can be accoml%oda,ted. by h&id. If a taucet is located at the site,plan to build I into tile $! uni-t. +;1 the spring and summer $0~1 can extend a hose through thedoor or vents for watering the ?&td@or plants.- It is,,a.l&5possibl&to gel ah adaptor for indoor water outlets and run-a , Ir hosr to tht! greenhouse tl;rough a dooi,or kindow. / , An ele$trical outle$,z$ie. a water fauc@, isO c6nvenie.nt but iyot essential. It is enjoy_. ?f.& *. .able to have light for i$httim~~wo;k; but difficillt3.o justify the expense of the electric:1 power needed to light Jhe structure in terms of the additional food it could produce. _ Fans are very low-*ij; power consumersmand. must be judged differently. ,111 p&s of the il country such.ds the dee$%oilt??; they may be s necessity. for a successful ye.ar-round green. dlouse. A fan woul,d be a great aid in any, area for moving warm air that thqt greenhouse I produces in the winter in@ an adjddining !lome, tilere6y jncreasing the effect of tI@ green*2.,&y ~ l?ouse as a lcollector.If~~~~~_aain, :t might be pos&ble to run ai; extel;sion-cord intb t,he I = i greenhouse and savkthe expense of permali2ntl.y wiring the structure. The main p&t is this: leave ,gr design provisi&s for utilities if it is convenient and -.: . - : kZ__ /. not costlqFto do so, but dont .fe& that?you have. to have them in order tb &lve a successful _c . c so/la3-$&373nliouse. i * ., : i .. . $ ,/ : ._ .
l i
J 7%
i-/
* I
a
15
0 -
, 0 -_
Operiin& to home. An attached greenhouse should have accessto the house, ideally in several places. The reasons for this are both aesthetic and practical. If you fl d, a south-facing k. wall that has-a window and/or door that will be covered by the greenhou e, then youaxe very fortunate a!ld have just saved yourself a lot of wdr,k. lffnot, dont despair; the situa.., tion can be remedied. However, dont begin by punching holes in the wallof your home. This call be done at a much later date yhen you completely understand the air circulation patterns of the -.greenhouse and the h&at that it is capable of producing. At this stage you (are looking for iocations that do &G~~pL~Sto~euse. -7oor from ke home to fhe greenhouse allows easy access and integrates ihe two into a whole. A door from the kitchen to the greenhouse is paItidularly appealing and. should tie utilized if possible:Awy windows between the struc&ures are a deli&tful way of bringing the rich life for$es of the greenhouse into the hqme throughout the year. Kkep in mind the yis& charactfristics of the building materials. If you plan to use fiberglass-acrylic panels or polyethjlexie in the greenhouse, remember that they are translucent, rzdt transparent. Their visual appearance is roughly equivalent to that of a shower stall;door. This might be, an import&t consideratiqn if you have a /.S% youdnl$e to preview serve. Building codes. Buildi fades, inspectors and permits are strange inventions. Originally intended to be constructive, helpful devicgs, they-can be restrictivq, rigid and generally oppressive t.o imlovative design work. The latest information in the code books about greenhodses was probably writtell around 1940. In some regions, greenhokises may be cdnsidered ,.temporary structures (like gospel show tents) and have irirtu$ly no restrictions on their / , cons rudti&rr;-In other areas, they may be subject to strict (and obsolete) codes. i ?he best advice is to find a, friend involved in construction and check up on the modd of the codes and inspectors in your area: Quite possibly>the local inspector will be a. consider&e aid in your p$oject, giving valuable advice on the strength of lumper, Jqundation foot&&s, and so forth. If you are in d&bt.about the local,situation, fr5llsw the &es&tied codeto. the letter. in, the long rvn this will be cheaper than tearigi the s&c. --&ye down and doing it over. i
16
.,
2 _ *---
EiTERIOR
DliSIGN
The exteridr designs we show will he based on a lean-to .or shed roof- configuratic& but the principlesYili\;olved are applicable to any roof shape or design. A shed roof offers the following advantagegp ,/ _I\ 1) Construction problein:\are reck yd when working with standard lengths and angles. The fewer intersqcting plaiie>Sthere are in a Structure, the fewer junctions; the easier it is to se$. The addition can be tied into theexistinp structure fairly ea<XJ? \
3)
Both the aifi%oney tire saved by the design. The spans, opknings and panels _._can be, planned around. the United States building standard (fbur-by-eight-foot), so tl1er.e is little waste. Materig pilrchases are easy to estimate. ,,.,.. ..,,, I. 3) _: .,~s,.~~~~~~~exterior .$anes are limited to four or five larg: areas, heat gain/loss c8lcula,tions are a simple, straightforward process. When moveable insulation> is utilized, the procedur6z of aliplying it is uncomplicated because you are working with large, flat surface, I -, In choosing a site, try $0 achieve8the following: I) Have 4s much south .coll&ting area as iseconomicallfiasible. -a + -
I 2)
Cover a 1ong liliear area of the house wall for storage and i&ulation. A longrectangular (east to west) greenhouse gains a greater photoperiod than a boxy or . \\ j square design. o \
-A rule of thymb that l;as proven;./su&essful in bu/ilding solar greelihouses is to allow / the lt?ngth to be- about 1% - 2 times the width. A size that has been fairly>tandard in the Solar Sust@ilance units is 16 long by 10 wide ( foundatioil extremes). A greenhouse of t!lese dimensjons llgs pllnty of growing space wit11 some room left over for working and relaxac v tion areas; If the wjdth of the greenhouse becomes much greater than 10 feet artd the pitch # the roof is shallow, rafters heavier than 2 x 4s illust be used and the expense df buildpg increases. A narrow greenhouse has other advantages in construction and in its theqtial -- , ! characterist In the greenhouse shown ih the dia.gram (Figure 9, following phge),the sun +t noon ,will strike no higher than point A throughout the winter. You can plan to add any .? directgain storage below and south of it. A wider greenho;tse (E) wouid mean that the clear area on the roof (C) would hive to be increased, creating more cl&r surface [.&r heat loss -in the winter and heat gain in the summer. Note that on June 22nd,\,he area &th of,point B will be-in the shade during the ho.ttest p&t of the day. T$s x$eans thatyour thermal 17-.,.
FIGURE
. .
St&age is out of the direct sunlight in mid-afternoon on summer days. when you dont need or !want it heated. I The solid roof area of the greenhouse (II) will be,pennanent.?y inSu9ated. The rehlt wiIl be a more even temperature range in the unit throughout the year: A partial sacrifice with built-in shading is that full light-lovin& plants (tomatoes, cuch~bers. peppers) wont do-as well in the rear of the greenhouse during the sumniier;l,eriod. You can compensate fdr this by planting them! in front. However. most flowers, sl\ade-loving plants, and cool,weather vegetables will find the covered areaqf the greenhouse accepta.ble. The loss of a little summer light is more than..returned in oierall 5 the~rmal performance in a correctly shaded greenhouse. Plan your design to allow the winter s,un to strike-FYI1 up on thewall (A) of the greenhouse (five to seven feet). This will guarantee that appro$~ately one-third of the rear section will have partial shading in the heat of summer. The point on the rafters where i
-18
._ . .. . .! :, 0 ,: I .. .>
the insulated roof stops a%the+qlear roof.begins can be determined b$..a cross sectioll scale.drawing using the information on tie chakts. (Appendix A, page .139).b. I - ;, Angle of the sbu@ fat@. rn the solar gieenho~,-y~u~~..~~rking for maximum efficiency of collection during the winter period and red,uced summer transmittance. T.0 do that means that the angle of the south iace shoLild be close:t 6 perpendictilar, calleG-normal, with the : average solar, noon angle of the sun -durin J he coldest months. In the ,-northern he;lii; sphere this period is mid-Fovember tomid7F/ebruary. * o -If we average the tiinte-r sglar noon. aI,lgles in the contiguous U.S. we find that t&e .: optimuni tilt fo; *winter collect.ioi beg& ai-abou t 50 in the ,soutbern Unit.ed Stat~&$ncl~~~ rises to 70 around ,the-Canadian b&der. gemember, this is at solar I;oon; all othep tim&-s~.~of the day the sun is at a lower altitudi in the sky. The lower altitudes meali. thq&he col:, lector tilt can be ra&d for better transdittance through the entire da;. A foimula Pvecuscd,, for establishihg the tilt of the south fzic&;s !lre latitude + 35:. You can see thstif you& .c nor& Bf 45 latitude, th$%gle becomesvery close to vertical. To have exactly the correct ahg,le is not critic@. The tilt of the gl-azink &in be as much as $J) qff of^ normaland still not losean appre.&ble-percentage a;light t-r+uismittanee.- -3 = [ -----~ What is perhaps mor6 important, is that a,Pteeply tilted south face isjlot /~ori?zal t,o i the summ,ei sun. I!I other words, jl;j~! dont ltave a huge clear area perpendicular to ,the intense summeraad&tion. The relatively small clear roof area of the shed designs (Figure 10) insures that you have less overheating problenis in the warm month&The 1aFgge sQLithface at-a steep tilt is far enough off normal to refl#ct a substantial amount of radiation &the . summer; .1. .e:Thei-e are ot,her important consider_ ations to~ermi~iing the sngle of the s south face. If ,ydu are planning moveable r insulation (rigid or curtains) on.the c,lear surfaces, a vertical plane is detlnit&ly easier ,to cover thali onetilted at sixty-five . degrees. Ahother, fiactor is that .a vertical south wall provid$,Si-nore inteiior space . tlaan a tilted dne (fiigure lo>. -1On the other land, a vertical south ? wall demand: more materials and greater I -_ spans. Also, give11,a ieight limitation on \ >he lion6, the tilieh face has a greiter surface trea to winter normal than the vertical one. Q,dth designs have a relatively , small clear surface on the roof that is norm& to the sun;mer sim. Iii-our units, we have used both configurations &ccesg fully.
FIGURE lb
19
----.----:4
. ,.) .
You may have an existing,patio wall dr fence that couKl serve as the soutbberder $f ,., the greenhouse. The anglebetween it and the proposed apex might not be exac1ly correct for -the maximum LIW nf ivintmslln hilt itc ~milcahilitv mn hi A definite nclvsntnbe hJzake2 use of it i.f you CL. Insulating and storing wa&. . The solid walls in your greenhquse,can be used for insu!,tiqn, storage or best of &, both. Depending on your orientation, they will be built on the eas\ Qr west side(s) of fhe unit and perhaps a lo& one will be letting face. A typical insulated wall would be made of two-by-f&Ire with or rockwool insulation, then sheathed;.paneled and seaie$ Tl$e are that they.are easy to bu,il$ and inexpe.nsive. This is theway the great majority Qf Ameri-m can hibmes have;been built for the last four decades. The drawback is that if tl\e heit?ls turned aff for a ,Q-neduring the winter, the frame house gets cold very quickly. The structure is e6tiI;ely deper$ent upon contiiiuous heating. ~-_ J, Buildin~g a<wall with thermal mass makes sensk in any structure that use\ direct sunlight for neat, The heat is stored in the, building-materiril: ind ;eJurned. to. the +ucture several, hours later:&Jateri& stlch. as tge adobe bricks used hn the, Southwest have tll,5.rem,?rka$le q&My of de@ering n?aj;tim& sfO.red~l$at ab.&t t,&$?e libLlr,s.ift.er. th+$$&$ cdl; !ection.p.e&& YhenIt is hgdqd +&t. Tlje dhh -r&k fi&nes pith --thick wal4&6<$$ through~ -, -7 , i : 1, !Out mliclj bf the United gates pe(rforSn-the samk funct&i. ThiSn.&n-al &cle also works to tliebenefit of ,the occupants.in smnnier, helping to keep the*hc&eGz6ol in the d-8y h2b warm ?,t night. * ; CommgLmassive building materials are ceramic brick,stone. adoW(Ered or unfired), pouredconcret-e *and pumice (cinder) blocks filled wit.h concrete. These kinds of walls re; quire a.heavy foundation nd take a little longer to build,+buP-t!!_cy aie worth the effort j6 a solar greenhouse.The thic er the, walls, the greater tlie thgrmal ?i?ass. /d For;massive walls to perf rm properly they m&t be insulated on the exterior surface. (See Chapter IV, page 49, fo techniques). When this is done, the walls become in effect a i adiating mast- of the. heat gained- >&ing, the day back igto . structural Thermos bottle, the greenll&se at night,. . 4 It -is/important t$remZ&ber that the greenhouse does not need to have perfect character&i& inaP1of the disc&ed categories to be silccessful. Howevt!r, if one fac;tor is lacking, it w&#&l be wise to compensate for this som;wherF e&e. Fof instance, if jiou decide to build simyle stud wan?, it is advisable to increase the amount of thermal storage in some other area of the greenhouse.
>
20
INTERIOR
DESIGN
i.
The design of the greenhouse interior will depend in large part on your personal attitude toward its use. Many people enjoy a greenhouse that provides ipace for activities other, than gardening. Ef this is your feeling, allow plenty of room for sitting and moving about. Y&I may arrange {he planting areas around a central living space or geparate the two completely. , Most greenhouse owners prefer to make maximum use of interior space for growing plants. This is i more difficult design problem and demands consideration of several important factors. Access. If your biosphere is built against a wall having an existing doorway, the door should open away from the greerihouse area. All exterior doors are built to open out. This will 1
-C FIGURE I,
allow you more freedom in ar.i-anging the interior space. It is likewise preferable to build vents that open to thc obtside or that slide. Provide.Cfficient walking space ii1 your floor plan for unrestricted access to,all planting areas. Plants will tend to overhang the beds. so allow for growing room. Ah times your greenhouse may have to accommodate several people: one expanded area ofpa walkway will furnish the needed capacity (see Figure 12, following page). . 21
Planting akeas. Permanent be& may be hug directly into thi: greenhouse floor. If additional depth is tesired, suppor$ng sides built above ground level will hold more soil. It is important to es imate shade w that will be cast from plant-filled bed3. Beds ldcated at the rear of s the green,louse (away.from thesun) ma? be built above ground level to.prevent their being 1 0 shaded by front plailtiligs. In the small greenhouse, optimum use of v&tical space is essen tial. This[may be accomplished by adding shelves, hanging beds and planters.
. *
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Ii _-
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FIG.URE
12
Table beds used in conjunctiol;with ground beds will yield-an even larger planting area. However, care should again bi taken to insilre that the -cront .planters and tables c!o not LIII, I intentionally block direct suniiglit to those in the rear. The above drawing illu$rates a , danting layout incorporatipg several of thesi feztures. Including a water drum storage system into your greenhouse will require added design considerations from the outset. In terms of the interior dksign, your primary concern i.sthe 9 proper placement of the system. Exposed water drunis, for instance, shoulcl be .located such that they receive maximum direct sunlight yet do not shade your. plants. Using the storage drumsas shelf supports of planter bases is a godd way to co!nbinemfLII1ctions. If ;OLI plan to add this passive storage-syst.em later, allow adequate space in the original design to accommodate it. r -._ , 4 , J-, , \ 22 ;
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,,
tive should1x2.~ombili~d in the plan. The value Of this point has been proven in the Solar Sustenance grctnhoLlsts: if YOLI are pl\ased with the final results, you will spend many pleasant hours in the environment, helping to insure its success and deriving the fullest -.e. u benefits from the fruits of your labor.
FIGURE
14
CHAPTER 9
IV
Construction
In this chapter we, yill take you from the. first shovel bf ex&v$ied earth io the last nail in the wall. pxp&-ienced builders may want to skim this matexamr pertinent greenJouse information and do the rest of the building their own way. A list of ,A+,. . and~. .. tp&ls _.__. ma-.. ._....,, ?erials used in building a 10 x 16 foot a,ttached solar greetihouse is shown at the end bf this khapter.~ Btif~%&l the entire chap& before you buy or build*anything. If y?yvenever really built anything before, youre in fo,i some surp&ses. Fir&: th&-e is nothing &dical about construct~.~r._r)ll~.~~?..~!~.~~~~~~,.~~~~s._.___,.,.,,,~,__,..... greenhouses ..airpm-.t.s;..tha.:. _ . ....., ..I. .. . 1... principles are all ihe same. Your poten\ial building skil,l is as great as any builder: better 0 than most, because its your pkoject and $$I care about it. Themain difference between you a$ building contractors is tha,t they know how to cover mistakes. Almost any error can: be.cor?&cted (or hidden). .True, you must stick to some fiLlndamentals to have a sound sJru&re, but commnn +nq~ rath& than su$ernatural s powers guides you in foll~,~~gg.f!!&hV 1 There are aboLi?%&usand -ways to do-any @rticulaE bL1ild!ng.apernti.on(tll~ts what. perpetliates the,mystical.aura that+surrounds.constructipnj. Ady. expert willgive yo,~!, op&. ._- I. .; ; .. 3,) - * or two of.these ways. So X.31 we. : d --___, -. ~~-~~~- . Rti-~&ce 90~1start b~~~Td&&+.yo~lllfm@ XZlXctiiverWe, 1;lavehad $Jc&-hat$ rel%tio~shi~ with it for tortu&.,your days and keep you awake nights, btit.youll&ant to do more. YOLK of all tll~?,proVements that you coyld make -in your house and youll be ho&lc$d.
.. 1
GEN~+~LT~~"
Plar?ea& st{k\ of construction as completely as possible. Deten line and obtain. --materials for-tmEp-&fore beginning. This is ea:y to say and not so e* sy to db. But if 2 -_ you conside! thq amount bf tifne*, organization and gas money that goes into a ,quick trip * ,, s to the s~lpply store, you should be convi!iced of the nedd to planahead. . 4i
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2. _ Many construction materials come instandard sizes. Sheetrocb rind plywood, for instance, come in 4 x 8 panels.sDesigning the dimensi,o;is of the greenhbuse to correspond to these standard sizes can elimiilat+ t~n~~~suming~utting and LIston; fitting.- It also reduces expensive waste: I Do not expect framing/ lumber to- be the size it? called. Those days are long x *gone. For instance: a 3,x4 is 1% $ 31/2, a 1x6 is .?/4 5%. Also, when buy&g stud lumber, check the length. Not long aho, I bought some 8 studs that shrunk to.?-7% by the time I got home. When I called the company,.1 was .told that including the tqp and bottom-pla~t~;-t-ll-e~ft-uds would make an 8 foot wall. Well, thats true, but 1 ptiid for eight feet!,. 7 . d b> -i i<o i
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25
/,
.a
, a few phone calls to competitive 3. Prices varygreatly. IJX4~opping for m!rteri& ,,,,_. ,. suppliers may provide substantial savings. If you can get some other folks interested in: ,a building a greenhouse, you can save money by n-iaking quantity orders. --,-li*-,__^_^_^C ----__ Americans dont realize th,at there is HO set-price on anything. Dont be afraid to -bargain-$op orhaggle. Ask for a special price. Get to know the manager ofthe store. Tell I .~ --that person tha~youre working on an experimental project. That always sounds inter-I , -> es&rig. It may bring ,the store increased business if your.friei~ds like your greenhouse and decide to build one themselves. S~lpply and If an item isnt moving,~ themanager can table saw plus all optiOnal attachments for $200. I ........... .................. .-~... ,.,,.... ...- ... ~_~_-~~_ ; . ,~,~,_~~___,,rl,,~,~_~,,,..,.., .. You may chqose.tq use less than can be purchased -for about one-third the als are often discarded; you can recycle . may depend on how much; , and dumps. A note here: How much recycled material you LIS time you have to devote to this project. The reason most onstruction companies buy - everything new and in standard sizes% to save time. . -- -- -- I !I , . I scrounging.. . . . ! . 1 4 I__ Li .,, # * * , 5.. In b;rying ma$eriaisV~order s$r&wlra~more t.han you/expect to use1This will allow I- :for mistakes andsave unnecessary trips to ?the supplier, tt$Jalso wise to expect thetotal -,! co,s.t,of construction to: be somewhat higher_^. --. _,_____.____.----- the time invL&ed than-:-y-our estimate and ,-&; __.__...._.._. ____.-Ai A longer. Im u~llly off by.-about twenty percent. T1lis is:proba*bly tihy the building in! dustryhas tl~e~l~igl~est percentageof new company failures,of any industryin the country. r. When was&e last time that you heard of a construction project being completed in less ,. time and at a lower cost than the estimate? i. , .. . . > Set up a staging and storage a:ea for the materials. Plan to keep tllc,, cntirebuild!).,1 ; 6. ./ ., ing area off-limits to little children and pets. There ares0 many activities going on at a coni .. struction site;itseasy for someone to get hurt. II. 1 i
4
7: In alisteps of construction, measure asaccurately as possible. If in doubt, exceed the correct measurement rather than cutting under it. ~OLI canalways take a bit more off ,., but its difficult to put it back on. -. 1 -, h - r - .-w ;y8-. * Pethaps the Illst useful piece of advice :for the ndvice builder is to ask for ad- .~ ,a vice. T-he elderly, experienced salesperson at the local hardware store may be a fund of d I building knowledge. Dont hesitate to tap this valu+~ble source.
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THE SITE
The site that you have chosen for the greenhouse may demand attention before you can begin foundation work. In certain cases, a siteLthat is not level c,;jn work to your advan-----.... tage. If the terrainslopes away-from the existing structure, for instance, you might consider sinking the floor level ofthe greenhoi-ise (Figure 15). ,,A good depth for attached solar
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., %
i.
-.I I
FldURE
15
greenhouses is the same depth as the home foundation. One of the main reasons for exca---- _ vating is to lower the profile of the unit so that it fits beneath the existing-eav&Gf the house. Sinking the greenhouse will require more.excavation than siniply~leveling the site, but it can result in more useable vertical space. Situ-ating the highest point of the grthenhouse r J 4-s c - interior directly adjacent TV, house window or doorway will al&suppl~y-m-or-e. useable heat a I - __. -.. to the home. . If the ground slopes laterall) to the side of the, house, you may wish to design a split- . level floor plan rather than level$he entire site. Whether split-level, sunken or use.d in its j:: ..I,,,.-, $jy . J . _ ,A 27 a ff,
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\ i,.
- existing state, the site should be relatively level (side to side, front to back) before beginning! foundation work. . __ The excavation depth for a greenhouse is determined by several fac~rsL%Iany people 1 b ea&l~e below-grade soil have the misconception that ,if you dig a little way&&-the & /g<down aconsiderable distance below the i\ i .will be thermal storage. Actually, 01 I rat would constitute a heat gain for a winter greenhouse. frost line to~ez&h?l -1 , _/-- __---- --~~ilgreenllouses or grow-holes are based on this principle. They are dug out sever- \ __a al feet below the frost line to enjoy*the >bene.fittsof the earth%-thermal I ,observedothat grow-holes perform slightly better than=solar greenhouses orll~j :i / ,r4r cold weather (below -2QF -in the New Mexicoregion). To achieve increased performance in a pit type of greenhouse adjacent to the home..,,:, . rr 7. you might have to dig~down several. feet below-the foEndatidn of the dwelling. This is /zot \ e advised. If you have an existing deep cellar or basement with strong walls and good drainage . . away from it, an;attached grow-liole might do quite well. .The hot air in the apex of the greenhouse would enter-low inthe home and the cooYair in the baseme.nt would becircue lated into the lower part of thePgreenhouse. TlrelproblLi;~~ig~,tllat a.ny design of this nature would require extensive excavation, landscaping and~.athoro&h knowledge of the strength and iondition of existing walls. Itis not arecommend~~~~.projec~ for novice builders.
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THE FOUNDATION , %%.\ The found&-Q of ny structure is one of its most impoftant elements. If it is built prope&$any future pro lems will be.avoided. Careful measr!rements for the foundation 1 are essential. We will assume for the purpose of these construction steps that you are build-ing a greenhouse *w,ith a rectangular, floor I~lan and that you are attaching it to the home. ,. _ For the tools needed, see the list: at the end of the chapter. -~ i . *To determine t%e ninety d&ree-corners offof the-structure, place one edge of your framing square against the existing wall and extend the otherqdge with a string.(see Figure 16 on following page)..Stake the string..atthe diqtance you have 8deternlined.---_. the outer for .. boundary ofthe greenh.ou+se.After repeating--t&4. procedure for the otherend wall,Gdea1 sure to see that the two strings are parallel (A:fPB equals C to D). Connecting the outer perimeter stakes should produce a rectangle (A to V, equals :B to D). 1 To double check your ninety degree corner angl$, see that the diagonal measurements are equXlTt,-A to D,,equals B: to C). :\% We. will describe the poured concrete/rock~,type @f foundation because it is widely used and easily understood-and~constructed by the home builder. Aslong the perimeter of the greenhouse excavate atrench to the desired widl_and depth. Make it. at least 4 inches wider than \ the- walls of the, greenhouse and at least . ,__ , 8 I ~2 28, /D : r
2 @, UUrmCIUIumW9YUW----.
1. J / I ,. ,11 ,, Lb
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FIGURE
16
,?
.w -
16 inches deep (if a massive wall(s) is p=ianned). Drive stakes into the tren&= at 6 to 8 foot intervals, lea$ng 6 inches of the- stakes exposed above the botfqp!, of the trench., Check t!lat the trench is level by laying a flat board frond the-top of th; highest stake and tak 4x 7 a: reading with the level froql there. Do this around the perimeter of the trench. Fill when - .-r. -~~~ necessary : then snioofh out file sides and bottom with a tlat-nosed sho&l. To .dou ble check I the level, we recommend: 1 * : 1
The Old Carpenters s Water Trick _ *;
So, you want to check one end of?+ foundation trench witli tllia other. You dont have a transit and tile 2x4 wont bend. Get a friend. Then take a regL?ar gaiden hose and ,lhy it in-the trench. Drive.*takes in the end corners; each must be exactli the sarfie height from the bottom of the trench. Hqlding the ends ofitJie hose flush with the top of c the stakes,&fill it with water. If the extiemes are level, the wat& level &each end will be equal. :, . 29 t (,, .
-.
The beauty of dlis trick is that it will work for an; length and over: rough terrain (with a couple of people and plentyOof garde]; hose).Of course, the hose ends laave to be .. held higher thgn any point in between. . After the trench is dug, leveled and cleaned out, keep all interested gawkers away from the edges so they dont cave in the sides. !( , Before the foiundation is poured, the outside an$lbottomof the trench should be insulated with 1 or more of rigid Styrofoam (see Figure below). Put the pan&l_sto size and
FIGURE
17
a.
fit them. into thq trench. They can be temporarjly propped in ilace ilntil the-concrete is / poured. Another method qf--insulating the perimeter is to wait until \he foundation has ^ ;- been pouree and the concrete has hardened; then dig a trench around the outside of.it. Line the trench with sheet plastic and fill it with sawdust, dry pumice or styrofoam beads. En, close the loose insulating matelliai with the plast?c to-kee&Jit waterproof and cover the trench with dirt. d Another prepoclring step is toinsert reinforcing material in the foundation trench. If you have to meet stringent building code requirements, this may be mandatory. Re-bar or re-rod, as its called, can be used in l/2 or 3/8 diameter. It can be bought and cut ,\ / to length at any building supply store. ?wo lengths of re-bar are laid along the bo&m bf 1 : *.
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30
,J
tllc trench about 8 to IO iiicllcs apart, puppoFtecl 4 to 5 inches off the b~~,ttoim by rocks. 1:lids tllat iiicet 31-t Iash~d together with balin,g wPrc. -Ivc poured toundations with and Iwithout re-bar. 1 often throw as~n&y river rocks 2s 1 c:ili tiiid ( 5 to $ incllcs in diamctt2 ) into the botJoni of the trench ancf lorget about or cracking in tllc lo~ind3tioiis Ive l>u,ilt this way. tllc rc-hark 1 li~iveiit notictztl any scftliii i TIIC IIF-hnr or ii0 rc-bar qiitstion I:>iiiinds mc 01 a typical I,ur~allci-aticl~~issl~ over the rcccnt t>uiIding of adobe homes in $\1 w Mexico pueblos. When the g~verniiicii t eng/neers 4: finally approved aclobt2 for liiclian housing ( the all-aclobC Taos pueblo has only been stand-. iiig for ;1millcniiiuiii or so). tllcy stiplplatccl tllat rc-bar t7c it7scrttd in-the vcrti.ul walls cvcry several tcct. A Santa Clara P~~cblo lhcnd ot mine said, Isnt tllat going to IrJistratc the arclitmlogists a thousand ycarg from now? Theyll wonder what all the Ii t tic I-cd 1101~sare doing in the ,iiiidcilc of those mud walls. Its -probably trLIC tllat the acloh~ wallswill 11~ standing when the steel rc-bar has rusted out. Suit yoursq)f FibOu t the 11s~ot reinforcing hr. (3 ~~raclitl_ or 4 incllcs). This ;1utoth;l tiIts a good idea to bring tlic loiiiid;itioii abovt2 c ully Climinrl tcs some drainage prc~blcms anti is dcfinitcly ncccssary,it 1ramt, adobci-or otl~ti / water-solhble iiiatcrials arc gaiiig to 17CLiscd to htiild the walls.
FIzURE
18
PHOTO
BY
KRISTEN
MACKENZIE
i>ld lumber can be used for the Iurms to rt>strain any concrete,that is above grade. Most anything will do to secure them in place; large rocks. blocks, stakes, wire. Be sure the forms are the right distance-apart and \\jcll h~wc~c~tl they dont spr&d with the ivcigllt of the so, concrete (SW gh~.~~al,~~v.v). A~lyontz who has worked with concrete can testify to its weight. -,
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31
,5
l
/ c ;
&ce
moving
youve had the terrifying experience of seeink a large mass of weti,oncrete toward you, youll always over-brdce forms and wire the braces together,, s
,st.a&
On the inside of the form,, inark a level line for the top ,of the foundation. A chalk .line works well for this. Make the line about 3 above the actual level to which YOLIare / going to build the foupdation so that it doe&V smear when the wet concrete,, is being poured. This line is a convenient g&de for a level pour (Figure 19). Another way is to cfialk,line the exact level and height, and drive haiis halfway in along the line. This gives an accurate guide.
n a
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FIG URE 19
The fast way to pour the foundation is to have the ieady-mix concre& truck back ,./Lp to the site and dump it on you. But often the colicrete companies wont deliver in small quantities, or the site is impossible to reach. In that Fast you have the option of buying premixed dry bags or making yourown mix fron! cement and sand. If mixing your own (mLuch cheaper), a standard concrete recipe is five parts ,sani L and % gravel (mixed eqklallg) to two par!? :11-y Portland, 2nd water. This is a 111avy job so line ~117 few iricnds. The cntii-e foLlhdation slltiuld bc poured a i at one time. You dont want to have seams from two or more separate poLlrings. hi ) So, yoLi;e ready to do it. Sand and gravel in place, Portland bags stacked, sl!ovels in the ream position, wheelbarrow greased, beer iced down. Consistency is what you want in the ,kix. It should not have dry c61mps or a11ovcraI:,L~ndancc df any ingredients. The V mix sllould be i?let without being runny. If you pulls hoe thro~lgh it, it should make nasty noises. Wlitin ,thc mix is just right, it reacts like Jell0 when patted .with a trowel. Nice i stuff. Start at /one end of the trench and work around. After a ]oad, usually a full wheelbarrow, is dum1ied, spread, the concrete along the tre&h. Push alid wo-rk the mix down into the trencJ1 yith a trowel. Dont he gentle. You want to avoid holes or pockets in the
32
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<
foundatian. i Keep adding loads df concrete until yq~$ve irearly reached the level line or _ marker estyblished as Jlie top of the fomdation. ..,. As.y~u work around the trench, pat and smooth out t& top of fini&ed areas. After .; the cement begins to set up, insert ail anchor bolt (scEwthr~ads exposed) for sections s~lch as low door jambs that will be pfrajned above the f&ndationL,With, a squrfre n-take sure that these bolts are perpendicular a@ in line with where the plate wi% bk &i&that youve left abou; 1% inches extendilig above the poured foundation (see~.~igur&$$. Theplate, which we will. talk about in various contexts throughoqt this chapter, is not.something on which dinner is served. It is a piece of lumber, in this case a, 3x4. The foundatidn plate~providesa base fo? the fmrne walls of your greenhouse. The top plates give vertical Qtuds and ioof rafterssomnetl1in.g to hang &I to., In general plates serve as weight supporti,~~gmembers ..s-; of any frame structure. ,._ .:. Note: clean your tools imrne~iately~fter use .er theyll never be tlie same. If for some _,,..,..r.. 4.h: r> sL.a.+-. rMZijQ5ii~ifiV~ to leave a load III tl;le wheelbzirrow or mixer for a short time, pour a sinall amount of wa+er on top ,of it and cover as tightly as possible. This also app1ie.s to Imortar and plaster mixes. After tl1.e pouring 6 done, chdck t!o see if any areas have sutlk, and make sure that wjthjn the above-grade forn!s are &cure. W-her; the co&rete h& set up or Ii-ardened (usuallythree or four Ilou&), spray it w<tl? a light ni.ist Qf water or cover with wet hay or striw, or Th,is prphibits rapid e\apora&pn that ~~~gh~~c,iack weaken the fouridatjon. Spray it ,every r.,, ,~ 1 . 1:. f@w-i-~ou$s J!le ~1Txtda.y orlt&ol(hont. bother $t-nighI,). tir < .: J - ,:. ,.t . ,, ,:w~iegthtl:found~ti~,~ ha3 a..feeli,iig:of.-I;er~~.anence. $f f~~~,scaobc:rei?lpved. Qe;rn I i. well and reci/cle~t~~~m~~~~t,o~,shelves,.t~~les,~r~b,ed~ ~or,the,g~,~,e~illo;rs~,-i,~.t~r~or. franie.s, Th6re is a .way $0 :aJoid lay@g a foundation und$r the fralile po&oti$ I11 5% it to YOLI as -an option. This metliod is common in large con)mercial greenhousti construction, ,_ .o ... _ I :
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you are in a big hurry or plan a temporary structure. Level the and might be usefu walls will bie. (Dont dig a trenchtjust level the :earth.), Wood ground where the fr ties) are laid directly on two i&es of sand alld stakedin at 3 to plates (Ive used railr 4 foot intervals. The stakes can be metal 0~ wood but should be at least 36 lol?g. They can be screwed, nailed or bolted to the ground plate. The wood .should be treated wdth copper naphthefiate as a preservatiqe. Dont use fresh creosote or pentachlor~phenol (ienta): as these chemicals give off gurnes that are noxious to plants. See Figure 30: WhateV&- foundatiori method you choose, the,most important considerations are: G 1) Is the weight evenly distributed? . ; .2) the $.W - .* Is , 4 foindation level?:~ , 3) Wil!$he water drainlaway tkomit? 0 If these criteria are met. theifoundation will be functional. .,
MASSIVE WALLS L When the concrete in the foundatidn has cured, yoke can beg masonry walls: Different types of mGonry construction call for diffe use liollow pumice blocks for our example. (Basically the same tecl ing bi-ick or ad$ePwalls, ,e&ept that,you can use mud for mortar in tlie Jatter case.) The stand.ard..~iizc--~;lmice block is 15/i long x 7% high x 7% wide. (They also col!le in half bldcks and about ever? other size an&shape ii-nag4nabl.e.) For estimating the a.moul;t,Eeed-, -. ted, use th<dimension~ 16 x 8 x 8 because of the add?d spac$ to be filled by,mortar. Before makircp your estimation, determine the exact size and loc+ation of anyvents or doors in the walls. They must have a jamb or: frime built aro;ind them, %nd~ that lumber is usually one and a half~inches wide~Include twice that width (both sides\ in your Cal&lations ,-7. !
1 , i
J. like to avoid openii:gs in--masonry -walls whenever possible.Ths.y involve- a preci: sion and degree of patience *that I often lack. Its LISLMII~easier to locat6vents and doo& +. in areas that will be frame. -, As the diagram in.Eigure 2 1:(.f%llowing page) shoivs, the high vent is set ih the eastern fra&e wall (A). The low southwest irent sits on the masonry wall (B). The low& part of thedpor &G in-the east m&onry qNal1 set (C), the upper 4/5 ths ina frame se&% ; :%&en the size of openings=inrnasonry, walls is determined, the estimate@ the tdt$l* I- numberof blocks needed carl,_bemade. Determine the square footage of the wal i s and esti, mate 6ne block p$r square -foot plus 10% for cutting..*For our example Id bu-y 80 fuJ@ blpcks and 25 half block;. ,., 1= _. ~. n ljowever, if youre leaving problmns making the necessafy calcul ---~efde.?y;-exyeri~~~~d.s~~~per~oll we nientioned earlier._____~_... Write .tht+ --------__ (witlv d,, pars and vents figured-XT OIT.-a-piLzre---of-p~~-~~and to yourlocal hardware store.! go Od.ds ire you will get all thehelp y.ou t?eed and SO&I,good advice on the side. .-. ,I . 34
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~OLI may want to order more than weve cstimatcd. Masoni-y hlbclcs look rather forni i claQ c, b u t GEEb$ly qd-t+&l e;t+de+si.~~~~~~~ y *FW*Wml e c;dGlly. II you, do hvc Icflovm, host reputable building supply storm . _ and st;h.tj~,em
sand
: 2
-2..
of blocks
Now,
using the letel, bui!,! up several courses of block at .each c!rner. Stringdis str1corners and $traight r&is laid down to the string. Checks for vertical can also be &lade with a carpenter; level or olumb line. If voure new at this kind of*wnrk. rlnnt tnlnt V~II~.PVP -1 too much: have ygu,ever watched an experienced mason building a wa~l~~~~~~~n~~h~~~~ful fluid mover$ents he makeg A quick scodp of the- trb~.~~.-pl~~~~~~~~~lo~-~,of.,r?,prtar,on 1 the xs;4i edge. The mason fiicksqhis wrist downward, a rnicfbscopic spasm; and-them-@r-t& adhered to the blade in a flat, compressed mass. A $~n$ thin line of cement is spread along a.fourfoot edi; of the existing wall in the next pfoke. Another sibilar motion, backhanded, lays it on the-other edge of the wall. The,,,tl&d trowel of mortar is applied in f&t c,hoppy slaps to the center ridges.,The newblocKis picked up an&hit with mortar on two vertical edges, a&d wham, in it goes. This takes about six seconds. Like afinely tuned h&an machine, / the mason progresses along thg wall with the speed, economy of mbyement and acduracy-found in downhill racers and basketball centers. The-only tl@g$hat slows down a pro like . .---this are scaffold movers and unibns. -....._ -+ont expect to match this degree df,skill. Try to put a uniform thickness of mortar (3/8 to l/2 inch) on all seams. Any way you ;can get it to stick to the blocks is cri,cket. , Try puttings a small amount.~@x the trowel and sch.apingjt. off with that downward7and outward motion. If you cant get the knack of this! put a larger amount on the trowel and 1 shake it over the edges. I resort to my hands occ sionally. Se.at (firnily tap dow17) the block tiith the handle- of the. trowel. It should be1 evenly supGorted by mortar and level L. when itS in place. See thagkh:F seams ale staggered,\not one directly over-another. .. A method used to tie-& a new masonry .wll to an existing structure is to bend a : f small (8 x 10) piece of metal lath to form a 90a1 gle and fit this between the new wall \ i ,. . and the home wall. Tack the lath securely to both wal s. Lay, the lnortar an,$ firm+ly seat the@ ne-x-t-course on.-t-op--if--the-lath, pushing-the- &ck-tig>t.ly-to.themexisting-wall. This shoul& --4 1 . be done three or four t&e; in a wall as tall as the one in our e~xainple, the 8 y!est wall? .I When the dlock walls are up to their fina-l height, fill all center holes in the blo&s with concrete (the same mixture. you u!sed for pouring the foundation). This str$,ngth&s the walls and adds mass, heat storage capability; to the structure. Before the concrete dries, insert anchop bolts where the framing plates will be.appiied to - the top and- sides of the walls -0 P; (see Figure 20). When all t3-lemtiasom-y wze upirelatively Straight, level and plumb, its a good time to have a celibration. You ean finally see and-feel the r&Lilts of your braidi and fiuscle work. The harded mrt ic river---F.tiinv it1 :
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FihMEtiiLLS(CLEARAN~OPAQUE)
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As;stated earlier, a frame wall does not have any appreciable mass; therefore it-cannot store heat for a structure. Howeier, .when properly insulated, it will keep the heat in and it is often justified if other heat storage is planned. In the diagram in Figure 23, page 39, we .show fra%e vvalI,sfor purv of illustration. * b.. * The diagram also indicates that the vert&$l framing members (studs) in the clear-wdl ,~sectionsare erkcted.at 47 inch intervals (measured in @a~~ called centers. Centers are deter.mined by measuring from ooze edge to the edge off the same.sidA.) The fiberglass tlrat, we ;e.commend comes in 48 widths. The 47 center allows for overlapping the panels.*, Studs in ~the solid frame wall at-i on 24 centers, as are the roof rafters. All corner studs and upperplates are double-width--for add~ehskengtl~A&ledrawing-of ybur.,greenhouse using this type of spe,cifi~cation<tiilI help you e,stimate how many 2x4s of various lengths will be needed for the rough framing. Ad.d the. total linear footage of doors, vents and hori: zontal nailers (firestops) to the estimate. Add anpther-20%. %e,ve supplied a list for this 10 x 16 foot unit at the end of the chapter. - You.~ll*save money b,y having .as few leftover scraps as possible. This i,s accomplished by making-all -.irincipal fra&iing members slightly sho,rtei- th,an an even number, Hence, if -,the stud in-the south wall is 7 10 high,:it can be cut-from an 8, :piece. On the.other hand, _I if the stud is 8 1 high, a 10,2x4 usuallymu& b.epurhhased,,and youre left with a 23 /* scrap. At current lumber prices, thats sinful-. In -your scalediagran),,!Izake the lengthscome out ecopomically. Do this by sl,ightly changmg angles an-d.dimensions in the cll-awil~g un.t,il &&&ks?lf~you just cant make it come out right, then plait to use t,lie scrap lLl~mt~r for tables, shelves, bo;xes, bed frames or other things. A 23 scrap, fcir instalqgt,, CoLl-1c-J be used for a firestop in the sh3athed (said frame): wall. Its important to get a proper dollar value.for your lumber. AS wi.rll myst thingsin. life, you ,do this by chd&sjng~ ii yourself! $+ervicepersonnel ;n .the lumber yal-d are LlsLla]ly hapljy to let you choose oad you/ order. Occasionally it will be combany policy qtg1-r the sthck. Dont do bu&&ess with a commnv like not to-letthe ~us~omerlook &at. Hold up each studand loo,k d&n the entire length for straightness,. It should not be-warped, twisted or badly bent/A sl~ght,,cu~ve is to be-~e~~ec=tc~~.i~~~~~~~~,~~ $If you are holding the stud. o#i.ts,edge, YTLI can easily see the crown. The crown is not to the lumber which, if its slight, can be taken: be confused with a bow in the broadside. should all face the same way on the walls out in installation. In construction, the , . andAshould always be arch-up ,011 roof. the Next, check the stud for clearnessDoe&&e an unusual number of knots Reiea it. Does it have heavy pitch or.. sap areas,? -Reject it:. Soundness can be tested by tapping it against a solid object. The stud should sound firm and full., not tinny or dead. When making all ylese tests, carefully place the rejects back on the--pile or the yard people will never let you-do it again. Lately, I get about a one-out-of-five/acceptable ratio (that shoul&@ some_i~c&aof how much lumber youre moving around). Stud lumber; No. 2 common grade, wont be perfect,, but get it as .straight;cleariand dry as y6~1 can. I
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between the south face angle and ninety degrees.) All we need to do hereis mark off twenty degrees from a ninety-degree cut. Make the top cut parallel to-the bottom so that .you have a%orizontal surface for the top plate. When the studs are cut, nail them at the marks to the top and bottom plates with 16-penny-nails. Nqte: always buy high qualitynails.,
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The so\uth panel can now be lifted into blace on the low front wall. This will take several folks working in unison. In .order to precisely mark the junc,tions of .the anchor bolts-in the low -wall with the bottom plate, gently lower the prefabframe structure into its permanent position. While several,yeople hold the framework in place, one particularly bolts to mark their position. Take the .fa The front face can then bk installed on t
plate of the front face and to the plate or rafters on the IIOLIX side (SW next page lor instructions). This will give the structure stability and give you ;I chance to SW the olltline of the gl-ccntioLise/-When you have Iinisticd ;Itt;iching ;I Imewraltcrs, lake ;I hrcak. Stand back and atlmirc your work.
FIGURE ~4,~
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The\ next step is to cut and place the lower plites on the east and west walls (No. 3,. J Figure 23). Bolt. the plates dow,n. .To connect the fr%une wdls of the greenhousetothe , home, a stud is securely tied-in ;to thehome wall. It shouJd fit snugly from the,,bdt$om C I , plate to directly under the r;Bfter plate (No. 4), \, You now have a funny shaped box; that is, the perirne 4 of the east and west wall;.@ /er :fiill inwitk franring lumber Were going to divide that box with a plate, tha? will also serve as a header for thelower frame .walls .(No. .5). On the -east-sidetlre plate can also be the top of $e door.. frame..kold a piece of lumber.level across the span and mark its intersection ir withthe front face. On the west, itsits on the massive wall for the majority of the span. ; b. When -the pieties are cut, nail them into place. The east and west walls can now be framed in place. Remember, the clear sections *.. will have 47 centers. Tire insulated:walls will be framed on 24 centers (No. 6). The easiest way to do this is to mark the bottom plate at the intervals where the upright studaare . to be nailed. Take a carpenters level and hold it against the side of the first, stud. Keep the 1 e it base of the lumber-on the bottom mark and get the stud exactlv pIumbThPnmarLth -. T-point of intersection -of the;stud~with the header on both the stud ,and the plate. Cut the stud about l/ 16 1.ongerthan the mark youve made. .~ , All fram-e walls can be constructed in this way. Its easy and its fast. Toenail (drive L ,na\ls in at an angle) the studs: I -as yGLgoWhen the--studs are cut,-fitted a&nailed .-in= LIT stall horiz.ontal spacer; (No. 7); and the vent and door plates (No. 8). hlake certain thevre le,vel, and nail them in with 16$ermv nails,
ROOF RAFTERS ; * :. \ With luck, YOL!will,be able to tie the roof rafters of the greenhouse into the .existing rafters of your home. If not, attach a 2x6 or 2x8 plate to the-wall of the house as a base forthe rafters (No. 9). ~Expansion bolts or large wood screws are-used to get a secz.lre tie-in .. -to Te wall. Dont scrimp here. The greenhouse roof must bear its own weight plus, in many at&~-of the country, sKowlo&ls~ti5 the ail&tioii~aT~l~oa~s,dfsnow &ling~ off thgroof of, - \ !+, your house. \ - ~ The rafters for a short span (under 10 feet) can be 2x4s or 2x62s iet on 24centers. For longer spks use heavier lumber or put the rafterson closer centers, ; Shallow~notches are cut in -theiGwall plate or joist hangers canbe used instead. The. rafters are toenailed to it at these points. At the intersection of the rafters and the south face top plate,very sliakle-w-natc1e.s (ca&~d~~birdhout!LJ-n&$3~es) are cut in the bottom of the rifters so that they will-rest snugly on the plate. Again, toenail them in. ~ Putting upthe rafters (an&the roof).canforde a person into. some prettystrange acrobatircontortions. i Gould &aution Jdu that e&$t to nine feet up h the air is.higher than you might imagine, especially from an aerial view. A *body can be broken_at.theend of a free-fall from that height. Also, get in the habit &lmt leaving any tools or materialslying ?,
about 01; the rafters or the roof (even JVl~en all the rafters are iq.,pl&, I:ited .roof areas. Use a clGlk Jinc to junction in your unit, use the charts %waydown the rafter span.
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PAINTING.THE ! ----
FRAME
Rafters and framing lumber can be treated in more humid climates. Copper naphthe~late is recbmmended. Sonic paints have-a preservative in them. After its been treated, all
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FIGURE
25
framingiumber/that will be visible within the cl$ar walls and ceiling areas should be paintec .with a gloss< white enamel or latex (see Figure 25). This will help reflect light into tht .:
43\,..
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.
= Traditionally, glass has been used For the clear surfad\es in greenhouses. Q,ue td its rcsistance to high tem~~eratu%s, glass is, a,lso used cxtensiv\ly for covering solar collkctors. Prefabri,catecl sheets of double-layered glass are availablti,, from major mhnufactilrers and. may- be>, purchased in Gal-ious sizes. Many types of sl,iding ,glass daors ai-c also double glazed&d GM bc used in the greenhouse. The obvious apv~ntages of glass ;hre tl!>,t ii allows <. a view to the o;]ltside and is highly resistant-to the li~~I~,fL1.1?effects Of we:lthG~ringl It is, however, easily broken and demands extrcmc care and teclylical skill in installation. Technological advances in the design aild manufactureof plastics have prodLiceh inipo?tant altRn?tives for the greenh6use builder. Sohe types of se-niirigid fiberglass/aclyl.ic sheeting are guaran--t&+4-foi= 30.years.,to transmit enough ligli t for pliotos)nthcsis. However/%berrTlass L can become cloudy or._ll,rown. as ii result of ultraviolet ray dapage (l~l~ssoming~.~ Tedlar coating, for instance, bias an ultraviolet retarding cliaraotcristi< that helps greatly td pres&iv,e the clarity. of tlic plastic to wliiclim it is applied. i -_ ---~iKG-&iii transniits nearly tlic saiiic amount of Ii&t as glass. cvcn tliouqlic its translucent r,atlicr than clear (SW Figure _ 6): Corrugated plastic! is rcc0111mended for clear roof arcas; it is easily ~nstallecl and resistant to hail clamagc. Flat fiberglass is.~eaclily attached to clearwall frames wit]+ rubl7~--gaS!EtX nails 01 -lath strips. I recommend the use of ht. fiberglass 0.11all vertical ;mc)41t:ir vcI:~ical ,FIGURE 26 PHOTO dY KRl/STEN MACKENZIE , surfaces. Flat material Ii;is a 20% sipaller surface area than co*+u&i.ti:d:. therefore far less area for heat I&s. The quality of light transmitted through fibcrglas:? is djffuse. It doesnt - give the sharp, clearly defined shadow aceas of~lass. This is bent,t.ici~l to plal~t g$\yt[~. The , cost per square foot of ntw fiberglass is cons1-flerably Icss than the cost mofllnew glass; ,<T8::ere is an ecological question concerning ,;<, the use of plastics in $+ieral. Plastic is a petroc$enjical product and is not biodegradable. The supply o,f petroche$ich~ is dwindling i-hpidly, andthe atmosphere is becoming p~olluted by petroclmilical wastd$ Nondegradable IL / I products al&o donstithte ;I form of pollution on the earth. I feel that our only hope for maintainin g an ecological balance on flue earth de,pends on a thoughtful, ,positive wx of modern tec!!nology and its oiodilcts. I behjve that employing fiberglass and plastics in your greenhouse colistitutes such a use. Mahy peol-,le are con-. 43
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vinced that solar-gnergy is the obvious fuel of theiifuture. I;lurth& expekrnentatjq~~ ~. lead :, wl.ll ; to advances in tile efficiency of solar collection,\ storage and tran$m~ssion.lt j$ 6 xobab1e.i that ,plastic products will become essential of solarlenergy,,~6mponentsl I. suggest, therefore, .t>at the Iintelligent and of plastics in the,g<eenhousewih . serve as a valuableexampl~ of how to put_-Mm.--= our fossil ,uels to beneficial $s$.before they are _, -.._ : , ,: exhausted.
CLEAk WALL!% ,I 1
center (again, halfway in). Pulling sliglitl:y on,the remaining two edges headed 1 nails ,for\,,the %inside or leading edge or simply lay it on with no nails. The next _* section of plastic ~$1 overlay it,,and..must fig snugly. The rubber-gasketed nail heacls-protrude about l/8 from -the wood ar~d.would cause bumps in the overlaid plastic. N,ail the material down 10 the horizontal braces first:Then pulling, dia.g.o.na.LLyon four corners the i \ ,__ -- , _. 8) I i+ &M+rro&+opulEtension of the sheeit,- put rn%ar!s approximately 8 uic,hes aon tlm.-Work the bulgesout of the plastic,f;o!n the cent*:. to the corners (see Figure27 on next bage). If a-major bulge has developex try to .d@Ect it early;,remove the tempor/. ary nails and,realigh the sheet, T&r- are--two very, expensive items used-in-this rnethod~ silicd,ne~se~lan~tand gasketed -aluminum nails.Lately ive used a cheaber method that Ibelieve isjust as effective. Check and mount as before. 6ont use. any- sihcone sealant. Ge? $~maf,l~gakanizednails and drive them into the fiberglass about every six in+es. After all panels are up, cover edges?and OVerlaPS WC!1thi*l (% X l%) wood lath. If thereare alby bulgeior leiks, they can be sealed / ._ with regular! caulk. After cutting the second pa&i, lay ar;other bead of adhesive Aver the leading edge and 1. ve, &overlapping the second panel by 1 .inc.h ,on the the top and i$ttom. edge previously tlat-nailed.,Use attach the overlapping section. Follow the steps given for the first panel, g.gain,,u~~~gl:T.~~t-l~eadednails i,n the leading edgeto be.overlaid by the next panel. Fo,r(ents and removeable panels.,-install the fiberglass on the ground. .,. _/_a 44
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tom plile; under the: fiberg!ass,: i&-t $:corrugated- sealing s&-rip:.1 recolntliend tile foam type, but re$$ood .gr ;ubber wiil 40 fine. * I d :. Now ilail down the fiberglass every 3 to+ 4 Eowugations ,tiith gasketdd nails to &e bottom plate.?nd rafters. Nail,jntq the hi&*ridge rather ,than. the valleg. This will preventi wa!er Seepage through the .nacl hole. Overlap the &eets at least &~e and, if possible, ,, L. .two.corrugtitions arl,.dconiin*ue across th&-clear7a~ea$ tltis Fame;. DoPt nail the XBp,edge (ts be overlapped by the opaque &of) yet. Tile only rkal trick tonailjng into fibe$glassis to ; l&ye:, steady hand and a good eye. A missed hammer blow tialpsplintefi th; mat-eri~l,~leaving .. an ugly opaque mark (to say nothin&of th,e damage t,s yo&humb). Tlie solid roof,is installed next.IFplyiQood and composition roofir&material is to be .-. I_~ -. used, lay a strip of corrugated molding across$he top ecl# .of the clCear/sol,idrbdf aa!_the plywood sheets oa-to-the rafters, oveglapping the, foam strip b)-.3>to 4,,inclies..The foam Goldin& above corrugated plastic w-ill against he,at loss.You can now a.pply q-oar co shingles or ... (. : , over tl!e plywo$.
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THE INTE&IOIt
PLASTIC r
,$ix-millimeter polyefhylelie (with an~ul~raviolet in!libitbF,) is sugg&te,d fo? e interiqi7. $&f.~~alls and;soDf areas. It is susceptible to y&l.?ering:.but will.be pk&tected by tl~efil$r.. gl&ss~ outside-~y,es;l~t.shoLlId. 1as.t ,t-iue@o five ,years before both Monsanto 602.&id Ted&r. :_ 7 ? . ?J .,-; The thin plast-ic is tm&e/easily installed than the & of cl?ar area can be cov+-ed at once. Usitlg scissors or a & attached: &Make ydur cuts at least 3 inches -h$%r&oldin~ the extr&nJities of the ost stud. Work ~ou~arc!%jw,&@ the sid& and cqne;s, inches apart.. Wo?~d-la@ (l/J? .x 1%) ,is riGIs to -produce the fina&a& ,You can 1: tile.
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- i / . Solid frame walls. can be insulated with $ wide,,variety of mate&s. tiRockwool, fiber 3.1. .,., .,.I ll.,l.l..-j... _a. %jas, styrzfoam, polyurethane, pumice and cork are all excellen:t. coil-backed insulatior , stops a lot o.fradiant heat loss through the walls and acts as a vapor barrier, but it $an bc prohibitively expensive. If you do use it, install it with the foil gacking facing the interior of the greenhouse. Recently Ive been stapling heavy duty ,tin .foil on the interior side ol Fiberglas batt. -Thats cheap and effec$ve. k L i ., _~A.. ,, i - + The amount of insulation applied should -be as much or more than is used it/i the walls and roof of a well-built home in your-a&&In ,New-Mexico, 1 u&ally use at ldast 4 inches of fiberglas batt in the walls and 6 inches & the roof>I%berglas is-easily applied 1 with a staple gun or&& hamm~% Salespeople at the local hardware St&e can help you choose the right amount and ty&%f.insulation. I* : ,Always wear a long-sleeved shirt,-.gBovesand button your collar when installing glas; insulation. W ear safety glasses for rafter work, especially if yo& have and try not to-breathe.. too much. ., _./-,__---r, ,. -
Insulated frame walls can be paneled with any sonite, -plywood, sheetrock and roiigh or finished
that you find attractive. Ma. used. Pane$ng.ma are usually simply nailed wit1
. \ As lie insulated wall will not &ore heat, the inside/should be a light color td*, produce a reflective surface. $Water&ealing will help to -protect the interior against c-let&-im-;ltin.n due to high humidity. for.
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When glass is used, it should be double$azed to reduce heat l&S. If poss&le, windows Andy doors should slide or hinge away frornt-he greennouse interior. Hinges are.mounted ontop of vents to open out. Remember, the high vent that you?%inone_wall (east or w.est, depending on the direction of t$e prevailing winds-should be-on the do,wnw$d side ofthe: prevailing air flow) needs,/ttrbe-a-~out_one third l&-ger-insquare&ot~ge than the low:$ent ir / :, in the -facing wall. --i- _ - ~~7~. In dete-minmg the dimensions for an outside door, remember t will be moving large Quantities of soil int@the greeiilrousg,\ ake the door wide e oygh to accommodate h -a whe~lbarrow (plugour knuckles). Thirty-two inches is good. It i!s also advisable to make the height of the door a standard measui-emnent for convenient access. In very cold climates an air lo&v& the exterior door willsavelarge losses (see HerbShop,page 87). * \
All massive wails should be jnsulated on the outside. An effkctive insulating material for this is styrofoamor styrene panels-( 1 or 2). Tliey can be stuck #to the walls with a heavy duty cdiistruction adhesive. Use it libe.r$ly. If-thewall is to~b~eiplastered, cover the styrofoam with tar paper. Then use firring nails and chicken wireover that. The wall can now be plastered with a hard coat (5 parts_sand : 3, partsPortland : 1 part.lime). i ,Exterior coveiing of tire frame walls can be any material. that suits youFa,esthet.ic and economic criteria. Ive us& old lumber, plywood, Celotex (exterior fiber shea?hing) andmetal siding. The most important thing is to make sure there are-no leaks that allow water in.to the frame ~41s. Remember-higher panels overlap lower ones for waternroofing. Caulk anything that looks suspicious. 1
49
-.: air c through the structure. For larger openings, such as might occur at junction, use metal lath an-d-plaste?to build.air@ight walls (i,qulate As we mentioned earlier, vents,and doors must be completely weatherof sealing and jnsulationcannot rbe ,overemnhasized. as it can make the difference be-tween the success-errfailure-dfvour rrreenhbti$e! THERM YC$J ARE! / . YOUDID IT! CONGRATULATIONS!
TOOLS NEEDED I ,. I/ S&vels (pointed and flat) Hammers Saws (ha&l),,or Saiv,l;(electric),. Drill and bits I&e Trowels (triangular and plasterj Hatchet I Level Tape measure Squares (tri and carpen ters)B String Draw knife Staple gun Saw horses Paint brushes (3 inch and 1% incli) a Wheelbarrow -ha -- ~-_____; Qane r ,, -~Tin snips (large) Caulk gun c Chalk line Roller and pan Water btickeis or hose and nozzle
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,Ji i
/
7 2x4 joist hangers b 1 bag masonry 2 4x4 joist hangers i 5 bags Portland 3 pulls ./ i yard sand --8 corner braces (to reinforce door and 1 yard % aggregate + larger vent) 2 yards dry pumice or pea gravel 2 2Tx8x2 Styrofoam panels 80 full pumice blocks 150 sq. ft. of 4 or 6 fiberglas insulation 25 half pumice blocks 24 wide 8 6 anchor bolts Ipack&eQ/,8=)~foamstri+-(&er-m 725 reb,ar stripping 30 8 2x4s 3 2 corrugated stripping (ioar! or*redwood 3 10 2x4s 4 pieces /or 3/8sheetrock 2 16 2x4s 2~_I;ieces %Tel-otex orequivalerRe<teA& 2 8 1x4s *,i sheathing or paneling, i.e., ,64 sq. ft. 2 lplx4:s : . 7 rough lumber z 1x 12 (for floor beds and .9 ?. I 4 pieces 8 corrugated roofing material . shelving) +I ___ . 2 tubes silicone caulk-clear . 400~wood lattie moulding (for trim . . I. 1 tube.reguiar caulk and tables) 1 gallon good quality white lagex pa&. $2 lb. concrete nails 1 gallon good quality dark color latex ; , 300 - 400 aluminum nai!s or 1 pint dark stain (for littice moulding) 3 lbs. small galvanized nails 200 sq. ft: flat fiberglass/acrylic (greenhouse. 10 lbs. Nol 16 common nails ,/ quality) 5 lbs. No. 8.comm.on nails 70 sq. ft. corrugated fibergla$$acrylic 2 fbs. .No. 8 finishing nails ,,.fl ,. (greenhouse quahty) 1 lb:. small finishingTrails ,250 sq. ft. polyethylene (greenhouse 3 ,lbs. blue sheetrock nails (for sheetrock{:: quality) 6 sets hooks a$d eyes-.... -6 55 gallon drums with.tops (wBter tight) l_ m+ : set 3% or 4:. butt hinges (for doqr) -4 andjjcn-a nur&erof srrraHer Water ti* ; _,sets-?l:~~~itt~fti~or~~~~-~ F+, r containers ,
51
NOTES
52
/ t
CHAPTER V
THE BASIC UNIT e
Perf+rmince Y
and Improveqents .
. -
The attached solar greenhouse we /have described will extend your grading season a great deal without supplemental heat or further modifications. The following graph reflects the -extended growing season in such a u it over a years period. : / c Approximate Length of Harvest-Assorted Plants ii t 4 Solar At@ched*Greenhouse/Outdoor Garden p-f-q ~Rocky Mountains 6 0 00-7000 ({,824-2,128 m) / -Planf
-... LEAFY LETTUCE, BROCCOLI, ROOTS RADISHES, AND VEGETABLES; CHARD, CABBAGE TUBERS-ONIONS BEETS, TuRNi% i ~ <lf SPINACH t --.-s-__ ...__ I --- .._ _ ._._ .....__ I < 6-l/2 * s-1/4 3-l/2 ts n 1 6-112 ,w. d.9 Gain in Months -.
PEAS, PEPPERS,
BEANS : TOMATO+ j j d I ?: /
CUCUMBERS MELONS HERBS-MINT. PARSLEY. HERBS-SAGE, BASIL. COMMON GERANIUM. MONTH CORIANDER FLOWEbS PETUNIA CHIVES f DILL. . IN d i
,-
MAq
PR
MAY
JNE
JLY
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Theres an easy way to estimate eixpected temperatures in your region. Most local weather stations maintain charts of average temperature ranges, sunlight days, rainfall and so forth for their areas. Get the information. Fig&e that the passive attached greenhouse ?with tlie recommended storage wihaverabe about twenty to thirty -degrees-higher than the outside temperatures. This is a bailpark figure, without guarantee; we cant control how tightly you seal your unit, how much insulation you use, or-even which way you point the thing. But this is a fair estimation of its potential if you have followed the design, build--, ing-and operation instructions carefully. ~
z .i-j i
i ,I . 3
.. .
,,,,
. ...*. ., _,, __,,,,,... I 7 j Its agood idea to test the performance of your basic passkve structure,throLighout one Gears_operation. Chart the! highs and lows (indoor and &tdo,or); record plantink., gerniina\,, eons; @d ha&est-times. These data will liti@ yoq?I&%%me whether irnprovdi&ts aiid ,,,<, ;\ / 5__ modific-a@ns are needed. ~ ~~ +L ~-~I &ould mention here that many paple pref8 not to shoot f% ye.ar-r~~~~~eelnhouSe 3 operation. Besides giving yours&f a break fr&.fLilltime upkeep of t,lie unit, 2 aorfiatit perid od offers other advantages. The bedding,soil can be corqp8sted; fertilized and given a rest. 1 You~cari alO% b&sic maintenance on tile unit done during this time, and plan for the next get 1 9growing se&on. If you have had a major insect disaster in,Qhe fall/early-winter cycle: the 1, hi rest ,p,Friod c&r be a good time to breeze the little parasites qut of existence (open doors *. -and vents to the outside). On sunny winter days you can still .tap all greenhouse heat for .s h&lie use, then cut it off at night. l o; The moit cbmmon reason for sjlutting down during the four to six coldest weeks of the winter is an economic one. The amount.oS produce that you harvest during thistime %niay not justify.the cost of production,. either iti terms 6fconventiolialsupplentent&-y heat-* / ing or the cost of an active solar heating system. * / If you; goal is year-rou.nd production, or if performance improvements are definitely called for ( your greenhouse freezes ii1 July), you have three alternatives:
c+ ,
. .
* 4
I ) Imbrove collectioniahd heat storage, b 2) Decrease heclt 1oss/Kcrease insulation, 33 Employ conventional supplemen,tary heatinggr bopprl the door to ._ . , I your home. n c
9
r.
We like the firsat two approaches, as they can be employed- witholi? tapping-conventional power sources. In some cases a limite$ amount of etectricity can be justified, hut much less is use.d-than in conven tionit heating. Sdlar researchers have pursued two basic direc- ) tions in improving performance. They are ,uassiueand &tive systems. Passive systenis emphasize the mo.$ effectivc,.r&tionship be,,tween collecting suriaces, F pot&tial storage mass, within the structur.e,.~,nd-the units insulative gharacteristics. In a D pure._passive- n!ode there is no tnacitiner3,illakjng-the.whole systeli go. The home, or +.&f(jjg is tllmeGe&or,insL,~a.~,or ~a.,& ~l&*s~rer;------------~-~~~ --------------- ~~-- - -~~~ ~~~ : ~ m--In a recent paper pub1ishe.d by the Uni[.ed StatesEn&r_v Research and Develbpri1en.t Administration, J. Douglas Balfomb,?n$Jal$es C. Hedstrom of Los Alamos, New Mexico, . clearly state the import&ice of passive sblar energy utilization. In their words: I. Preliminary findings presented in this paper indicBte that it is reasonable to expect comparable solar heating performance fors; paSsive solar building as for an active Splar heating system for thelsame collection area. This is a robust result. The implications to & fu.tti& de; velopment df solar ene@ for heat buildings could be.profound... A number of exampl& o,f pass&e. __ ar heating concepth have been , built int6 structures ind tensive south exposur d ! : . *
building. and extensive use of mass heat capacity inside the thermal envelope of the building to store heat energy. Despite the publicity given to these projects and their apparent success in saving energy, they havent 1~2en widely adopted.
. , ,
We feel that a sreat deal of emphasis should be placed on the deqign of passive systems. For tllis reason we suggest tllaf you make all possible passive improvements before venturd ing into 311 active solar system. L I d
c a L :
INCREASING
COLLECTIOi) .a 1
c, F
7 /ST
<
its conc.eivable, foF!-.instance, that you Iiairenf providccl enough collecting (clear) _ walls for your particular conditions. Yqu may discover tliat the clear roof arcahnceds expanding to allow the sun to hit well up in the hack wall during December. Or .you might have an east-facing frame wall that could collect enough morning sun to justify its being f completely clear. Its not too big a job to conver!L all or part of such an insulated frhe wall to double glazed plastic. Just remove the inner &ICI outer paneling and insulation, paint the studs white. then stretch your coverings as described in Chapter IV.
FIGURE
30
Another way to increase collection is to bounce or reflect more light into the unit. A reflective panel hinged off of the bottom of the front face can also act as an insuIating cover (see Figure 30). Hinging refIectoys.off the sides or roof can also increase collection, but the damage that could be done by high winds should be coqsidered. A reflecto; can increase available light to a collector surface by 40 to 50%. AIso,;:dont underestimate tlie -, :value of snow; as a reflector. If you live : in an area which experiences full winter . snow covel:, dont shovel it a-way from the , south of the greenllouse. Leave it there and throw on cI.ean snow when it gets difty. A third way to raise ambient air temperatures through controII;ed collection is td employ a vene tian blind d&ice. The Tucson Environmental Research I+boratory is experimenting with such a blind; ~ it hangs l$etweeii glazings in a winclow or in front of a Trombe or clear wall, cl-cat- ing conuection currents of heated air witllin the unit (Figure 31 ). It is painted black, If the blind is partially or completely closI ed, its surface acts as a heat absorber, bpen ,it allotis you to look through it. Because of its convectiye function. the Tucson researchers believe that on 3 cloudy day . ,. , . (diffuse radiation) the partially closed \ \ ,, ;i _ : ,.. ,bik blind raisis air temperatures more than I -., \ direct transmission. (See Franta. page 103 . FIGURE 31 Chapter VIIrj of the clear roo..f of=a,gfeenSimple veneti?n blinds bun, ~7bc?ncath fhe interior #zing
_A
house, painted black on one side and silvel on the other, do se;eral things. They raise the aiid air tenlperatures before the airuiiters tli? h&ie. This speeds tlic coiivecfion.pattern provides better circulation. The silver bottqm wbuld stop some radiation loss t.hrc&h the ~~ &ar roof at night.- In warm months, the silver side is turned up for an infinite number of *. shade settings. ~-~ Another way to raise arnbicnt temp&tures is to install a conventionaltlat plate collector below the level of the greenhouse, or in a low sectiob; 01 a clear wall. If there is adequate s$ce for air passage between the two, a convective lo p will establish itself (see 9 I Figure 96, page 133). A more intricate passive way to raise-,.temperatures .. (Figure 90, page 125 )-. .1 is seen &$e Pragtree ._ ~~- ,p Farm Unit
a * .. !
INCREASING
STORAGE
y. *
In_,c&asing passive heat stol;age is a viable option for improving pkrformmce. ,Fi[ty-f&e,. gallon oil cln~ms full of water are the most corn~no~~~orrn of direct. gain storage. The i : basic prol$-em with fifty-five gallon oil ~-_-~ drums is that they ,3rc ugly (FigLm 32). It would take a design genius to make them oth~rwise.!Your family maytnot I,ct you bring them into the greenl~ouse. For maximum efficiency, the drums should be painted llat black; this does not improve their appearrtnce. They are cLIinber-SOllltf, L1sLl3ly txnt and gklsy. solllc~sLlge 1 gestions: d, 1 ii~~y$?lnbenl cll-Llllli -, l t)l~B1~LIZle~~c~~ trom Iry..highly unlikely, I as the oil ~onipanics t hat own the factories choose to toddle them ILIII or at $ 12 u a whack empty. 2) Clenn LISCCI barrels with (~Llnl: ~Kemover, treat them with 3 primer, tll~ll flat dark CJU~.//~ pint them ;I beautiful instcacl of blalk. t : 3) Dccoratc the noncollccting areas .of the cliurns to suit your Iancy anil t3st.c. 4) Train plants around the sides and back of the barrels. -$ 5 ) Incorporate siiclving and plamtcrs : FIGUl+E 32 011 tlir top 01 the harrcl installatjon. IHowcter ugly they rhight be, tllP dnims kffcct on yo~ir getlr7lioiisc ~311 bc t3,euutiful. ConSicIer tlic fact that ildirect sLlnl.igllt raises the tcmpcr;ltLpe of the water ii1 a filty-~~illon drum tliirty degrees, ybu will have stored abouf twclvc tIIousand BTUs of> lIeat cnersy.
-
::j
ylor
)
,I
5r
The drums can be stacked near the back wull or whcrcver they \vill crhcll direct sun. ?.I :. N and not shade or be .shaded. It they ;lrest;~cked OII end, si;t,,crtrtr thein sliglltlv to allow space for filling and air circulation. If yoL1 113vc enough rootll, lay tllc barrels 011 ~lieir sides wit11 5i the ~liling holes facing u$. See that tllc drums 110 riot tglrcll tllc grccnlioLise walls or tlicy . ,will conduct heat to the walls that co~~ld otherwise t2tCused to raise aigbient air temper3__ ~- -~-- _ _.~-..~ Y tLires.LC r i variety of other water storage containers C:III be 2hfil~yyed. They include waterfilled beer cans (see Dopg Davi,s,. page 97), glass and plastic cont5iieI-s of all sizes, discarded gas tanks from cars and trucks, rubber , . 57 ) ,O and vinyl pillows, rl
bpen
?Un stores t11wcto fbur tiil20.7 11211~12 /~;r* tcr us ~~i~~~r-,g~~ /wll~rtl IISNII cqlljlu/c~Iit arllourl t of m~~k.s 8 ; -2/ 01/llil.solll:l.
-A)
$efal : t ./ ;:
S,,galvanigeu sreel tanks. TheJmpor3ant thing is to check that no%r&t gain storage unintedtional!y shades starage behind it.- F&- this reason various sized containers, lower to tlie 0 south land higher to the north, a& adyisable. . ~ 1 Another. direct-gaiq storage modificaiion cah-be acpliedqto inside walls that receive su.nl<t. This ption is to add $ermal mass to the- walls%by fac!& them..with bribk -or dense stone. The tmassive facing should be of a $ark color and nol7fkflective texture.:It will store collected heartand give! it up to the interiot in the same wayi the wa.ter tanks do. The existing wall that you have ,+ered- kill insulate against heat loss to the outside. Befsure to tie-inthe ma+.& facing to the-old wall with metal straps or lath to avoid ~,~~.~~~^~..~~.... 1... s:paTaflon. M&norable inj&ies could be sustainedif the rgonolithic stricture where to top: .ple while you mulch your melons below. Rocks or bricks ciybe made into beaufifu1 raised i.ltinting beds, do&g the practical job of sjoring khergy while improving thermal st&?@e. A simila+mgdification can be .made ifi t&e greenhouse floor, 4 thick concrete $ab --.-&d/or-stone paving added to the flobr can act as a heat sink for storing thermal eneigy. abs$rp?;hg ston,e or concrete surface sl~oul~ also be dark and Flat in color foin;aximum tion. For best results;insulate a$&& heat loss%to the ground by putting a laydr of pum, ice br sQrofoam Z.U$!Ut@El6&-,&b. ._ The soil in $+6ting 6e&c8n provide:pas&e thermal storage. In the authors [iii1 _t_h~Qs-arr&&~ted 4900 pounds of Iblack niount$ri earth. Again;, an insulator likeid;y pumide, gray61 o-r s,tyrofoam (with ho,les fdr drainage) should be under the storage. Pi .I
IWCREASING
LOSSES
I.&t:? take a look at the, s&ond option 1 mentioned: decrea$if?g heat losses/increasing insulation.;IJlese two areas .of imljfovement go han.d.in hand. pdr starters, if you liave a -wind chill, f&{or inside t-he unit, thats a problem. Plas+ wlikre ,those little. zephyrs whistle- throught~l>,estructure should be plugged up. They u$uallv &cur. around door and window frames, rdof\&d vyall junctions, plasticrto wood joint$..lets face it-anywhere, you have put two piec s of the greenhouse together. These iniltratioi1. losses are the i \ Tmost common and the easiest type to. correct. Simply grab most a+y pliable materia!illandy (hopefillly with some iil&lative value) and cram it into tlje era kk OLG hole with,a s,crewdriver or.iJbent coat hanger: Leftover fiberglds insulation pulled cotton-candy st$le off its -/ i* backing 1srecommended. -. SoI-jie*:air leaks, suc11 as those Hiat &cur where avent. 0; dbor meets &e jBm%, will ,/ . require -~( conventional weBther stripping1 A caulking gun full of iealant will eliminate most otli~i5 Squeeze,an even bead of.caulking material.along all joints that pose a problem. Convective and conductive heat lo&es are those caused by air movement yitlzin 8 the$alls, roof and clear-wall, areas of the greenhd$e. I?educing these is m-ore difficult
than plugging leaks. First check whether lated roof. Go .into the greenhouse after $nds will tell you if you have an isolated tl.la.71the rest of the walls there. If you
y.ou4lave cold spots on solid walls or in the insua cold night and feel around on the ~a!!&. Your area of high heat loss. It will be noticeablq colder find the culprit, acid more insulation. In a fl-ame
wall, put it on the interior side or in the wall. 011 a massive wall, put it outside. In a well-sealed gre~A~~l~o~~se, greatest losses will occur through the clea; wall and the clear roof areas. Traditional (all clear, cx1~osed)greenllouses rank among the most energy ilzefficient structures ever built. That is why solar greenhouse designs LISC clear surfaces * only where absolutely neeessaly for !leat collection and plant growth. Still, energy will be T D I\ lose at:an amazing rate thr&gh the skin when the SLIII goes down. i Multi-layerecl (more tL3.n two) glazings ?dd Some insulation to the ,skin but al& de- . crease tlic transmission %f light by about 10% for eaqh additional layei-. Recent s&dies have found that a triple glazing is justified in &eas tllat,j,have full winter snow cover. The added retlectio,n of the snow makes up for the loss in transmission. Several universities and . ch;niical companie$ are experimenting.&ith aapoly-film application that is opacluc to tllc ? k.jn-fra-red on the inside. That would keep muc11 moreheat in polyethylene greenhouses. . One time-tested device th?$ can insulate yqiir clear walls is a curtain or dripcry. Pulled closed inI the evenings or on cloudy Liays, curtain should s,eal as tightly as possible to be effective. Ideally the ciirtaiii should have a Jeflective surface (such as aluminized mylar or tin foil) j$ciilg the air gpucc in the interior. A disadvanta& to the r curtain is_Lhat you have to be present to operate it (iinless, of,course you install a motor with a heat or light-activated switch). A more simple approach is to use rigid foam paneb to fill the clear areas at night. Clips and magnets have been used to attach the $ rigid panels (see Zomuyorks, pEtge II ;, 130, Chapter VII). The obvious ; disadvant-age is that tl1.e .panels must be rembved and.stored dflr. .. ing collection periods. You might 1, _. ; devise, a mounting system for the .%: :_ $a &!f stored panels in which they double I
FIGUaRE
33
\ I.
59 I
-*I d
._
as interior reflecting surfaces to combat phototropic plant growth.. Another type of. insulating, curtain is made-from rigid styrofoam Yq polyurethane panels .sand&ched togetller with cloth on alternate edgks (Figure 33, page 59yyjp driental-style curtain is stored at the top of the clear wall and lowered via a cord or. wire that, . ; ,.r . I runs through the panel centers from top to bottom. , In an9 vertical curtail arrabgement, the- fit must be tight tillen closed or the;isys tern may defeat itself due to the chimney effect. Thermal action c& set <p. convection cvrrents bet,ween a loose curtain tind the clkar wall, &using heat loss greater than were the. , c$tqiti not there, A horizonJa1 curtain si%Iar to the oi?e discussed,in Ap$ndix C, p&e 155; --@$t manually operated, can be puJled acrosSi%e interior of your greenH&se. It would keep _I m~$.heat dov& nea%the fhermal stgrage. * i Insulatingmatgrials pn thq outside of the structure offer another solution to the heat lo$problen$ Tfie~o~& show,~ in Figure 30, page 55, that doubles as a reflector is an example. ..._ AUK blanketing system WOL@._ s rl7aintai.n higher nigilttime temfi,,ergtures in v&y help cold tieather. This winlq- I will be tising,,,,e%tirior rolldown blanketslilade fo;,-,coverifig .eement. They are 1 - 3 thi+ with haflkxibie inqlation intkrior covered *it11 waterproof black polvethv~e:Gement ci2muanies sell or rent,them.
,_,
ACjIVE
SYSTEMS
!Passive systems all demand ,your pr.esence for their operation. An alterti+ivc, an by Z,omeworbs in Albuquerque, New Mexico. auto,matic insulating wall, 1 blbwers fo .fill a double-glass cle% wall.with The design is acti~ jn The Beadwall @ acts as a solid in*&$ted: smalf styrofoam beads barqer when filled, and a transmittiqg clear,wall when tile beads are automatically vacuum-, _ ed:o;lt. i : y .:;;[I, ;yith the Beadwall@ we get iqto -ac;tive system options for improving &-eenhouse p&formance. An act&e.system involves collectili& then movi~-rg heat energy ,fiiq wattq or air) YitKa pump or blower. It is tllen transferred to a storage ;hediu@ (rock and/or wa;r) for ih&edi?te or latei use. Heat of Fusion Storage, -usingsalt hydt-ates as the stolage mediuni, is a third alternative, but as we !~ow of no present applications in greqnhouses, well . . ,_ omitiit here. -_.. One relatively simple aLtive hot-air systenq that has been used in solar greenhouses is from a high area in the unit and the]; ducted beneatlJ where it is stored. The fan c%nbe a&ivated by a thermostat.that cuts the ambient air temperature reaches seventy degrees. At night and on cloud$ days, into the unit. ,Alterhativeiy, a sec;nd fcin can be used to direct the bed in to the greer$lo&e: For workirig examples of this systkm,, , 60
A successftll variation of this system features esposecl rock storaie through- which hot air from the greenhouse ceiling is pumped
heated -air fanned through ducts from the ceiling (see Jemez House,. Chapter VII, page 93). Doug Balcomb (Chapter VII, page 11 1) has chosen to.build his rock bin in an L-, insulated box inside the greenhone. The beauty df this system is that *::A. it can be added later if aclditiohal storage is needed. ,:a Another active system option is toi use an el2closetl solar lieatei .
FIGURE
34
(iir or water) mounted on tile greehliouse roof diinsid_e the unit. If it is a whter system, liquid will -be..pumped tll/rouglr-i the collector into a large stoi-age tank (pussibly underground. surrou$ded by rocks and insulated): When the sun goes down; heated water bypasses ihe cool collector, making a -closed circuit from t,he hqt storage tank$liroilgl~ basebbrird radiators .(. in the greenli&User or a coihentional heattransfer blower. j! Disadvantages of this type ofgystelli are the high initial cost and the t+hnical skill required for its sucGess.Another drawback to a pressurSed,and circulating F hot-water system is that-if the electrical power to .punip it tlalis, the (w$ter stagnatdsi(stops nibving) and superheats, blowing oul the entirir.system-or at least the pressure re.liefvalves, This can be discouraging. ._ Compo~~q~s such as collector bcjxes, pumps, bloweh+nd so forth are commer*a, I . /
1. -*G..
-.
1 61
cially available, but the tinal arrangement, or system design, is left largely up to n the individual. I suggest that if you plan rate .a coijiplex active system rf$5ilio~1se, h~r>~the more irnportant coinI?oiieiits-ratl.~er than building them youi-self:l!ayii?g the solar inventor : 3 : is an exciting pastimP-, / --Tm Zj$;;& i ., exfknsivc and giSc biitli f +l My Yirst sol -. ~Jcphant. cl>ng prccaribusly lo the Foot, rusting Its V;I~LILIII~ and rotting in llic wcatlicr. cleaner hhwcr sounclcd like 3 ~lrcigli t train howling tliriwgli tlic I~OLISC. In sllwt, it was ;I. $ I-50 inistakc. If you do Iccl I qu:iIiIiecl to coi~stri~ct ;I collc~ctor, 21 Icast Iollow plans Ioi- units (Ii31 ~1-t-cprovql ,,n ellcctivc. c
__o
A proven and inr;pLnsivc wa tcr hcalins system is tllcx l3atcIl\aok orI~rc~icl 170x. 7~lYc unit is iisccl 2s 3 jfrc-li~~atcr Ior- yoLr1; \ cotlvcntional Irot water or tlircctly in sm~ill FIGURE 3G \ applications. I$ consists ola tank (40 - h0 ~iiclos~il in ;I r~ll~clivc1~c~s and jnoLltllc~d in *tlic apes 01 tlic gr~clilious~~. It runs oll- the Iioi~c lint l~rcssu+rc\ and, hcc:~iiscol tlic large voluiuc. Glout~t r-ith tlic risk 01 ovci-llcatilig. I.0 prcvcilt tlic tlatigcr 01 ltycziiig oii 1, lcavc large Ilodx in tl1.c hutC.O_Lu.~.~.tr~~l-iIl~)t~-fc? -Ikci+l-j+-&v~~r or Ili:tkca movcaI;Ic rcIlc>cting/ I:--- covc~P.Stills&r~d -.itisulalitikj cslciiior 01 lr~~c/,ingl Hypass and dr;iin tlic system 101tll? cold.\ . z. cst tiiilc ljcriotl:
phl.sj
A Ibrty ga~iondalllr like this, wilfraisc watc.r tclnpcraturcs to tllc grlsllcatcr aboui 40 \ %olll~\vo~IE;s~?~II;Il)IcI- VI I. lug~~~\, 1. sculls l)laiis for hrcatl hr,s Ii~atc~rs. I30 (othl~li~atc~cl Iiigli tcliilc1-I1ti(1~~Ilot w?tcr systC.nls cannot l>rcs$ntIy lx ccoiiomically wnt~ar as tlic Ilcat csjk(ilictl in ~~~c~~~ilio~~s~~s. Avoid tiy~lI11. Ilsc air or low tcnilx~raturc Cllilll~L ~llccliillli. il ;I11 jicti\r~~.S~.stc~I;\Iis \Vll;lt !OlI llc~cll. I<c?ICI.~ tIlC I-&k StOl-Llgc SyStClllS t0 i i/i tliis cli;iptc~r or iI1 (Iiaptdtir Vll:\r.;)II will 13~siirpjeisc~tl at tlic pirlor~llarlc~ 01 tllc passive I iitiits and tl1c himl~lc iliil~r-(,v~,lnc~iits Wgvc dcsCril7cCC 1 ._ >0 \ I; ,f, i / , :I
. -.. : /
-mNVENTIOyAii
. The third alternative for improving greenhouse performance is to employ convention,.absupplen~entary, hea$ting. The solar purist will object violently, but .,there is a great deal of validity in this,,oi,tion. ,ltIf you have built your solar greenhot.$.e properly, the amount of conventional fuel needed to improve performance should be minimal. For the greenhouse
HEAT&G \- -- -_
% Thus far we hai;e been concerned exclusively with keeping the greenhouse w&m. Avother common diffic&ty arises from the opposite problem: maintaining tolerablycooltemperature levels in summertime. Again, if you 4 have built in the correct amount of -~.solid;roof area for shading;: provided proper .ventilat,ion and tillerma mass, this should be 1 .controllable. If your unit still overheats, however, streen shading is one way of correcting thesituation. Greenhouse suppliers market a number of pIastic sun screens that can cMt down the ,incoming light anywhere from 15 to 85 percent. Bamboocurtainsare another possibility; they are usually more exbensive but .to- many, worth the extra cost (see .Figure 37). Bamboo-like plastic curtains are effectiveand cheap. Get white OJa 1ight:color. :, ___._^_ - ..-, .. A traditional method of cooling g;eenhouses is to whitewashthe outside.of. the clear surfaces -in the summer. .This is.time consuming, relatively, una$tractive, and could h&e ad\yerseeffects on fiberglass-acrylic products. ,, Another. type of passive cooling involves placing a sniall pan of water & front% ing them to dangle the lo,wer vent. FrEiiXE The natural convec- down into the water. Wat c&led air through tion~ of th,e.he$ed air exiti -Y the gre&house. d i exhaust fan is inexpensi$e, uses little power and can,be mounted in the upper vent
-COOLING THE&REENfiOUSE 4
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of the most innovative aspects of the Solar ey aregeared mainly to, the. production of vegetables-f the greenhouse i and house plants. Food,prod-uction (and surplus item to a functional addition to the home. Tlfe So,ll Sustenance Project . units have produced fine crops; their size and variety is dependeqt, of course, on the amount -.,I. -/ , I -.. of time and care the owner can offer, 1: .... . Gardening is a subject that fills vblumesJas you welK.know,;,if youve browsed through , i that section ,pf a bookstore lately). C,heck &r bibliography foribooks that cover the whole X! realm- of gardening. In this chapter v+$$re ,&oing to have to limit ourselves to plants that . . . :: we /rave&grown irz our gree&ouses and can. tell you about with honesty and confidence. , : However, we are always trying new ones and different planting arrangements, and we,,hope I :. ; you will do likewise. .L -. i Weshould point out that the greenhouse gardener has some advantag& and problems , t the outdoor gardener does not have. Pl.anting space is much inore limited, for one thing. an -attached greenhouse is an integral part of your-living, environment; your home __ -in the problems of, the unit (insects), as well as deriving benefits from it. .>____.-- - -- me._ iThe greenhouse gardener does have one great ad-vantage--over-t!le-o~~~porgardener: . lyou are not as dependent on the weathe;.--cow. t.emperatures in the coldest part of the I :I-- i .are the only excepfi.~~-Tl-le-ra~~~~~ of wind, hail,drought and+frost have, no effect 1winter .: !:on greenl~ouse$lan ts,.whereas, outdoor&hey can and 6 destroy many crops;-In-th~e-high,mountain valley where&e Fishers live, midsummer h are a constant threat. .T_he, food is on thme table:-As a \,farrners there say that they dont call a crop \ * a much more predictable greenhouse gardener, you enjoy both . a g&owing season, due to yourcontr;l over c \,
-.--T ._-.--. number of plantQ~&ciuded in your greerrhouse win bef dete,rmined by the configuration of: the unit and yourown judgement (practical and aesT thetic). However, since_space is limited,.-plan the layoL{t of planting areas withithe utmost care. For mayimum~productivity, leave very narrow wa:kways and- put the rest of the floor area into beds and tables. _ Vertical spat should also be used-to the greatest extent possible and youll find that -_-__ -~ .. planters are%%iethods theres quite a bit dpf it. Shelves liningX3i~l~hanging moveable shelv& on brackets alon~gthe clear walls kollold I have- used. Ive * i
FIGURE
38
Some of the space in your uqit will have to be given up tq. equip ment. If you already- have a tool ---shrd, then you wont need too much storage area in the greenhouse. But. empty trays and pots, cartons of seedlings, small lpicir 1 tools, containers of fer.$i&& aiid ,_- other basic nccessjtics ot greenhouse l[,ving d6 accumulate cluick~ ly. When planning Ilie interiol - . layout. leave space for equipment ~,,and a conifortabtc amount of stancling room. .,;
5. , <* L
trays ofseedlings; By June these shelves can be taken down and , -. stored (Figure 38). Temporary ~ tables can also be erected in beds a for seedlings (Figure 39). Another d I good way of usingcvertical space was devised,,,ly the UZivcrsity 01 Ari?ona. En~ironmenta1 Research ,,/ Laboratory. 1t involves a s;rieTotlL ,,,,> ., :mlianging pots, attached one as!pw~~ $. the other (Figure 40). Tllisiligenious iclca really qiakes,tlYS most 01 greenhouse growtlijspace pot;=ntial. , j ,, ,_,
FltURE
39
c 0 I I u ; .)
. . .
i__---I.,? -__~___5
Gardeners used to taste their soil before planting. If it tastudsour or bitter, it was not good,.for raising plants, but if it tasted swfct, a high yield couldbe expected. The soil - .-t-ha.t-&spF%our was too -.acid; soil that tasted bitter was too alkaline. A good balapce be- tween tlr42u54Lt~urd. alkalinity of-soil,,.is--im.p,8rtaiit for a good harvest. If you prefer not to, it is not necessary to taste the soil. Instcacl, send it to a county-agent or 1>~1ya do-it_ yoqelf soi I testiny k3. A healthy plant needs Nitrogen (N), Pllospllorous (I) and Potash (K) trorn the soil; trace mineral .elements are also necessary. Nitrogen is needed for growfh, particularly fol -.__ -_ ,. --dL..~.--.~~ _. ~_~~~ ~. 66
leaves and poor lsavqs. Yellow growth dcrgte a lack of nitrogen in the soil. Or&ii]ic matter dccayiiig to llLllllLls * Icases nitrogen slowly, but is a stbady sourcc:Cot tonseed meal is anotJlcr .C.Xceml: Itnt S~LII-ctz of nitrogen. Pliospliorous is ncedecl for ,roots,-fruit c!ovclopmcnt and resistance to disease. It comes lrom organgrtxll
ic~~de~cay~~g~nla~lllcl fg3lii grou1~yI!os: -pllate rock. Potash-. is nceded for the ccl1 structure .of tllc plant. It comes from organic matter, from wood asllcs and from gfcc~: sand. Trace mineral elements co111c from ;I variety of components in orfanid matter. Most plants like a neutral orsliglltly acid soil. Your soil slio~~ld 17~ 13 to 16 inches clckgp. Good drainage is a ilcccssiry. Tl;cre should be .h to ,H of pumice, sand, vcrmiculitc or pea gravel unclcr all of tlie soil in your beds. We have not tried it in our grecnliouscs, but lrom the rcaclini wt have done, we tecl that the BioclyFIGURE 40 namic French lntensivc mctliocl olgardcnto Irains will probably adapt well to the grccnhousc bu 1 will ncccl ,clceper bed:. C;ntrary ditional grecnliousc tccliniqucs, ii0 one in tlic Solat- Silstcilancc Project (aboll t 35 producing units) Ilas ever sterilized tlicir soil. You do not sterilize your outcloo~ garden soil, do ymi! Besides, how can you gei that mucl~ dirt into the oven? (;rcenliouse soil should not:b~a,s d~Jrl.scI regular garclcn soil. 1t is lightcnccl by adding as other materials. Two good soil nl ix tures are: _-. -X rich organic topsoil :.
8,
A co;Irsc
s3 nd .
/!I peat
$!I vcrmiculitc or l+cl;lite I If you live near tlic mountains, try this one: -___, _r______. -:-----t/Jblack nto~tnfait~ ~artll- (lot~ntl unclcr tljc pines) -?-------~ I /3 arroyo sand ( river hank) , , l/3 pLiiiiicc, pcrlitc or verniicillit~. Soil can 1~ kept and used for a 1011,--time in a grccnliouse, i.j (7 but it must bc regularly enriched wit11 coInpost and orgall.ic IKlttcr. Rotating plants and using nitrogch tixcrs,piclJ, $i i;;. . --as peas, in various 1ocationCIiclps keep the so-i-I-vittb-le. M-u-teftiTtr-ttmoii w%EFiqLiircnlents and does add some nutrients to the soil. (See later sections on crop rotation iaiid ferI tilization,) ^_ ~,,F$. ,_ ..^ ,, 67
/ U si ;?. I
The soil in the greenhouse must drain well. Plants do Aot like sitting in.,; puddle .of _ a water. If your soil is on the heavy side, add a good portion & vermiculite.&d &mnic mat: ter..-Air-is afioth&i vital irigredient in the composi;tion of healthy, fertile soil and,ing~&~~Y ing well-rooted p!gnts. Along with using organic matter, another day to aerat6 arid allow water to ppnetrate the,soilis by providing a good ,supply of earthworms: They f&tilize soil _.*by war$ of casts which He. rich in nitrogen; potash an4 phosphate. Eartl&orms: a-lso 1~1~ the composition of th& soil; if your soil has a ghodly number ,of earthwoimsin it, wtiry asmuch aboue.insects. There are over &o thoutw&-wm?@e ~ofint-~~~~-~-greenhouse are;,, s6Al., then compost ingesting red. Both make humus. -
JI@lROPONiCSVS. iOI< s .: 7
Hydroponics is a method of highly contrdlled-~agricu;turewhe.reby plants arggrown .-in a non-soil medium such as sand o;$ermiculite. A.bala&kd ___ of n&-i-cnt-s-is fed .di; diet ..-.--.-_ r-7 rectly to the root system. , ) a There is a long_s_tzticling_battleraging be&e-& hydroponic~a-nd soil~-a-f~~-~nnd-os.~ydm, por;ric gardeners claim as high 3s 300% increases in yield; soil users retQrt, f+Hydrop&ic : ~_~ plants a,$echemical junkies and b&sides .fhey dont taste goody: I-l~vdl&it8exl,eri&lce. ~~ ~ : . with hydroponics but- have found the enton continuous care. A soil plant in a -- 1) Hydrohonic plants,are vitlma+atering. A hydroyoliic p&l+; deep bed can survive &ill die ~most hydropo~-c3iaioil~.~__~__ _- if its fee$ng call for an-electric ,timer, feed4batch tank,: tybes to plants or containers for feeding and drainnot particularly exIjensive or znergy con- , age. In a small, home operatiqn, these -4; I suming. ,. , ~- ~~ in . soil that ------1-----are.not surpassed: dya$?yy= I-have &en elarit g&tith ~- -2) . droponi& iechniques (for &<&$e, the Tysoh~ greenhouse, Chapter VII,..page,,89, and photo on next @age). Giv& this is-a small Gpgm-tion which receives a maximum of tender love and care, In a lar$er -commercial unit increased yields by hydrop&ics are doca., :rnemed. --: \ ._-_ -_ -.-----3) The++soil-in beds and on tables lyas e&k abilit? to store heat. Some hydroponic does media such as seaigravel can, alsb.$hdwtim&&isuch 23m=iili/e .. d 1 thermal&rage c$ability: i I . ~-e novice Ilecommend starti;lig with soil.-Tl?e greenhouse is_;:ement 6f hydropbnics tiight ~ompl.i+te-t1@&4f&z-house, run a hydropon,i~&periment and then D . decide whiih side of the battle to join,. L We have included some good hyd*&ljonic books in the reference$st.
A.
k8
.I
FIGURE
1,
f.
, \,-
FERTI.LIZERS-. .dw
Every< time, 3 crop is. Iiarvcsled. the soil slioulcl be t.crtiliicd. Rt31iember: youre askins 2 great dial more 01 the gret2j>Iloust e;lrth than the. garden earth in terms 01 length of --_ the growing season and density of tlic crop. Because of the relatively limite~l space, most greenhouse owncrs plant intcnsivel$,. Many of them. including the Fishers and Yandas. \ deliberately crowd their crops in -&-Qer to squeeze every last tamato,~bean and.pea from. the unit that they can. This type of imtensive planting does work, if the soil is rich enough. .~_. --__~ > Regular fert;lization is the p&nary yvay to enrich the soil. i There are many differen? types of fertilizers. A local nursery can recom&-&----, _~ ~~__ ety oh-.basicdryiXli<Llid commercial brands. If you apply any of them every time youre , ready tn plant a new crop, the soil slmuld stay in good condition. Your plants are the bist Q r 2 indicator of insufficient f>rtilization. organic fertilizers,-&uch as. manure and coinpost, work beautifully. We have found dry cow manure to be very effective. h.qp in mind, tho~;gll, t!lat every time you bring foreign matter into the unit, you run the &k of bringing l~armful insects with it. \
hIanL~-c and cimpo$;t sho~ild also.15~ added to the soil while the plants arc growing und produciug Frances Tyson_mukes what SIIL ~111shorse manure tea by soaking Iarc& pours this ,hcarty brew on her soil; the I;ca,lth dLlI;g ill a pail of water. I-ran~~s-p~rioclicully and l@:wty of her plants (see I-;igLlrc 41) tcstilics to its vali~c as ;I Icrtilizer. Many pco\$lc bclic~ctll~lt or~~~pIc.lcl-tilizcr is morcclIfectivc overall than chemical tcr? tilizcr (!wcre amcmg ,tllis group). 1-1 y * <- 3%~ llavc uicd Iisll emulsion very s~~cc~sslL~lly. I like thcx stuit; il mak<s my wll$!c IloL~sc s~ncll like Provincctown, M~~s;~~IILIsc~~ for ;I COLITIC ql tS. cxxtcnt on wllat is available. lllc most impor'to ;1-gcat .r.- d~lys. But' \v11:11 you Llsc"tlcpmds ,t$rn ovcr tllc tant thing is to Icrtilizc regL~IarIy, lavishly and clccply. When lcrtilizing, -B soil wi.tll ;I sllovcl orpitchio~-k. Dig down. to !Ilc bolt0111 :~nd really IIIOVC thnt cart11 ar~L~ncl. YOLI ,w;ill \~LII-~ the fcrtilizcr deep into the soil, tllc best place for it. It will Iccd tllc wllolr root systclll 01 your plants ;pl -also enCoLIraqc L tl1c roots to grow dccpcr, tIlLIs crca tint 2 2 Iirmly an~,l well-roe tccl crop. M__IIIcliiiig is :rfiotIlc,r good way tG cnrich tllc= soil tlild keep it cvcniy niciist. ML~lcll wit11 o&nic suhst;l,ticcs tllat break down readily into IiumLls. (;;rass clippings. Ie3ves, tvoml sllavings, vcp2tahlcs and otllanytIling yc)Ll w0Lllcl conICl Ih,vcrs post will wol:k very well in tllc gccnl~'soll IlLIS sLlcccsslLIIIv IlOLlSC~.l:I-~lllccs ~.- ~1_ILirnc~tl IICI- 1~~~~~sto ~r>~tripost pilcb?, LIsing iri IlcwI!, all IlCl- ofAgall~c gNl~*c 3s Illlllcl1 antl Icrtilizer. Sllc l?Gcps ;I small jLik b$ Ilclr sink
2nd
_.
cvcry
ititr) Iic~r ~l-c~~illr,Llsc~;oiI. ( ;in itiiagc in yoLir mind 01 tllc scjil ;IS ;1 living cltmcnt. NoLlrish and cartIor it jLlst ;IS yoLi do yoLir llic soil csscntially makc>s tllc dillcrcncc \wtWcCll ;I stcrilc ;lnd ;I lc>rtilc ~r~~cnl~ous~ (IigLirc 47 ).
<s.
FIGURE
42
I-
PLANTING LAYOUT b /; -*p ?, ,l~clorc plan till:. give carclL~I tl1oLlglr1 to tllc liglll ~~~LII~-~IIIcIILs, \V;IIIII LII IIUCU~, SI/.C> t \ alhd sll:~pcs of b;lric{Lis crol)s. Plants in tll,c tro.nt hcds will get more dirc.ct SLIII. ~SCC, 1:igLircs 43 und 44.) I li3~c~IoL1ntl that all tlic crops Ive planted grow vigorously in tlic Iront beds, .
so the real challengeis finding plants that will grow on the north side.
Profile:SPRIkG-SUMMER-FALL
A. Shading plants B. Fruiters. Tomatoes, cucumbers trained up twine. Trim foliage, squash, melons. C. Seedlingsiflerbs, fruiters..Hydroponic table. D; Low light, co.c@t greens. In late summer new fruiters ,can go here. ClimbP kers,flowers. E. Flowers, shade lovers. F: Btrries, shade lovers. ., B
.FIGURE 43
Peas seem to do very_ weil in back beds; broccoli and -herbs do all right; also. I have 1 never given my pole beans a choice; they are autoniatically.plante~ in the most unobtrusive bed, in the back eastern corner, where they still receive enough stYinbut hardly Ishade the other crops. Generations of beans ha\re.been.verv content in that bed.
Pr$ile: WINTERLightest, coldest: Leafy greens, radislies, peas, broccoli, roots, hers: j i over fruiters. Light, cool. Herbs, greens, flowers. Transplant seedlings. j Light, warm, hanging pots, flowers;
tu Carry
Light, warm.cWinter tomatoes, peppers. Cl&ibers, beans, houseplants. .. ..j E:- Low hght, warmest. Start seeds, sprouts. (On shelves: bread will rise F., Shady, cool. Berries. n
-
-m
-.
You will probably want to experiment with a variety--of pIanting layouts. Just remern. ber to give extra attention to crops in the i%ar. Provide them with as much light as possible !i through~the use of reflective surfaces as described in. Chaptgr V. In tlie overshaded greenhouse, plants-tend to become photo-tropic; i.e.,they.grow to-wzrdsthesun in the. direction~~of the clear walls. Extreine:phototrop,ism can affect the plants v~igorand ab:tiity to produce; again: you .can combat this problem with the use\f reflective
--71-
4,
--
-.
FIGURE
45
devices along the soli,d yalls. Also, potted plants and seedlings for transp$n tink may need to.be turned, just as they do on a windowsill, in order to compensate for p../!ot6tropisni.~ As you get ready lo sow your seohs:keep in mind that most grccnl~ouse owners plant intensively and qlat it can work quite well (see,Figure 451).~,The number of plants that y.oki can cram intp.,one bed depends a great deal on the lertiliti of the soil. Under good conditions you can cut therecomFie!lded spa&,ing by -Xths for many crops and &t a fine harvest. InFensive planting hay affcct tile appearance GOsomk crops. My cllilipeppers (spaced about two to three inches apart) were sib-i-ndly ylants that liad to mutually support each other to stand upriglif. But they y~~d~~~-ce~lLaii esce-ILIe-nt Ilar~es-t. -eacll one laden with pep--_i~ - ~~__ _~~_- - pm3. : I had $x tohato plants growing in a S x 3 bed. By July they we;-c massive and proj/ duced all the tomatoes ye could cat wifllple6ty for canning. Tile plants were Overtlowing the borders of the bed and advancing down the walkways by October; still ihey couldnt seem to stop producing. By the end $r D-ecehbcr they were completely out of conpol, threatening t9 take over the adjoining room, inptlehouse+ 1 haqv-ested grocery bags fLtiil of _tomatoes just before my winter freeze&Lit. . On the basis of these and other experiences, I:d say that intensive planting can be _ very successful in the green-house. Just keep -in nijncl tlle nourishment your soil will need : in return. ii 72
.I
TH-E VEGETABLE
PLANTING
CYCLE: .x
1 major accdmpl&$ent - Dont grow-giiy vegetable that you do1 solar gr<enliouse at any time td grow radishes or othe; hardy. cold-weat.!l, of ti%~e and soil+n$trients, du&g the ye&. But i.f you dislike GgssJacill measui>d..Fot be Raise the vegetables that you an4 your family eat andyour sue, Y,: I 9 . only. in te+rms of what yo?.can grdy? bu%wll+t.,you use. , . any vegetables or flowers that $0~ espey Having @id this, we encouiage them,at the. right tinYe.of year, ward-off insects and follow the other
into reality. It can be done. every square inqh of the -.. greenhouse for edibles.
enjoy aI@ ,benefit from youzt company. This rriakedi,a crucial difference in thesuccess of;: ., ,I ? I\ a greenfloude. S,ummer. csune,$ karly ,w,d ,_ Greenhouse seasons are different than thbse d-xtendec! suFmer. The lingers. on. The plaiitilq cycle in the gieenhouse is s: la& ,winterjsp&gi $ummei: and Fi$hers liave-divided the cy,cle into tl7ree time fall/earl? winter. TheIacttial months. these- peripds &vet run from about mid-February ,,through May, June through mid-Sept.e.mber, and .mid-$epten>ber thEough mid-Decen1be.y. Same crops will be harvested within oni fieriod, othe.$ wi?l extend over two cycles $3d still others, notably tomatoes: will continue to bear thr The following planting cycles are based on I. v+nda greenliouses..W-~ja~~ in+ding both as examgles $wb differelit A climates. It migli:t_be noted that neither of ~Xt-+%$ge dear wall in.Qlating covers. or , .The Fisher Greknbouse The Fisher greenhouse is located in a mountain valleg;i in;northern New Mexico,.altia high number of cloudy, tude 8,000 feet, 36 degrees n&h The unit is attached ;to an days and the last killing fro&-is usually in d&cribed in.Chaptjer ,IV, adobe house. The design of the greenhouse hers have chosen-+o shpt the -or-other-improvement-is kte winter/sprirq+ In mid-February greenhouse is as I start tomatoes, in ions, brdi;coli and ridishes beds. I reco#&nd succession planting for the lettuce. !73 -
co
A-
Toward the end of March these Qte winter/spring crops are going strong. kt that _., time I transplant the tomato& and pep- , pers into the beds. I put the pepperJs in L with the lettuie as it will be harvested by the time the peppers really start to fill the* I bed. The tomatmes, which are heavy feeders, go in a bed by themselves since they grow more rapidly and will.continue to produce through all three seasons. At this tjme I.also p.lant pole beans, ,-il very successful crop in my greelihouse; (see Figure 46). They put most of their,, energy into vertical growth and, thus do:+ not take up much space in ielation to t,he amount of beans they produce. You do have to provide a latticeworK> of stakes for them to climb and it ~jloulti bxtend . to the ceiling, asu the beans will easily s reach that height. . Any additioiul summer crops I want to plant, such as c.ucumbtirs, cantaloupe, pumpkins and annual herbs, also go in by ~ FIGURE 46 the end of March. Ive tried corn, too, which-was tlourishing in the greenhouse and producing ears incearly July. The ears didnt seem to be developi,ng, ~hougll, and when I p~11led back the husks to check then?, I found . hL,ii$&-~f aphids devouring them. If it hadnt been [or tllese insect pests, I see no reason 6 /I why the corn plants wouldn,t- have done very wellin the greenhouse. Corn is, how&er, a e crop We% up quites bit ul.;hacc ,rclative to the aCount of, food it pr@~l&s. By mid-April my greenhouseis~:in fill1 swing. Theqeas, another fine cf.op for the unit,. i are a mass of blosson~s and Im gettingpcns daily. The late winter/spring cycle is perfdct -1 torpeas which dont do well later in the midsummer heat. S-now or sugar .-as, the variety ,: .i--F / I usually grow, seem to do especially well In a cool greeiihoust;. , 0 Lettube is in it,s prime-at this point, also. I harvest the outer leaves and let the interior keep growing;except forthose heads that need to be thinned, out -of the bed. Lettuce is one of the hardiest crops in my unit and has clone well throtlgh the coldest nights of the year.
Radishes are over by now and I can replant il I want to but usually I give their space ,. to a sunii-ne~ c,rop4irton p=&hs have, of coyrse, been edible all along but ihe bullis themselves are slow to grow (and Ive never had much luck wi.th them). Now I gcner#ly pull them q3 when they are still green and yoking and enjoy them in salads. Broccoll.Is large I I L and sturdy in mid-April, getting ready to head. Mid-April is also the timewl~en I start vegetables in peat (or Jiffy) pots for transplanting to the garden. They will have six to eight we,e\s to germinate and grow in their pots _. . et I ri 74 .: , /
_ _i ,
outdoors, wllich isjust aboLi,t right. 1.f you start them much earlier, Thbplant; ,r their pots, get badlyc rsotboUnd and maj; be damaged b.efore its safe to traniis This is more of a problem with cucumbers and 1~1elons, $vhich+zannot, tolerate than with plants such as t.on1atoe.s and peppers, which,arc hkclly affedt.ed by. ., I J . 1 / Summer. By the end of May the lettuce and peas are harvested. The polk beans have reaclled the c.ei!ing and art: still blooming. Tom&oes are covered with flowers and have green fruit on them. Cucumbers and melons are beginning to produce, too. The pepper plants are growing rapidly and tl?e brocc-oli i,Sstill heading. The herbs can be used daily, espec\i,aIlyj parsley, .Which is zl prolific producer. The crops that were started in Jiffy pots can be hn~dcnccl-off (exposed to harsher outclc$r wcathcr) Gnd transplanted to the garden. , 1 In I;IY cxpericnce, sdme vcgctables that weie plan ted directly in the beds GIII bi mowh outcloors CVLII though t,hcy alc quite large by t!li< tinle. Ihave transplanted lomatoes,~~peypert; ancl broccsli, blossoming and fruiting, with no ill ef?ects--on their productivity. My brpccoli * actually benefitted $i*oiii tlic, move as tlic garclcn yas cooler than the. grc~nliouse. / Fall/early wi,nter.dn early Scptcmbcr parts of my greenh,&sc take on a~?>, at~tt~mn look,. The bql< alici pepper plants arc fadcan lalo~ipcs and ing; tlic ,Cucumbers, pumpkins~arc !lcarilig tlicir cncldal tho~lgh soiii? of ilic fruit is still ripening. 1 remove
all t1>csLIlllIllcl-
cl:bps cxccpt
lhc
toma tots
and ilerbs. Then I fcrtilizc and get ready to p131Jt again. Le+ttuce. peas, broccoli, ancl a sec,! 1 ond plan tin g of pole lxAll1 7/ are my fall/ early winter Crops. Tiic-y w/ill thrive cliiring this period allho~~gli the beans do dial produce quite as well in December. The units 0 summerlikc warmth in the fall jd,romotcs fast germination a&l the cool temperatures later on are $rfect for thcsc vygcsucces-. tllbles (see Figurt 47). Through sion planting I &I/I keep peas; 1cttu.c~ and broccoli going all winter, but I prefer to give the greenhouse (and myself) ;I time
cif r&t.
FIGURE 47 ,/ ~
75
L c/ i, .. The Yanda Greenbow 1 The Yanda g;Fenhous is l:ocatecl 15 miles no&h of Santa Fe, aititude6400 ft., 36b 1 nb3h latitude. The last killipg frost in this area is usually.la,te &lay. Thk front face slope-of + this greenhouse is 60; it I$ run,year roLlnc1. The followingicleserib,ei,ek the Yatidays plantilig I , anil maintenance schedule aild the different vegetables they have planted and worked with. N$nbe greenhduse Plabting hnd Maintenance Schedule : I Mid-Jailuary: Plant co(ld we?\Fhi;r crops-beets, broccoli, peas, radishes, spiliach, let\ ,, tuce. any herbs, garlic, nas~urtiun$, marigolds. In the house start tomatoes and zhili pep- + ,pers for transplanting into tjle greel\house i!l setera weeks. . MEl-FebGbfary,: Transplant stars into the greenhouse. Start any permanent plantexF. cept yery war; weather crops such as cucumbers and melons. Mid-March: This is a d@\ept.ive ti*ile of yell-..~v_erything in theunit is growing lik; mad c and ypu are already harvest(ng,. You G-e ten1pte.d tD ~~~i~t-~-L~-t-d~~.~~~~rclcn seedlings. Dont \ 9r get tofbig dd it yet. Tlle~M;ill become qootbound for transplantin~~~S~~~~t-y-o-L~r~~~l~e!ons -- 7 and cucumbers if you plan to leaye them iq the gr@enhouse. . a Mid-April: Now start seeds for gard& trrmsplant. . ~~_.__ I ,. Mid-May; He-rclzWof:fgarden transplahts by exposing them to harsher outdoor weather. Do this for about ,two weeks. Start some tajl bi- climbing planti for summe~~-~1ading. Suni flowers (see Figure 48), morning glories, hollyhocks, etc., can be used outdoors on the d south fqce; pole beans have -been usecl inside. 4,
_:
FIGUdE
48
_ 7 *
76
Summer: This is a timeof heavy clean,well ven-tilate,dand the inS;ects P b~c: -kept clean and weeded.) * med. Help pollinate __ .- L.. w:--- . .use a small paintbrush,bdabbing the-Dale-; th&-~ femjale flowers oc.%e n-ielo,$s and of the = L -\. 5 - ; .: b k o s- ,):* . . . i and winter liarvestihg in tile &-eetihouse. Su& d be fully gro,ip .before i.hy reall;cold weather 9b 0 \ -~~~ ~~_.~ -- sets in. -----7 p .( r garden plants can be transpla&eci b&k,.int.o,%ee greenhouse. .: I. * I. Fall-January: -+,
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FLOtiERS IN THE GREENHdUSE ..: ;. I I>\, : Houseplal;ts~IIlilll exberience, all l\pl;sqplants thrive in the solar greenhouse. Many people __-~~~ _ _ ._.- ~-~~ _---- ~___ ~-----------~ ~- 2giv.e their @alits an iritigoratii~--~~Lltdo~~~~~cation during, the summed-..A,<hcation in the ! g.%enho;l~seis evehbekter,Ihe Folor, size afid- density o!?f6-liage i117pfoves~tre1ilendoilsly. L --- - ---~ -and the plants 16ok ak,good br better .than wldn they were new. Therefore I r~~om~q~end~~---i.-. that anyglant sufferink fro-m the ~windowsill, coffee table or bdol&ase bluesbe transferred - \ \_ into the greenhouse fdr a couple, of n;onths.-or more. \ r 1 Light and humiaity in the gre,enhpuse 2tre two important factors jn reviving pla&ts. B,e sure; though, -t-y dlace,-p-lantstSta-t-are--susce-pt-i-ble-tt~~~rni~-g~ina-ld;cati-oriaw,ay $o-&-~-:~~ -..:, 2% direct sunlight, just-ad you woujd inyour house. v I, houseplapts ,can stay in -the greenliouse year r+i$l; unILiss.y& are planning a * - . solid winter freeieotit. Gerafiiums ar% dne.of the best examples of this.-:At about 22 debees, mine died* do$n- to the roots, then?nade a inagnificent com.eback in the spripg. If your @PenhoW ter$peratur& never drop that low, cut back the,geraniums In midwinter 1~ inyway. By Apf-il they will be beautiful again. s -- I . . i i , D \. 2% . 1 77 * : I , c . t, . .
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hardy in my -unit as well, thbugh again they die back when the tempi!mcs are in the I twenties. The color and vigo .of the new leaves in spring is incredible. More tender houseplan s, such as the coleus;-benefit great!& from the greenhouse envirynment. But, they must be brought back into-the house during the coldest--months 0 / unless/your unit never. freezes, In this category, 1~ have found that fuchsias, Swedish ivy :and _._. . .-?- spider plants are especially c ntent in the greenhouse. I tre-m exactly as I-d-o in the house; interms of w;atering,t, I:mming and feeding. .-.-.-L.~ _l,,_,.).l,l...l.l.........,...,...,........... 1 ,._. ..I ,..,..... *.:......-.~-~~.~~~.~.~~- .-_...... . ,..,.,.,.,...., I...,..,.....,.,._,. .,...,.,.; ...-1-....._. _,_,_... _(_.._ ..*... -.-
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Many flowers can also be transplanted into the greenhouse in fall. If you are careful to get all or most of-the roots, they will continue blooming all winter:Petunias, panges and -? I -- _- -. __~ ...~~ ?narigolds are the three Ive transplanted successfully:. i ..1-yp-.-. .-..- .----. Generally it doesnt make mu~chsense to dig up Tardy perennials that are well established in the garden, but ,you should.follow your own preferences &-Ideciding what flowers * to transplant,When you do get ready to bring them in, dig up the roots with plenty of soil around them. This hessezs the- shock of transplant, decreases thedanper wth roots and gives the plants thk illusion~ng-unmz~pened to them. B: th% time their roots have_grownbey6Kd that ball of soil, {hey should be firmly grounded and : , _-.- * ~. .~reacl$%cope~ %i& any differences in thegrowing conditions. I c. ,-.* --- _--_----~._ Lr,-iC I.... % , .A..... I,, -.-__I.- _^_..,F,,,r -. ,. f: r--*._,I-Ic _ : _ I 1 L: ._ ~~....0. . .. .---.~ / L *> 1 MAINTENAN.Cl? . _. * 5. 1 / . i;. Watering.The amount of watering that greenhouse plants need vari<<aK&Zng~he season and;clinlate. In summer and over p,rolonged pe, iods of clear days (ar+y time pf the 4 q year) they .wil.l require more water than on cloudy days and during most of the winter. - --DeX5mine the amount of watering you will nee& based on persol~!.~,se~vatio~. ahd~exi---_.~ncgT.~~le-Best-wa)ristos~~~your the soil: Thesoil ,,should - : __,,, *. ,I * be-moist, not slushy. , . 4, DO.NOT OVERWATER! A greenhouse than an outdoor garden. , Overwatering whenever possible; it is good 4 about noon. ,fll summer comfortable!iduring the arm:water will help the plants after a cold night, During the cold months i# is The -equipment you .use can be summertime- -~ water the greenhouse with hose in the greenhouse for year
- - -
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beneficial for newly planted seeds and~y5Kg3eeZllmgs. 1 Slow watering ?salway_spreferable to quick, forceful watering. The soil is better able to&sorb the moistul+e and-youllget a true idea df ko,w much the ground needs and can use. Aquick flood .will not penetrate as dekplyjto the roots and morejs lost through evapI . -: ,.- -. oration. .I ..._ 1. * _ \ . . .4 Q t -.. ill ? . 8.i* -. \? +. * \ \ : : . _ I ._ I , . I -1, : >. I I I\ I , - r-9 , 79 ,,;, -. : ; o .,, _ .\ :.a - :L ,,, *& , 11 \ I / ,1 . , -1 , : _ ) i !i .. ,* . . > ? i.,.\;. 4; % T.. ,
Air circulatiori.Plants need good air circulation. In the summertike this is &ded by having the exterior door and all exteFioi vents op.en. Dn~wititEr days open-yelits to th6 house. Al1 ways keep fi-eshair circulating through the.greeilhouse. . . . . _ __ a., .b :y, 4 Cro_L-~.t~t-iorr;-Ro~ating crops is a hi&; recommended-~-~~ll.qd gf maintainin& Ilealthy . l> -/----soil and getting,agood haivest ~ver+Ludxyd$ezed3if~~~~i~~g amounts , of nutrients but of the soil.: som&actua4lPn-tic!: it. .:I . j ,T.~E heayy .-fpeders include tomatoed, cabbage (and-&embers of that family), co-r;, ..~ ~ all leafvegetgbles such as chard, lettuce, endive-, spinach and c&&y, cucumbers arid squash. They need to be well fertilized and should be planted yeaiaftq- year in tile same bed. _____._.--% xl Legumes (ilot-abl-y-peas-an-d beans, including soybeans and lima beans) are good soil builc$s; t$Jey fix nitrogen from the,&, storing it in tl_e-soil for plant use. B~~~a~A~~l~ating c.r.o..p.s of.legu-~~~~..~~.~-~~~~~~~~~~ fee-de&; ybu-t~~~l-tS~~h~llpi~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-~~~~~ain a !leal thy . - -. .iv &alance of vital elements.,.Athi~~&s.t+&crops called, light &eders.,-<Her& and root vegetables :I, , ..~ b&ng in this group . If you& uncertain about 110~ t,o c!las&fy a pla;l t, its usuall-G-safe to e L ir#udPit here. : ? ~. ,:q Flotiers.break down into t&e saine c/ivisions. But unless you put, all of p;le beds ing * _. ;to f&wers, they should not presenta big/%-obJem. Just %locate them from tii&e to time ,i . ! I: i Ii and _ke_I tl~lsoil-~welt~rl~~~------1 ~~_ _.~~_ ~. --_. --. , 32 --~ 3 3 ~~ L----I
not l ._ r______... _..I L..... _..-.
->,i cbmplime~~~t eacil otl@r Co-Jqmnion plaqting. Vegetables and tlo$ers, grown side b _-nlixing one plant with and make ihe gfeeirhouse mor6 attractide. Companion, ,anqilher iii the vegetable row or fidwer bei., is ;ood practice in any garden but ,is,especially . . beneficial., in th? *&eenhouse. . 4 Some gason& for compaiion y]an;ing are: certain plants excrete a .substA~l~ce above 2 and/q beloui the ground which pro-cects the plint-other plants growing nearby al@ benefit; a iplant t-ha-t needs a lot of light may be,; good companion to one- that needs partial r . +,adej B deep rooted plant-may benefit ti shallow root:d plant by ~I:inginaup$llltrients :_ from deepersoil layefs. Compatiion plaG& ikc,Feasesdiveqity in the gre&hoase and tend$ p tb frus?rate insect fe$ding and thwar<%&l$gs of illiect popqlat&. The Yandas plant I lettuce, radishes and&other low growing vegetab1e.sunder their to.qlatoes,Qeppers and egg- plants. They pi8nt dhi~ps of herbs such as.basi.1,anise and &rianQet Itl~r~ugll ,- house. Garlic and marigplds are foundin eacll bed. Frances Tyson keeps - lonly i.n many spots-in h&greenhouse, but also grounc! up in a jZug of w;i:$:..in her refrige+ _, greenhouse. / ., ., I,. Be care&l when p&ning the lay.&t of yo&crgps; comyanion~~Jal?tiz-lg~ does -take . ,, , ,; .-. some thinking through.i Tjlere are -ub~ious~~l~~es-~fh~~~w~l-~~~~~k-two pl&ts tjla,@-ow .a tall,, iw-6 have deep,.rbots a&so on. Soqe:plants do not Like other plants. For examj * ple, kohlrabiand fennel should not be planteh next.$o tomatoes, Sqn&plants that dowell L !&._. together are carrtisatid p,eas,kohlrabi and, beets, tdmatoes. and p&ley, celery and bush _._---. +_,. r 0 !,. / ! 0 1 _
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companions as border plants. _._- ..--.-- _-- -~ -~ . . 0 a DOGSANDCATS : ___~__~~ --Le--.7 -- .;a S --i
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'3s I_ _ _.___..-..---.-a -__ --_-~ ---A~ _ ; Pets can be a nuisance in the greenhouse. Dogs with their bounding energy can trample seeds and plants into oblivion. They also love to..dig,into I-._ lie down in a moist bed on a ,-IT.-and ._.--.. liot summer day. Cats consider the greenhouse beds a custom made kitty litter box. In general, all the problems you are likely to have with dogs and cats in an unfenced garden exist _- in the greenhouse; A gate -or screen door is usually sufficient to prevent animal damage. o 2. I
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Joan Loitz, ownerof The Herb Shop a& Solar Greenhouse in Santa Fe, NewMexico, (see Chapter VII) has prepared a Bugs in Your Greelzlzouse manual which we are reproduc., , ing4ie~e: . ,./ 0 : I? 1 9 ' BUGSINYOURGRiiEiHOUSE . 7 F" Greenhouses are special places-good for you, great for plants and of course potential.- .T.-. ly suitable for undesirable pests as well. Have no doubts that in time they will find you! Youcould build a greenhouse h the middle.of a desert and...one day the slugs will appear. Youcould have-a most tidy greenhouse, but B summer breeze could carry aphids or white -- __ * , @y hiTEke up residence on your toniat-oes. 1 ; ii. , .
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,, When Iye dont get proper rest, food and exercise, we are more susceptible to infection, flu, disease, etc. The same is true for . .. i : every living organism, your plants as well.f$e sure to provide them witli proper water, fertil: . --_ izer and temperature conditions and they will be able to stand off bug pests more easily. __ _ _ -._I__GL /F Steady &servatiorf:-ma habij of chei?k~platnts reg~l~rly~~Keep on, top ot any * pest problems; they are much easier to control when not widespkad.: , MaTntah proper ventilation. Interior air movement produces st:onger plants and deters i \ i P many insects. Sanitation. Periodicall,y removk dead, decaying or infested matter from plants. Keep floor and bench areas cl.ean. When reusing potting containers, be sure to wash thoroughly and sterilize-- for-one lrour in a mild bleachsolution (10 parts wat$i-: 1 part Clorox). 1 _. ._ / 1 _ !! , L ,, + .& :1 81 ., e/ Y / .,: , ifA I I B -:._ r
Maititain for plan&
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I* i ,7 .. :f. I W.hen you spot some-u~desirhbles w(atiire your(. c]loi&sT~ _._________ _ I___- -------------^--_ _-----.I _ s-----........ .j ,.J hegtmeot, i.e., sprays, dusts, etc.
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suggested organ;c in greenhouse -- --P-->. : occurring pesticides. They biodegrade rapid --:~~~~~l~~~~~icoiili~; ~- - ^-^I rotenone. and pyrethrin ar? the-major bota&.zals. Very suitable for aSe on e&b,le plants. NOTE: Nicotin_e-is he. as an .i ,. insecticide but tfhl~ t let smqkers touch your toiiiatbks or smoke ill the green: p @ house.. Tobacco mosa,ic is a tomato ciiSeasetransniihed by touch. Smokers-w.ash : L : : $ . I ; youillands bkfore f&idling tomato&! ! .(I$) Chemiczds. First there is the heavy? d$$y stuif. Us~lally w.ill produce qu$k ,I:re?ults but do not degra,clerq,pidly and have a high residliaicvalue. Cheniiti2lsare--m _ -~-.A-/: not recomnientlf4, czqec~@&er~ w&ila i are attached-to res.idence$ _~ -~ ,X3 2!- Then there are grdwth regulating agents..Thcse are sprays w.hicl-1in.terrLilfip ,I~ tllelife cycle ok-a, ala@ pest, thereby inhikiting tlleir ability to reacll,maturity aa@,reprohuce. They iye just beginning to appear on the market. * 1Systemic insecticides are chemicals thatare qixed witl1.wate.r and Ihen fed ,-------b-t to tlli plant. The poisoh then permeates the entire $tint. When pejts take a bites : I _e -they Frotik. Obviously, this is only for use on ornamental plantq : I TTchniques for spraying inclbide hand sprayerdbiike an old window cleaner , bottlk) which are great foi- sniall jobs. Ohe to tw6 gallon presstire pump sgkaycrs, ! :I__ are better for larger jobs.
. Treatlnelit __L
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Turi; plant upside down if+ ./ to ~L2atmcnt mixture, agitatd ge$tly, rehldvc - ,. t 1 I
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CAUT!ON! Rkmember, ali p&tiGides, botaniclis q,s well ascll,emicals, poisorrs. USe on!y the recQmmend& dobage or less. l$eep children aild pets
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the; greenhdusc for a sate p$riod,~tt~r tlI\eir use. Usg a mask if possible and I I ii a duriang ap1?1i,Fitiqn. (1 ,, I .~ Ailother ChoiCe is tijological control: ( 1J ,j+eraI1,Note: Bio!op~cai,cont~~l as hanntu1 insects in bers are out of control. complete theil Iire cytiles on or inside a : They are v~$-y for pest contrch *as v&y widespreac! Canada. When $0 Id Wir II i
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c~,~~~~~~.rt.~.~~~~~!.~~;~~~~~~~?~,~~~,?~~~y-~-fold&and saner practi:es. We..got.. q--m i .,~-.the-;-d ,~_>/~..---*~.~-.- _. $ L-._, seduced into believing these new methods were always better. As weall know , -*. : now, the price to our environment and qu ality of -- lias.beal very high. hjany 3 f?fe c , plant pests have also been able to develop immunities to,sprays. Thus, stgonger. I chemicals have been developed; the cycle is Indeed dangerous.. Predators and parasites are simply released t9 munch away an infestation. I .There are various types. _, :,, , ,_ (2) Brdad spectrum preda$o@ and parasites: ,;lady bugs, pra.ymg mantis, green /. i lacewings, trichogramma wasis, etc. These are Inaturesnown and always good to have around.-BLlt they have t . . limited effectiveness in greenhouse situations. Theyre called broad spectrum as i . most of ..,,. ..,.,) ,. 1 a smorgasbord of insects for lunch. They like a little of this 0 -7 them prefer .c.. 1 *.l. and a little of that. Also; they are highly mobile. YOU can go through all kinds , j of effortsto bring in hundreds of ladybugsto your greenhouse; then after three / days you wont be able to find any more around:-because they left to find some.- j I L thing else for dessert..
I 13) .: Frogs, Toads, Salamagders k
. These are great tohave around. T$$y wili eat big spiders and the grasshoppers and crickets that will just love to be removed if you use any pesti+-es., /
Host specific
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and &wasites.
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Natures own-these are insects, usually quite small, that pr fer only one or t two types of bug for lunch. They tire notas mobile end as-such, are more effective in greenhouse, situations. There are predators 01 parasites f&-: spider mite, I 1 white fly, scale, flies, mealy bugs. 1 (5) Maintenance s;f predators; Once acol&y is released, the have eaten all their you allow a partjcular infestation of few of the leaves and place them as food are still at w&k. \\
Here are some fiekhanical me&ods of piit con;;ol. , ,
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(1) White fly, for example, jove the color yellow. So, by hanging,common yel- l : low fly paper next to.tomato pIa*&, then si iaki.ng the plant, you can cat& quite . . . a few. i - _ -- -(2) -Cold fumigations: most plant pests cannot survive a week without food. .b---_. . , ..-----Thus, if you pi,ck arJ,,appropriate time when there might be a lag in your plantmg. * schedule during the wint.er, just open Ithe doors an+lefI Tl~iF~r~enhouse freeze --~. 8. _-. t *A 4.-, . s ~out for a week.;-:.,. * ._ 2 (3) .Thu& and, f&efinger s$~+41 $f youk$ squeamish, wear gloves) ? _. : -.~~.. v -- .--- 1 aguum c ean$i jphAI(g&d%il white tly) ,, I ,: B \ A. A .,- ,, ., i * . .q: .i. I$-.. m .q, ,. . : * i \ , . ,....* 4. / .
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l3.O Companion Planting: Using plants thzt have a bad taste to repel pests flom 1 plants .they find appealing. Marigolds, onions, garlic, chives, etc., planted near t&a_ i toes tend to repel aphids.Many herbssu$h as sage, rosemary, thy;me, rue, tansy and I ., wormwood aie alsu.<ffectjve. e =. E. : Trap Plants: ($-owing a sp&ific plant_ to trap or entice, a qecific pest. For,ex**:.. ample, white fly is. drawn to tomatoes like bears-to hdney. Plant one in your greeq-, house-when its loaded with white fly-gingerly. remove it-dump .it irP a sack-t-hen $..~ . s. destroy. . .,1 I - F. Genetic Resistance: Many plants have been developed wit41 built; in resistance to various plant diseases qnd pests. Be on the lookout for these varieties in your seed caotalogs. .
l .. * . I
Want to have some fun? Get a 10 power len,s. Start poking around l,ooking at leaves and bugs--up cl.ose--theyre fascinating and Rids love it! ? ; Ref&ence Books . Most plant books will have sectionson bugs, but 2 verygood knowledgeable referent! es are: The Gardeners Bug Book (4th edition) t . by.Cynthja Westcott, Doubleday & Co., Inc:, N.Y .j \ z 1 . : . Ed The Encyclopedia ojQrgmic Gardening 1 Rodale Staff, Ro$ak-$ress, Emmaeus, Pa. 8 .\ _ jL , \.~ i soutces of suppjy: iJ*. Topjcal Insecticides: Most local nurseries and -pl&t shops.
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Bioldgical Control: I
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RinOcoq-Vitova Insectaries (predat:rs for spider tii ti, scale flies, -~~~-. - __~__~~_~. - . Box +. .:. mealy. bug) Also. tnchogramma, .lace,wings. \ . Tt Oak View, CA 93022 _ -- --_ -----_- _- -__~--.~.____.__ * The Herb $h.ofi(,predators for. spider mite, 1942% Cerrillbs .&oad I . Santa Fe,-NN.~*8750j- : -I - - i * -- -..--. Bio-Control Co. (ladybugs) _ . 41 l-ol%O Ladybird,,Ave. Aub&n, CA 95603 ~- -; --...~, II I A----. 8: , . I I* >.\ 1 ,I -Y \. . I \
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PEOPLEANDPLANTS \\
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,When children are old enough t-o contGbute t,heir love and labor to the greenhouse, id. 1 urge you to let the-m. The only skill required for pltinting, watering and harvesting is judge\,,, bent-and perhaps intuition. In 1. , *ar- my experience, children love to wo k with plants and t!le plants seem to I, &iie(it,,from the care of \Cllildren.~The restilts he fairly immediate and highly vis\ ible, yet mysterious. How dqcs a seed . turn into\a plant? But it does and it grdws qui;l-kly. Children have a singleminded kind;of energy that can 12ethan,neled into extraordinary cart for the plants. Its a mutually supportive relatioiiY ship. The satisfaction of greenhouse gardening extends to people of all ages. Most of the \Qork is not stumuous and its reiv:ards are gteat eno~lgh to encourage everyone. /.to,give it a tly. The natural pace of this work is unhurried; the environment is rclasing and nbs~orbing. You can enter the world at a different4cvcl in the I greenhouse. be tran sported and totally involved at the same time. .
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-I , ; 0 _. I / ,\ -/* . _
CHAPTER
VII
In this chap;ter well give yap an idea of whats being done in -the field of solar greenhouse design. As you will see, there is no ooze solution to combininb greenhouse features. - These structures, which are only -a representative selection of fhe king of tio;k &ats going . .I on, offer An amazing variety of approaches. Most of the designers an owners are happy to ct arm-o&i-n&=-t-ion . share their knowledge and experience; we urge you to c -*en+? wrfting thp, albv~ys enclose a self-addressed stamped envelobe. Many sell detai$d :ians and offer consultant services. Youw$l not;ce that the design1 include freestanding . / nit%, attached or retrofitted model& and newly built greenhouse/hobe combinations. We have divided this section up into individuals, rese$ch insti$utions and organiza j and manufacturers;.Sometimes they overlap. / 1,.I I -. If , ) __( ,) *it \ I 1 i) ,I . /. . I ,i . 1 ,_ // . , INtHVIDUALS / i \ .* . . 1 r e I, ! 3 / _ . * The Herb Shop ; - ,. I \ p1us unit might Be,considered the mother of solar greenhouse design (see F/gure 5%). . Asfarras I kndlY, it was the first;such commercial gre&lhouse in the United--$ates. The ii. sign ii,,,bssed on the work of the Brace Institute,(in Canada) 2nd T.A. Layand. Joan Loitz, 1 r the o$ner, adjusted the angle o?the front face and the reflect-9e badk wall to iorrespond to the \,latitude of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The. north wall is at a 78 degree angle.(hngle of I the sud, at summer solstice) and is ivsulated with 4 of fiberglas. The interior is paneled F &it11 Mbsonite and painted with a glossy white.enamel. The rafters extend froin tha peak tojthe ground and we;e originally uncovered for the lower 10 fe:t. Joan covered this-,, . area wit\h corrugated Lascolite :to make a greenhouse preh,eatef, or buffer zone,and cold frame area. It stays about 25 degrees colder than the main greenhouse at night. This addition \Fost her 90 cents per squar$ foot and gave her an,extra 480 squars feet of grow- ) ing space., 1 Occaiisionally a customer will challenge Joail about her use of supplemental gas heatie heater is the I~ -.Zl;ti~nateStTiS tb capture the20 percent no~i. c: solar power,that tlfegas company furnishes. Her avefige $32 a mdnth g& Bill fQr the eight, month cold season compares to $160 a month for a Similarly sized conventional greenhouse in the area, and bears out the effectiveness of her,design.,lncidentally, shes run: ning 70 degree nighttime lows, which is cqnsiderably higher than those maintaine.d in noncommercial greenhouses. I x _ , -- .F--: a \ ,F 87 * .; .-% ,. . + .
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___._ ~- ~.= :-.--Pi$ j. . Tllermal Storage: Sixteen 55-gallon drums ( 880 gallons of water)--:&_ Supplementary Heating: 1SO,OQO BTU (adjusted) natural gas heater hiaterial Costs: S3.40 per square foot, plus beer ( 1974) hiain Function: Wholesale, retail and mail prder sale of organically grown herbs d I \ I , _ ( I I ri t \: \ 0 $4 .? ~:.ti,v after they moved thiky3.p that there several trt%k+~anCes _ surrounding her homel the\unit could be
,/ I // I 1 de_siSl?ed:clr~d.~builtthe Tykdns solar greenhous~m<or themY3 31 ining their propert):, 1 told fromNew Jersey to Sahta Fcl Aftch Gas no way to attach the ullit to, their 10.m~ without demolishing didnt really care, as s)le considerk most ol tllr i-arge imp6rted trres independent peenhouse
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w -, I mating norm.al to the I.. : ; c .*, *.d .., &nb&er important-@&tar in-the design bf the i)yson+gree&buse is tl;atLi.$ is opiented .e ,. 2.5 degrees southeast d*du&s,outli. This&gle $a$- determ$ted .&o$tly by, tl;e lay of the a v, land aid out de_sire to alter the.natural environment-,as.$ttleas pbs$ible. Since vefy f@ - -So r 3 n f A morning rays wo&d e~~~er~.th~~gre~nhouse,throtigh the eastwallat jhis orieiitatiin, :the east P .- , 1 . wall is-70 p¢ opaque and insulated. Tlic,i&i&.,of this soli&will is refiecti . ~ ;:thBt a$ situated directly in front of it show excellent blossoming and frui&e i. a 4...-., a . wall iS clear. _ . * r Tl&gr~e&~use was de&ned to coritain ten.water drtil;lls. apd hay&moveable iisulating z pa&ls on the mof: With these provisions, 1 estiniated that%the&it wiuld &ain@in g I - .a A * degree interior $emperathres a.t -10 degrees outdo&. ,W&tli &ly~fo$ drums installed auk a p . - / iiI. wifi-@lt the styrdfoam panels in pla@,.the gi-eenhouse held a 43 degrek low ,at $outside ,.& .. 7. * L _ Th$iz truly r:markable arid. !-can on&y sttribute it to the roof de&n and the niass of th; _.., ..# .I ifisulated-block wall {it has an inclro?st$rofo.&~ on the outside s.urface).i, 1 . .* Fran& Tyso4 is an experienced *ga$,cpkr. F& years she had-a large,grganic iarden s _- Lack In New Jersey:. Frances uses. grokvcng &chniques that* w&d make a c&mical+y ori- .A i. @., . - ented gardener ten over in his sodium nitrate. She &es.rel,atiely hot.mai&e, heavy :. . ,,_,,, mulch, neier sterilizes ,anything ,and plai7ts extrem*el$: densely: Ive neve;;.se& a a . *,,@eeri . &e&h-&se thatrcould match the l&e1 ofTrod@etion she gkts but df the spice she has, d -. -, - \ Some of FranApes technique2 are discuss$d in rCllapter VI. This ahazing w&nan al&hric?s. -*. iiq. , time to b&d so@ collectors out of bee; Gans,-and to ipeak to anyone:whe will liste.n*about c , Cl, ; 1 the developmenh ofsola; energy an.d the abolitiori.df nublear:pbwer. (See F%&re 52.) ,:,\, .,! + %, , .Y 1 I , . .I a ,I,. _, Owners: $esley and Frarices Tyson ,~ :. I . ,\ , .I 3% . \Designer: iBill Yandae n. .I 7. I L p 2 - i c -, Builders: PaulBunker,, Susan and Bill Yanda p . 1: ; CT -& _ ~. - . F&&- Area: 180 square feet v .. ,* - --c ---~~ea~A-r~.--Sout~~~~~e. - r 1.0 sq. ft.: south;roof= 50 sq. ft.; east $a11 7.25.sq. it11 -. ! .; \I . . .d ._..../* .- <west Wall = 5fsq. ft. n :.& ,., A v > *.. _ h,.?., ,.* .._-; I .L . \ 1 I i . _ r _ I: . / .; . _ S. .r : .= ,ay;i- -,, ;\b -_ I . L _- I P ., _ .: K.\
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stdrage: Pumice blbck wal lled w?;tll iojiciete = app!bximately ; 1 8 of water (ycl.osed drblT$ !) Costs: 5.5,.00 per square foot Lt I* / . Vegetable production for personal lse. b , , **_ ; . I_ I 2 * /
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Bill and Katherini; Otwell live in a$assive greenho~~se/l~ousc combination that Bill and i r -s Miclrael Frerking designed (SW Figure 53 1. Tl4t.zajqazin, (7thing about their Ilomc is tll;t its .-8, tot& jnaterial cost wass 1.fOO. and that in~l~l~~s a solar hot water heater. It took the 2,. I * Ot ells and FrBrking three. months to complete the. 6.50 square .foot structure. The walls f of $b-e-&ome are raw adobe bricks, made on the sife. (In more humid parts of the couiitry stabilized adobe sh6uld be used.) The walls arc insulated with 1 of.styrofoam CHIthe- outJ
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l , ~I , iJ ,.The Boys F$an:h,, located near Espafisola, NiIy Mexico, is 2 place~where b.oxs,,with. d. ,- . learning disabilities or &stable family conditions are cared for and educated:ThC itian who llas had a geat dqal to do with the developme,nt of the .larg@solqr gre&liouse on tl;,e.piSoperty is Both Deiwiler. $Sp.bhas had six,.y,ears of experience ,in.greenho&e pperatjon an$ r I ,,.-. - / iT-----_ 2L .? . ._ \ ._.,
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tianagement.He is al-soa-professional &unsklor for the retardedi<ld for iroun~ people witil. . 0 learning p;oblems. He sees the- greenilouse as a IJatural rehabilitation device: :Everyone can profit froin working with planjs. I think 01ie of th; reasons for thisis &, ihere is a ,c hat kind of natural fee.dback mechanism involved. When tl& plant\-do ;v>ll, theq&ow.us the . right way&rork&_g with them. In this way the plants validate 0~ innate intelligence. _ ,< The original design for thii freestanding greenhouse was conceived by Jay,Davis. It P 0 employed a system of exterior insulating paneIs and shading devices that Bob felt was too complex. so he asked the Sun Dwellings team to modify $1~~ desigh. They incorporated I . -most of the features of i)avis plan. but they eliminated the panels. Th; Sun Dwellings dersigners decided they could &eate .an acceptable year-round growing environment by increas ing thermal stora_eein tllFroe Id adding a $mple system of fans to taqthe apex heat = 2 K and blow it down through th,e rock storage: Fidel-Lopez. the ma$ager of the physical plant at tQe .Ranchi further.amended the angles of the roof to produce a basic 45 degreeA-zt?ame i_ j n . $ructure. This con-figuration will begin to shade the north-wall at solar noon 01; tl?e spring Y-_ & equinox. _ L .%. 7. 93 e . .
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. Th$ active heat $ansfei s$s&m *;i$hor*ljower 1; bjse; f&r .10 fans. The $ucrivgi$ 1b;eduse.d &;~8 , galvahize,dsteel stovepipe-(see Fig,
_ J ,I, @althy cropotpetunias, kbbage. ,il I, 0 tomatoq, and chili. With only pqssive d&kzt-gain sfbrage in the r?ock b;ds, 45,degrees wag Lo .. the l&vest Itempkature recorded, . . with -~~If&qeq~~leqqe outdoor Idw-. $oB Iqs estimated ,1 . .. tha-i Lvith the act&k sqistqm -in opefation, ona.g60d solir day in win2&- aRfiroximate1y one. ~ million BTUs will be vented from the unit ~0 help 11~;~,the -frostyair of ,the clpp! . - ,, Grand; ~~alle)~..Thats one.disadvantage of an indegendqlt gre.enhou&.- . ; The Bo\.s Ranch looks forward to dext win,trr. when th~~gre~qhou?e \;ilil;L;t a&< _ * r I E . I 7 ? 8 - arra\. of fresh vegetables on the hinner table. ; 5 i. 0 I \ td. -3vner: le(. Ho,use . 1 : Designers: 33~ D,avis. Bob l~et~vil~l-,S;~~il~w~lli~~~sl$esign teak. iind the Yunda green- c I, I _ .ahaLI+ class. , ,* ; 1. Ruild~rs: 13oh Dktwiler. Fidel Lop?l: bodes and st:ff ot Jtme? Los Alamos \ .( % . * d :--i.L Civitan Club, (I -3 .Floor Area: 900 squarr~ fee; (iio3r 7 teer belo\v-qade). I * ?i a CifarArca: 770 sqLi>i-e f&t (Iront face). 4. a I Thermal Stor;lg;: 70 t,ons of rocks (assortgd sizes) and earth b&n. . ,, , ia .: I<rimcttxr = 6? Ofsab;dust in plastic envelope: root = 6 fiberglass: door = I lnularion: . 7 st>,rotdam and I: fiberglass . I 0 112tcrial (ost\: 23.88 per square foot. S-3500 total Zlain f tlljitl6n: SlI1~~~l~t~l~tltar~~ food production, ktail salt ot starts and beddiug * FIGURE 55 * , .
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, ., j,or no energy, other~than solar.; to:maintain a piant growt!h environme& r > year long in severe. climates, A detailed cost analysis :for fhein3tial de:,, .. i .. ,. I, a. _ L; sign of the! greenhouse hasshown that the mat~risl~ will. cosffro,ni a . $2.50 to $3;00 per square foot of gro@$g area,+vered (retail prices : ,>3 5 ,r:.-. J : c u in Flagstaff, Ar&zona). After ,material.-testing, it is lf~elythe Co+ can 1 .I; be reduced $0.25 to$O.50 per sq.uare fo,ot,of growing area. Construcl .. * - $on.will be sufficiently simble_to,be performed by the home owner;.*. ., d .i :., _ !-j&self. The question, is: How econ@ri$al is it to grow your ownlyith #* a*. .? II ;t. 4: . _ this greenhouse? , I . Statisticsfor 197 1 show that roughly200 square feet of field space. -1 -.-. ;&,- ..>a ~~asPrequir~d.to*provide the per capita yearly Consumptio of f&h , .-- ., s &L -. and processedvegetables (considering only .themost imporil ant vege-. tables: lettuce;oniohS, tomatoes,cabbage; celery; carrots, cucumbers ,_ , a I.* ii I and green peppers). The greenrhouse can be at least5 tiines.nrore pro* I < .~ * ductke per acre than the field crop, thus requiring 40 square feet of I greenhouse to feed the average person every yea?. Thus, the capital-in- LI . vestment per person for the home greenhouse space igbetween .$lOO ,.~.--) , an$ S 120. Taking the diffetence between the retall price for vegetables r 1. .* @ . . B . *G %. 2 .ip 1,. & _ -_- by, -.- 96 .. i
purchased. in New York and the averag 4 farm $rice of those vegetables (the farm price is probably higher than tll$ actual home drown procl~~ction cost) $2elds the markup the consctmer must pay for vege-tables., Multipl$ing tlae nrarkw by the consunIytion rate fqr each vegetable gives the, poIenLia1 savinhs ficl$eved by eqting lioqie . grswn. hesh vegetables; this a,year.for,;. mounts to.sl4.09 per person peP ~ all fresh vegetabfes in 197.1 . Since the.. -markup .for processed vegetables is -aI , I least Gic? t,lje fresh markup, tdiC Lise of *\\\ I l~onie grown tgresli in plkx of prbcesseil ?Y \ saves roughly an ~dclitjonal $28.18. A to- I >;il~.savin& of about $42 tier, pel:soneper * yelir+an be,acllieved.Tlje y-eenllo~~se capi,I .
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VI FIGUREZ ge, ~ L tal inve~tmept~,can he psidoff yin three years? The designed life of the g,reeqlJouse is at IbaSt 70 ,years, givin~;,lb~l1.t1~, years ) 0P~low cost, hi@ qqzlity vegetables: $3) going .honie krown .tb.e savipgs arc hot really- slhectcLllar::bL1t~thcii~eitl,~!- is the .. ..w o~lIlt~~fI-Si~~~t3L;:ltlS tll+wag~ ptrso~l .Perl,mps wlien~hi~~e is. litile : FJ else to$Z, veget:ltileswill begwc?rtli their * wrejgllt in- sold. %Tlwrnis no telli~-7~,ivl~~ itlie @pact ok develdOpin$ 3 1iO~nie groP$d , t~echnolr& Gill l%-it may sink or swim, p well see iii tli,e !,fe11rs conic. . to
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generation and comp?es .;~~osyst.t3pl desig$,.. ,. I D3 Jim and Elirube.th have s&t for.t+ems~lv~s. : pi z, -4 a-. *tll; challenging task od building a s$fi tQlffi$ient life sjyie on lolie acre pf seln~~ lan , ib northern Ney .arjici. ,pl~i~h : JIh/Sex ice. ,: /: . J : ,/ Our mail? jntirest ,i~n Jim s work con1 ctzrns his LISC: vari$ life forlns,ancl ihof ,. cfependeiit p&et. i*i lii$greenhouse~* de, / L $pns. He has found.//for instance, tilllit introdlrlcing ratbits ilfto his pit~gree~il!bus+ ilnprovtls ,plant go?Vth.IIe bslieies .Ll!at the chrbon digsidefhatC thg r~bbitS/,exh~le iconioensaies to aA extent for the. short 7 * photoperiod in uin ter man ths. Tl!e DeKornes arc 31So fond of, rabbit for t:l;g .. -L table. uid a paiq 01 hr;eding stock y/ill. .. produce ;is mucl~ proteinin one yeal- ,qs 3 . large ileifer proV~cie4. Jin+>bsystein dlso incorporates a wind. ueiier;Ltor tliat: aX-4xi2st2ge of e~sprr~incn2 5 -. . 61 I .. , FIGQRE , - . / ,j,. a , were LIS&I .to make l;L;ti.iel;t solu~tion~for hydra-, * , I; - . 9 . < I I I 1 T&e onl! res~~~:at-lon.~t.llatJim has 3bout his original pil greenhouse design .is that ity .*. , / .I. 7) XL _t ,* *, ~was not at,rgche? .;o Iii; house. The ts&ssIleut vciitcd in the wintCrcoulc1~ he pL1 tD good t ,I : -ys5. He pl?tns to build ali attach>d unit this silmnier. ., 3 &; j, 1 [, think tli$t ihe varied appro;Ichtx Jim Ius hccn j~~vc~lvcd with ty;lrrrlnt furtI~e,-re~ea~-c1i~ .$++ .,.- . ~~reriihouse builLicr> wi,ll be interested in developing ~~~rnplcs ecoHd~~aftilly S~IC YIP\\ > . -1 -Y \_A.. , -,+.. Bysteiiis tlia~,~vill:iolltri~~ite to th: existing kno\vlCcl$e in this arc3. 9 = . , .. . : . * ,* f? ~I . -. ; .. c i(. , * b I i e . a;,. .i a , CL . 5 j -; * ,c,. : . :> . t. - * Egward and &rbara Storms 1. I ; . ~ (. , 1 .i_ . .s . , . ZiL 1 1 . 5. in , , Ed Storms decided to build &I ;Ittaclitd solar greenhouse aqter attending th? 1974 y :. --I 5, L b (ihost Ran~~~-Bi~-ieC11nic~ conference at which 1,gave.atat-k on thcSubje?I. The greenhotis6+ ~ ._. r *! . 3 .P _I : . 99*w .1 F .- ; -_ I 1 ,,1 . L i , - /. #,
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aqd 5 workshop were to bti added to the frame house f,ila t .he and Bar * _ , the .addition would have no th~rnlal storage c!~$ucity~,in its$ran>e $/;I *a x , cl$e a.nj;ictive wafm air bysteni.wjtll I-o?! stora& under tlis unit. many a cPo-ii-ydursejf. disaster .as he whl-G{d on ~19; priecj. He ilad. a -i,,Ed encou~t&d .. ,_ klloe .t,q do Ijle ey&vatin&-and ii imlnediatcly hit tile buticcl gqsline. Tl~en tlley came er that%ven tlqbacklloe couldhl bud$p T-hey ,b,(lilt around~ it. Ed llired ;I > .O. atiy-tt bring o$&r ,tjle. hi%. Tile ncl;t;tw~;l~,,ours were-?jje biggest ~scia~nbleof .. L..:_ + : *.ll-; I F% ed now, tlli ujlit i$ a clean 3nd attractiv; I!ddi(ion to,Jhc home (~:~&rc~.6?), -.
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T!le design work, for the curved fibcr~lass/polyeti~~lenc fact was &me by Mike Watson, a ., SanCa~ architect Tlie outer filxqlnss is ovcrlajd with moldjn :Z;ltld boh4 to tile cijrved Fe stecl struts. TIICSII Ii grccnliousct heats lds 1_ s 75 sl~op~~~~lcliti~~~~. Storms installed Tile a back-up wc~ocl stove tllat they&lvcnt -ILI~ to USChct. Hcqt to t,jlc shop is supplied by i. natur31 convection tliro~r~li tile actjoininj2 door-. F TIIC 1h-quhic-l:ard rock st(jmgc pit ha\ la~~ei-s sand, plastic. tll?; (cl;itcs scparatins of * it from tli~~r~atiif~l volcilnic tult at tiic hotlom of t]ic excamtion. l-lot air hm the apes of tile unit is,mo\,~J down a black plywood duct and tl~rou~h tllc rock bed. The fan is actilfrtted autoniatically wlit!n the inside air tcniptiraturt reaches 70 ciegrecs. Eds cstensivt2 Ynonitoring of ths tmlper2ture diftcrentials in 111erock storage! bed indicates that the front s (son~h) of [hi plenum is not gettin g eno~igli warnitli to substahtially contribute to night I 1..
7G*l&her ?pdmore fleatins. He lylieves that the ter!lperature~~bSile~oT &eCplgn . ,even if he substituted a larger fan for ihb 6: -squirrel cage IA0 in use. Wrl~eatim I s~ 9 in tht?unit-,due to the -&ll-clear cover could pose a problen-g, thougli somk h~l~sha.din~~~a*,d ~ . . % * *r ), ._
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kve 80 ghlons of whter in drubs fpr pas&e, clirect-gaip,,st4r~~e-T~~~ig that woilld utilize
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Detailed plans of the Storms La Paloma. White Rock. hb\y lhesico S75W. -2 Owners: Ed and Barbara Storms Drsiplers: Mike Watson. Ed Stohs Builder: Ed Storms Floor Area: 140 square feet .y r 5
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Clear A&: Fiberglass exterior/602 .iht&i*or * . 1 , I Thermal Storage:. 16 cubic yards of I:ocks, 80 gallons of w.at& , .a __ --.-I. Insulation:~~~I~~lsty~~oarn aroun$ the.perimeter and -rock bin -.. 1 Mlaterial Costs: $7.OCj per square foot _:,, p M$li,Function: Wi~nter vegetables; vegeta(ie starts. . 4. jy 7 _ f ,, .I: #Q *J; / -% I,, .a e P * . I 0 r: 0 .x. . ,.;. , . -, . a e 6 f \ % . 1 , I \ * .&e Porter g&r Q , ._ y h 1 .
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D Lee Porter Butler, *a:Szin Franc&o-basedlarchitect, hz!szdev$loped a &e&n that con;/ feat$es ;n a uliique way: He calls thelpassive d&gn a gravity . . ,L an,d cooling system. It is applicable to houses, lai-gel- structures alid green-~ 2.; 1 The diagram .in Figure 64 shpws a schematidxross section that 2. c that Mr. Butler hasdesigilec!.into several.,hsmes (see F:igu$e 6s>1 .. ,.** .> .\I . .z 0 2 : . : 1. 8C ._:;, . -. -r, - _ < _ Lb, ,. *. -.x
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tcr in Aspen. itutilizcs cart+ bcriii and low prt)lilc techniques lo consci-vc heat (Figure (I(,) -~*Tlic ~rt~t~l;liou4e has acljiist~ibic dar!Lon to;,, ligli t on bottom insulatccl louvrcs Ihr collectn1g. sli;ldin~ 2nd insulation (clear vicbw type). The soci I-001and n3lurni ovcrliang Ilclp make tli$ strut turea cool summcr space.
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,I IIomcsQic ilot vdiatcr-is suppliccl by ;i collector (60 square Iccl) above the hthroon1. Tile water is circl;latcd into 2 hh-gallon tank by natiiml tlicrtnosiphonin~. A CliviusMul. . trim compostcr is Lis4xl Ior Il~lman and kitcliyn wastes: Hack-up Itc:lting is provid.ed by a \wn wood-bui-ninp stoves. Thcllc~rd air from liic ~r~,~nIlr!Lls~~~,!l.iclW11 down in to rock stor3pz bcncatli the first c story. and tllat lloor receives radiant hcat:~~u~n tllc~S0 cubic y3rds 01 rocks. The vents 1.01 r .air dihiribLition adiiianuallj~ op;LlZ. (S&c l:iulrc 67.) In my opini~r)n. t,his-cicsicn coinhinc~s *ll_;),t~~?l*tlic kst tcatiircs ot semi-p;isGvc cd hoiiics. Illt~ c)nly ma.jol loss ;irc;ls (faii; arcas) on tlic south siclc arc all insulatccl ma ally. The hcdrooms. wit~rc more nigllt \V;IIIII tll is nccdcd, ;II-c upstairs. The livirig, 3nci kitclicn a.r~35 acijoin tlic grecnliouse. Its ;Iuitc ;I scnsiblc design and onctl;ai d -G on littlc outside energy to make-it ltinction. - .e
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- r An ilitercsting ilcsign rclatccl lo lolln Todds c;;rtil co~crccl biospllcrc (.~\lcw AlcllcnYy 7-r ; ~?lnsti+te. -page l,!O) is hcin, ~1 rlcvelopcci hy L1oy.d Wartcs. Wiirtcs is-an ngricuItur31 cngjnccr _ 5 aiid~dcsig3 r witli over fifty years otcCspcric%ce ill-a inultjt~lilc ol~cli~ciplincs. AICIng with Tim L t Carl;&thr, ahyclropotjics cxpcrthmtn ~oloraclo S;rings, Colorado, lie has clcsi~nccl 3 yeen7 ~lmusc th+ wjll maxim@ tutui-al Ecologic con tours in gro$ing food,. Lloyd and Tim expect .<.;.to see %viiraI acres ot near-vcrtic:ll liock\cS convcrtccl to Iobrl pi-o,#ction in the coming -2 a -*xi x;. years. - I,, -t -2-k t~&icctl gfccnlro~isc will h-built up tlic siclc 01 ;I steep y-aclc (see Figure #f e I. Heated air \vill rise from .one icvci to another, producing cl~~~~/i~r~c~rrt cnvironhcnts on each ~~rccnlioiisc crops, ILttuoc woulci bc 011 tile t7Oltolll, levtrl. Using for example tiircc popular a .. tomatoes in the middle and cucumhrs in the warm top scction. A Chinesc kill; for plants: simple andbrilliq~t. The wmc concept couici bc ippliCtl to your own backyard, prbviding- D flu are pcrclied on the cdgc, of 3 prccipjce. l ., 7 . : 10s . .F. 7 __ j\ t 0 ,, bl . .--
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This unit has a confi.gurtitioli vq-v &lilur tg Dave M,icK,ingoils indepeJ,dent gr~$!h- .. house seen on page 97, Figures $8 and $9. buti$s f&as I know, they were designed corn-i * *I , pletelyindependentl~~-ufeach otlier. Tht southfac:e isLat..g 65 degree tilt aJlcl the cle,ar rbof 9 P.P^ sect&n slopes awa$ froni: the front (toward the northj., TJ@Pwo cleBr panels running the i length of -the roof aTe used only in the summer for noyt!l. 1iglitig.g. In the.&nterlthey are. covWed&thrigid styrofoam. to ieduce l!eat loss. . f ?. -* . 0 G --, L I &. -* ~I i -= _ 106 a \ . . I . I .; I . . 3_. - I ., 2 1 3 .,
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In designing this unit, 1 expcriq mented with a glazccl direct-gain wall. I think its a good ide.a that needs Iurthcr dcvclopmcnt. This is how it works. Tlle,colclest area in the green- i house is in the extreme south bed at ground Icvel. 1 knew that if the - ~ uartli tlierc could LX hcatcd, the ~ plants would do better tlirou~h the -tong cold winter nights. The south fact is framed up oil a 16 . . 1. high by IO tllick contirctc wall. FIGURE 69 I painted tlic oulsiclc of tllis low. s ./ wall dark bro\vn and glazed it with one layer 01 fiberglass acrylic material. IL was well scal- _ led on the top and bottom. Heat is tcansferred through the concrete to the cart11 bcd.cli-_,-i rectly bclhind it. (This is like a Trombe wall but has no vents for air circulation.) , The results were that the young plants nearest the wall showed faster, healthier growth J . than those farther back in the bed. . Howevir. the stored heat wasqt cnouyll to carry some. of tht~& throu?li the cold;. -7 W-winttr ni$t. When the ou tsidc tcmperatures-dipped to -7. deprees. a patch of beans in the front bed froze. Nothing else vJqsd3niag~d. including tomato plants sit&ted csntrally in the unit. But Dr. Voutc J&S disappointed and he bought a small k ielectric spact ht2ler calibrated to turn on . $ at 45 degtes. I -< j ~+p To improve the performance of the direct:gain wall1 would: 1 ) make it,thinner: 5 would be thick enough for strcngtli .; arid would provide a higher rate of heat transfer to the front bed; 2) double glaze ; tlic s$huth low wall: this would prevent I) sucli$a@cl conduction losses back through i thcl wall at night: hd 3) insulate the lower clear wall (a! night ): . The Voutes grow some beautiful , : flowers and vegetables in this gree_llllogsc. :The soil mixtuitt they USE is l/3 city ;sludge from the sewage plant, so occaG# FIGURE 70 sionally theyll have a healthy tomato or
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plan? pdpup 6 an unexpected place. PT. V,oute%& also developed aratb&*,iht&ise ;j : personal relationship t6 his unii; Tb paraphra>e,,him: .The damn fhi&s l&e, &qiled$et ./ +-. i or child; it&eds attention lzIi-1 time. I think well skip Qece_fnber and Janu@y krpwingi the .I next year and take:a iacatioh from it.: This iS;aid lovi?glyipbelieve it, or not. . s t, I ?r &-i. .N. . * Oweers:*-Peter and. Barbara yautge I e . ..,,, * * 1; s Designes: Bill Yanda : * * ,, - 1 : i : 5 : ;@ilders: Paul a d James Bun,ker, Bill,zmd SusanYanda a . . , 0 / -1
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y .>%lear A&a;:* 1.28 sq. ft. (sou\th face); 40 &. ft. (east and west walls); 42 sq:ft:&of),Thermal Storage: 3 cubic yards of *boncrete in walls (appryimately 12,0@0+0$+) s ; -y,*.* I c _ . 330 gall04 ,ofwater ~. , Supplementary Heat: Electricspace heater * . I I h$tterial Costs:? $4.00 per$quare foot T . , Orn _,. . Main Function: .Veget@le,and flo& r production for home use 0 . \t %
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Wayne Niichols, &$on Village, __ _ Mexico y-----I -.-.. _-~./_ New -i.. _ ----. -,-c---1_-___..._.__. .___..- __._. ___ ._._-A ~6 --
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{.f you codd c&nbine the iexperience of{, Harvard business degree, a year of $nca-. ;- tr,t,p meditation.in Sbai$and Italy, several yearc.workifig~ for a multi-national conglorhe;: - \ ?te I$ Los Angeies with thi love of playinwl mud hoe>es=and a natural bent for philo- ; a sophi...w~hat w&Id you have? Wayne%Iichols, of course. . the abiliky to-central&ithetalentsrpf ~~ &chols is what 1 cd &zG~~mover,~~He-lbas * man$ in+viduals and direkt their efforts into a tangible.reality. He has earned the right. to ------__--I1-I~_-:.~+~~ _.__ 7~~~ph&sophicaibe&~~ llfviSi&sand dreams are based on hard-nosed experienck. For al.. instance, -how many dreamers in the U.$*haie conjured up solar villages a51dlow energy * commu_nities? (&ally funded with m&opoly money). ive pFrsonally,heard of ibout 5000. < * * - Nell, Waynehas built qne: Its but there iri the pitions. vol cab buy a hake, in the Lor& ;. I munity...today. Read these excerpts Ive taken from a paper Nichols recently wrote. They make-inore sense than governmerit .feasibility studies and they didnt c&t you a pennyo$ j -* %, * d - - taxmoney. d I .j . * Ps dan h&nself with hip fo&il fuel, technologically baied society and . high populafion-levelsis in for a crash. Could Americans really change .if they wanted- to? I doubt it. To. many of us it wotild be impossiblei,b .to adjust ;o a cultdre wi%hout our;machines and their energy consumpI tion. If wel-an out of.oil,,there is a g&ch.ance we would fightrather thgn alter dur Cult&e. 3, *: !n the endPnaQreal\;rays wiris:lf we continue to act like spoiled chi1drq.n wasting our precio& atural resource&&d d&$o&llng our eni ? vironmknt, Mother Nature will ,t;i\ke corrkctive a&ion. Shi alw& does. * -\
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we will carry out tiie orders 1.0; our own +* disciplige. ...As technology has increased, so,has OLII- ability to clcstroy *ourselves. To balance this, our ability to* cl~ange has increased tllroLlgl1 liit2dia to control the expandin g threat of technology. Teclinology is IirlY in balanke by media. It is SucIi;I simple Iorniuh: mdn in cdmbinarion with his environment Iorni a single system that is sclI-regLihting, self-nianaginp, nil tonia tic. As S tcvc Bacr says: (loci is tlic original passive jyStt171. In America we can mai?c cliang& very quickly. We Iiavc ;I relui tidy organic political strclctl;irr,- and ;+ free market system that allocates resources (capital) very quickly, where w$ need [l&m. Through tlib. partnership of ourai!lcrdibly powerfLI1 media afid our scientific capacit\t America can change and cllat?ge rapidly. This quick responsti ability has import;pit surviv3l value lor us in Jlic iticrc~asingly coliipc titivc \\,orld cnvironnicnt: , * ...Tlie important thing tcr watch ig sdar applicaticlns is not how . . many S~ftems are hgilt hut 1\/10 builds or buys tlicni. QLII- cspcricpcc prolcssionnls is that solar energy is attra>tive to young 30s 2nd to younga- well-educated p7coplc iI, gencrril, \Ve arc a ~xirt of nature and
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especially those in the planning professions. ; 3 : Se / In Santa Fe many of us who are workingin solar development feel we are participating in important work. We are writing history. In our search for-simpler, more self sufficiedt and less expensive struct&&there is a real sense of dedication among. those in the field. . . * ! -..:The question is: Are these peo$le [developers and buyerb] the * lunatic fringe or are they the main stream of a changing America culture? It is my contention that the wildand wooly experimentors . out in New Mexieo,Northem California,.New England, Manhattan; s and other parts of the cpun.try,.are that &ry.important -group ,of early innovatorswhu ar$notZr adopting life styles and products thati.& later -. . be tied ona grander scale. . , TThe one common. element .to many of the houses being built in . -P , Santa, Fe is their relation to.nature. The-liouse is not just- a fortress, I against the elements. It is designed to connect the occupant back into the natural processes for_his own benefit. $%.-house is alive.. It functies. It changes and responds to the- outtide environment in a special _ 1: -.-. *. ~ajr_il!af..~up~orts- .and ~helpsthe l.%op&,inside. You might saythe- . home has a sort of consciousness. The structure is an .ofganic.protectiv skin that the-owner wraps around his family. _ p: In San.ta Fe we are looking f-or a kind of prima1 structure. Some_ . one is-going to develop a simple low-cost home that gives the basic, ; primal functions of shelter and warmth. We will let you know what .+* , we find. % ._ \ ._ The preceiding three photographs silo; some of what Wayne has found. _4 * -7 , . i n < L _/ .
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- Dr. i- DouglasBalcomb is the same fellow who*has$ubfished many importmpapers - -on p&,ive sola;utiIization. He is also theChgirmanof theNew Mexico So@Energy A&ociation. The Balco~& decided that they wanteti a solarium addition to their home in Los I *Alamos (not a,pr&$uisite for tire chairrnansl~ip).~Thisunusual and pleasing design *isthe F . _ result~(seZphotogra~h, next page). s The greenhouse is a 400 square foot additidnto. their%amehome. Doug a&nits, Its i . not really all for the plants1 We plan tospend a lot of time out there. The sawtooth con.* iguration on the robf and east side combined with, the vertical _ , glass in the south face guar* antee no overheating problems in the summer. The west wall, except forthe clear sawto,oth * Ii panels in the roof, is opaque. Balcomb is concerned about summer light i,n the greer$ouse i- \i; . and platisto iaint all interior walls and the panellihg in the second sawtooth white. The FI. eastern wall is designed to allow, morning li t to flood through the exterior~gl&s and i&to patio doors to the home. :;, , -~ -. v. t ,, - - ,li : a ! . *_ %. .. ,. I - i s i x 1 4 l
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Dr. Baicomb estil I ]lours oT my labor than two -- int6~~the +%?gn, the,?
es the fini.shed greer$ouse yilfcost gbo$t &62,506;^ and nlor~ . that w(;lt o care to calculgtG+. But look h,t*the card and$icern .. 4 ,I , ne trees qre saVed! What a space!
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x 1 ., ~ _ Guide< Designi;: D&b and S&-a Balcomb . . ,. ~ -: Cost: ~,Ap;roxii-r$ely S2,500 :* - -._, x _ , , r -. i u : _,;. * : .. RSize: 460 square-ffeet -a . . ~ ., ,_ _ , I ; Clear.Area: D-ouble Tlleriopane F : _ i 0 Vents: .l$&q..ft. I$$& bottom of-soutl? wall;.27:sq. ft: u&m in&conc!, tiwtdoth. , . -8 .+I: * NtiEiml~ &oi+ection or. reverse fail. j; de 1 _ Hgat to home: Naiurar>&vecti.on thr6ugl; sliditie Patio door. $2 Storage: Above grade box, app,roximately 4 wide. x 3 ice; x,i@ Ipng, 240 cu: ft. ; _ ./, ~. , . I rock.filled,, 1 irisulatibn. ._ . .J I~ * 5,s . *I .-\ 2 I. T j < (I ,-* _ 8 .. -*. * _. > . ,_ _ _.-__. * . ,: + ?.e .d ,$ - I <.- 1, . b * 3,
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or plant w-clr?.The mtirc l~orn~,iliowcvcr. acts 3s 2 qlur yrycnhousc, as it isclt2signt~cl to lx a passive solar coll~cioi. The two-stoq soLItll tace is double $lr~zcd wit11 comnlercial sform c 111
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t& a scjlar buildins. ;i north-5oiltli :l\;is. llic Ilonlc 9 Iius liccli JcGgnccl 3dl built so t;istCl.illl!i tllat ybu rc;lIl~; Iiaw to lw looking lor it 10 Iind ii.
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*., . - . , - 8 * I - .4 :. ,. 4 #I Y b Herb Wide has designed a freestanding greenhouse wrth passivestorag&& the roof/back _wall area of the structurd(Figure 79). The 6 inch siace between the rock storagk and n&t&r I . , wall* create-s..a natural convec.G tion downdraft. The cool air * falls down the wall and out,,on to ,the -floor of the- structure. : The .hot air ,is. pulled, through .the.front. wire mesh &ito:the 0 I .rc@..~nd~~atei storale: By including%+ater drums, in the r ri3c +&,b is co,mbining the c; 0. a tures of. botlrjstorage b * r ,. re are about 22,0001b$. ** .( JQ fi- thermal storage, including the water, in this 42 long x 9. -3 highx @wide greenhouse. That . greeqhouie. c.. or weight but .fhe triof / configuration-of the in, subportedhy.~,ojts 112 SlloGld keen itevfmlv 11;should keep itevenly distributed, The greenhouse is ..?- L . j- . . 3 ,t . E,lGURE 79 .S?,, +< built on pilings. and. includes . pe&eier insulation and an antixiodent scre&. .-q . i .\ * I .: I think that this eonceptlof integral wall,stora~ge.could be applied to an attached gre&, house. as well, Just allow for the. openings to your,house and tilt the roof soythivard to ehminate t-h< roof valley bet\$eensyour i;o& and the u>:it.. 1, . . ae _ ^ _ ._ -$ , -. i c . . .~~. * .i. _-. ,, . ,I ,_i .z 2 -.
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,r - A PortabjeHomema+ $ireenhouse Ip ; . ,I 1 rI i So...youre a i-enter, or you move a Jot. You want a greenhouse but dont want tb leaveit behind for& next*occupants. Heres an alternaIive. iuild a portable, but supstan.. f .-. tial, greenhousethaf you canpack u.p and move?to yo\r,next home. _ *This small leanto, was designed as a, demonstration model to bemoved around to ., ^, fairs, energy e-xhibi& schools and the like. Its,lightweight and can be assembled by two pebple. The - largest panel is 8 feet x, 8 feet and the panelsfit into a rack o&$ckup truck. , c Even though tliis is a display0 model,. the greenhouse is fuliyf&crional, containing .a11 the 1, s crit.eria for-successful operation:found inChapter IV (insulated opaque walls, double skin; 9 d 1 =. - 1 1 I* I i ? ,s. .J s
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shaded roof, erc.). When we set it bp. we put in black water barrels s (~ou dont need . a north wall. are held togeth
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of the edges arr sealed with foal+ insulating tape. The whole unit sets up in about 10 minutes with two -people., JLI>~ set it down in front pf )lour south window and youre in bujiness. In a horn;; appa _ plication. it could be mounted on FJGURE 81 Cl nrailroad ,ties (as explained in CJJfpter IV) right on the ground, or&n a low block wall. i k 4
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_ ~~_.~ ~ ; . I*. Designers: P!ml gqnker, John Giit,.l$li Yg:rida. f_.__ -) ,, BuiF$ers: Same-as designers with heJ$ f$n the-New MexicoQrgan$ Growers ~ssn. . 9 ;*, ,! w / 4 I Size: 64 square feet,: . _I , . \ _,c 1 COST: $2.$ (includes double fiberglass w-&, north wall and No. 1 clear.fir,zx?,s for 3 /. 3 Strength *and uni?ormity). Fun:ded by- the New Mexico Energy ,Beso&es Board. .c _ Cle~,,A$$: 125 square feet,, y . ; b -5 I L1 ,A , _ . !I-. C. 3 I -, .I ,,: c. 6 : I . -c:T.L . ! _+ w. Ha$wtiie: 2 sliding bolt hinges hold planes together;,Gaming me.mbers pre-drilled r ,i 0I - ?hen screwed togetherwith No. 6 2%: w.ood screws. i D Zl r I 1Oi,O?O BTUsper day. .. Heatingcapability *for.H::ome: InNew Mexico, approximattiy , *.. ,-I
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EM ~~~cl&llings projec.tis_an m~nortant one. When thi data,are colllpife,d and evaluate-d .we wili have an accurate ac:c,ounting of th%eperformance nofivarious pas+ve systems ~ , '. built in the &me microclimatic area of identi4al materials. Perhaps more &portnntly,:&]~e Pro&t will demonstrate with hard data that low,$ost energys)rstenls built, of indiger;ous / B II maverials are a vlable~alterhative to plug-,in high technoho,$+cal component systems. _ -. .-.
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Warm a,ir::from the greenhouse rises into the room Ahile coo! roomair sinks to be heated. ( Heat c the walls ;nd, floor is dug 2% the ground to increase
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A . ,. . ,-<. of Agricult&e -... ::a -I +. , a : T ft.s good to kn.ow* that -the resources;of :the Ai;;erical~~~g~veil;rne~~~ becoming comare mitted to more.energy efficie~~&reenhouses. kobert C. LiG. and (;erald &Carlson designed _ ,,, ?,&I unit sho.+vn $Figure 83. An e$cerpt from their-paper on th; subject follows:< / 1$ .s& *. \ A solar greenhouse must-include a soiar collector, a St&age system,\, ,. 1 and a distributingsys??e-m. It is our concept that, fixed, south-facing \~ : collectors would odcupya position on the roof of the head-house, % 7 * c side the greenhouse. or the north inside wall of the greenhouse. Placing \\ the collectors inside the greenhouse should decrease heat loss from *l , the collectors and ma&ncreasetheir efficiency. The. prote&ion. I!) eol il., -lectbrs that-would be provided by the greenhouse roof, in addltron to I- * ( ?., - a possible increase, in their-efficiency inside theYgreenhouse, could,lead 1 I , . - G to .the development, of a.lo$%ost, unglazed bilector that could be 1 .< used year round for both cooling and heating. Actually,.the whole ,; gr;enhouse structure is a- collector, and tl?e. excess trapp$ energy i , / I . 1L ._ +&, shoul$be stored and reused. ,, , *I :, United States Departmgnt .
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! SlGetcll of g.,proposed; new con&pt for m +iizing, / . - soi.ar .eneryy use in a gre,ennl&use. 2i/ - _ ,i _. _ I, ., / ,y.,. .B.: $ .y , */ * . / g is,/ . FIS;URE 83 ! Tk$ y.., ,.>> .a. 119. / D 1 L . _ , : i
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The design utilizesboth hot air and hot water. The hot water collectoi,wlrich, c&Id. . >;--+., .2; co&is< simply of~bla~~~~~~ly&thylkne with a trickle and trough gutterbk;ow, is bein$trieUd _1 many of tl1.elarger i&earch in$titutigns. by i This design is more comphchted than f-he pBssiveaa,pproacl; we advocate, b;t it is like- .-). P ly to f be:.htil&ed in large, completely controlled greenhouse- environments: A: full report. . 2. ,_ , of Drs;Liu andiCarlsons ongoing work can be obtained by writing t.o: United States De.-. partment of Agriculture:, Agricultural Research Service, Northeastern Region, Beltsville, :: ./* . \ . Mary&d yfjiO5. + . .~ _ h y>-b;;cse.Y~. : _, . .:* 7 _ C . \; 5 > r# ( ; I I_ hi 4 .i, c . i e ,r e ^ I , /i j.,. . .. I .. .D. : ,: a, -1 ~-_~ ,,I / . : . h. .! : d , ( -. _.. . Tw &he New Alchemy Institute _ . 1 .. , ,: .I .:, a _ I& ? ; The N& Alchemy Institute was->oriped in 1969to co++ifront future sur.?/ival problenis -. ;...r on our planet and. to develop alternative technological so.lutions to them, Tile organi ioi? .y , LZ /;, i concen&tted its research ori solar heated .growing structures and the-design: of complex:!, ,i - 1~aS P? - 7 ecosystems. .The institute is perhaps best. knoyn forits pioneering wo$t in the,fi&l of , j * * . ,. I 0- -,I j, - . * , VP*i . 1 :a -*+ aqu,ay~tura. aI,.I ,_ . I _. ,:f %. ,I Ik. i i , ,4, _. # ;y ., *,* / > .. r . ; * .. I t . <, 4 p.: r_,,..it -,:&newpr&ict &at NFw,AI$herji; is cur&ntl y~w~rking~ on is .fh,edesign and c,on&ruc~on~. .!I ,y * d . l, ,J ; i., 1 ! fiinctionas.a food~a~d-eskrsy-pr.~~.~~~~ re&&-ci ,, ,, ;.. ,<. [:i ?. e.r9 ,: ,~f~~s~lf-ao,~~ai~?~il.strfrc&e* that$Il b p *- I*, !I t, J., , ! , , ; 1 !,Ce,nt& (see -F+&re 84): ,Located in?Cana&a,- the Afk::wi1-l: integrate fibI+raising&. Alar: ., r ? ; . . -2~&[ ponds with a large$reenhou$ runr&ng the length ofthi structuie. The fac;lity will be heat.: . .b :, ., :ed by the gre%house and $00 skuare feet, o,f .&lar. collectors employing a rg.ck. storage sys-I,-. .:+ f tem. Electrical power for the facility w.ifl be,_suyplied by newly designed wind generators. :,, .1, *. _- -.--. -.-... --i -. Another interesting designby John Todd ofN.A.1. conlbines;fe_atures of thepi-tgreen1 _ :...- :- house in al radical approach to solving the heat* gain/loss probIe&.- Todd designedbit as a _ -: c ~~ fiih p0,n.d and-Peter Van Dresser adapted it to. a pit greenhouse. Only the south face would tj , 1 .fL\ \. . :: .- be cl&ii-, with the rest-,o.f,$he structure, including the rdQf,covered by an insulating-earth !--y* ;. . (. berm.. All inter~~r~urfaEeswould be ~e~7ective.,The be&~ty of this design 35 that .tl;e major * .1 . %j, -*. ~, _ stabilized adobes, rough tim:bers, tin foil, and &cycled glass, the unit..could ., i ---zing , : be built for j0 cents per Square foot or less. Thetnly possible drawbackI,see is that ce,r- . tain plants, such as tomatoes, cucumbers and beans, wo~l~btock-sbn7s-l.i~h-t fr m the crucial . _ Y 7 ., side wall reflective surfaces. However, protier plant location and moveable interiorreflet; tors might solve this problem. I think the idea has appeal, part . = rly in low light,-extreme= . .- 4-I~ p..?.ly coldareas such as northern New Eng1an.d and the upper G Lakes region. I_-. . i * ,q ,: io; -et -- ~.~-~~ 1. ,...,.;,- -- The New-i%Ichemymi%t.e . ugly iti research into I& -+ is providing a vital service .d .. :? L ,dl&$al,Iq so&d solid states. N.A.1; is supporteh byprivate foundations-and contributions; .* . ? :($25 or more ent.itles you t-o their.annual journal,a very worthwhile publication thaire-, , views New Alchemys continuing work. The jqxrialsc& alsobe ordere,d.f&om: Bgx 432, a 9. b I. A+ ~ ---Woods,H~~~~~h~setts 02543 (Volume 1 is $4;V$umes,2, or 3, $63. /. . t. .-I . _,j, ,a -- T I . -* 1 :i: v -. . 126 -,.:.\ ?._ .. rd .= *.* ; \ A I A c i -_ .a, r % iv* Y. ,
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Sol& Collection: 700 kcj. ft; of greenhouse glhzing dxposed ~CIsoutllein sky. Storage: 118 yard ro$k stokage behind greenhouse and- 19,QOO gallon\ light traiisparept warril water fish cult&, facility. , Emergency Heat: RhistancCcoil; ,in air ducts. \ mI kesidential Heating and St,orage ,: Solar qollection: 8.50 s;l. ft., flat plate water, seledtive black. StorBge: 2 1.OOOg$lon tanks under ,jiving room. Distributiofi: Fan coils Supplemen.tal: Woodstove and hydrowind power plant * ..-.. . * . _ _.. _____ .L I Research Eaboratbry 1
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1:~ This research center is concentrating 0112. _ d evelopment of integrated systems that prqvide power, water and food. Staff members at the laboratory are experimenting with aqua&l&ire and vegetabfe production within polye@ylehe-covered greenl~,ouse-s.Plastic, lined tanks contain shyimp that feed on organisms living among water hyacinths in the . pond (Figure 85 j. 5 . 5. ---c+ 1 -4, .* : .. 121 e4 >. 0 I
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. secondary projccl that is bei~i& developrd is an k sulating greknliou%? I Cover sinlilar to the Beadwall@ that injects liqujd foam between the pIAttic layers at,Cght I . 1 ., 1 /(see Figurt S6). _ ,! Anot;lxr facilitlt create; 43; ~hc Environmental Kcsearih Lalsoratory ;xl;laliids the eco- .. .I ;qrsttm apiroach to include dehlination ofsca wllYer.aI!dnutrie11t preparatioqfor the greenP !KILIS~ use: This ambitious project is being carried oilt in coll&boratio:n with $\le Unhrsity _~- ~lti 6f,xSoq.,gra and is locate -at Puert&Pcliasco. Mexico*(Figure 87). c this &gig:,, waste I!eal, a3 YI\*> I \ i j, . _ ? .a* c
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I.. from engine-driven electric grnerators _. ~. __-is used to desalt the sea-water. The fresh water is ._-.. -&ol? ni j tn vpgerahies willtin controlled-rnvir,nment gree&bLises ofFu;Fqiyiic?fed plastic. r-Pf L The researchers state: 4, c ..-_ ~~- I_ * ; The concept is ak-plicable~to vast regions where almost notliigg grp,and where desalted water remains prohibitively expensive foi open-, P : field agriculture...The prjncifial advantage of the concept for arid regions is extreme conservation of water. Moisture lost from field crops, by evaporation I nd transpiration, is enormous, of course. In a closed system this tiois ure can be .Captured. Estimates Are that a plant within r sticli a sealed-in environment uses only about 4 tenth as much water 1 , as it wouldneed outdoors.
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The long range.poten tial for this _I kindY,of facility is fantastic. The Envirohm~ntal Research Labora* tory is presently directing construction 6f4heir first large Scale instal\lation in the Arabian Peninsula SI@ikdom of Abu Dhabi. ._ _~_ ..~ &atelb, the Lab has been putting a gr&at deal of brainpower into
features their\ClearView collector on the south &tical face and the FIGURE 88 liquid foam insulation in the arGI1: 1^ ed inhtable roof: The ducfivork shown in the photo, is for demonstr;ltioll and t!ducation and would not be visible in a residentigl hpplication.
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4 f> @ear C:re& Thurlder/PragtreeFa;111/Ecotope μ , 6 5 ,I (I .,. .* f ,F ; 2 ./,, : JJ j I arti combinin~.thework of these three groub>.bec&se th,ey have done a tremendoL~s i am@nt of interrelated research in the Pacific North~~est. For tnstance, take a look ;Pt the. I . , p<hbolic north walled greenhouse shown here. It is~~~~,Psipned preciseiy for its geognph._ r _ t 4 .,
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ical area. a location noted foi- fog- 1 $y 3Ild c1011dy. but mild. winters. heated/aquaculture The solar greenliousr~ is located at Pragtree Farm (See-Figure 90). Howard Reichmuth * and Jeffrey Barnes did the engineering and design work on the structure. From Reic!lmu ths detailed paper on the desc iption and analysis if the system we find: ~ A passive sdlar heated aq&culture/greenhouse complex hasbecn -- built--40 miltis -norrh of Seattle.which collects and stores solar eiiergy by reflection fr.om interior surfaces into a massive ~erior . tl+lermal storage pool. Analy& jndicates that such a scheme orfers high coLlection efficiencjes through I& aperature temperature even for the case of relatively low qualit)/ reflectorswith e= .5 (reflectivity of nbrth wall). T (Iii the region )...a solar cl-i&y collection Yystem with a very IOw aprratui+ temperature.nppl-oxiniately rdoiii-tem~~erature. can operate iFIGURE 90 efficiently enough to provide up c to 1007; of the space heating needs. Ideaily such a low system sl~o~~ld bc passive. since an active syste,m,cnllectinp At would require high fluid pumlii$ rates, consuming able amount iit: energy for the energy collected. / /--
- --Besides aro,~l~rel~e~~~i~e~:d~si.gI~~.~nnlvsis int~~~~~~.;l~.ii-iids~erull~~ng ments about tllepTiilbsophy~l7lat~Fufdes Bear Creek Thunders endeavors: The intentioil in this project llas been to devise a long lasting building giving a premium to the simplest component choices, eve11 if these component choices call for an adaptation intlie ~192o-f thc.structilrr. Figuring out how to use the struct!lre is a la&e part oc t,he creative I il endeavor. -:
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A low storage tr:nperaturL. high thermal mass, passive building using interior rtflec_tion is a -productive approach to solar space heating in the Northwest. Such a structure-can be built durably and economically ,L .A . 4 J, 125 .J ( t :_. f ,
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sin& the en1nponents 01 tllp colle,ction system are also the buildins ( components and gxrate 17t low temperatures, avoiding degraclafion r dur to high temperatL~re;t,liLrtiial cycling,.as in a roof or 3 solar collector. Our t!xpericnce oftliis buildi1ry duri1;g Con~tructiR)n sL1-ggests that , solar heating wIticli~involv& lettins the light jnside tlic structyre is v$ry . dramatii and spiritually interesting. If we areqentering a solar ngr, then c3 it is appropriate that it a2iualIy feel-:ljke &solar a@. - _ . c ~~ov,~ar&told s~~i~that 4tlle,.only tl;Tg theyve found so far that they migllt l1ave done differently is 1iot;use the expensive R-,0 insulation around the base of the strhcturr and I_ the fishtank. .Evidently, the heat loss to the gopnd i1i this locatiol! .doesnt justify its ~1st. ,Allother design is the ~I~ornl~o-C~~be Oct$h~dron shos\in hex. Ken Smitll.of Ecotopc ._
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writes: Its a sea<onal gree1ihouse (April-October) producing crops of Talr;pia grown from -spawned fries. The greenhouse is fir pole covered wjtll fvlonsanto*hO7; the tank a Sears 3000 gallon ( 17 diheter x 3 d&p) vinyl pool liner. It contains 80 adult fish with an esternal filter system using a l/ 12th IlqrSe power pwjip. , i Yet another design being built is the solar greenl$use for a ju11,ior hi&:school. The I unique feature of this unit istlie 300 eleven-inch cubic polyethylene clear plastic water bags hacked directl?, behind thesouth vertical window. You can tell from this brief sbpling the quantity, quality and:direction ~. of-this work. They are nonprofit research groups and arent exactly-fat. If you tvrite tlzemlf&@xma1 126 .
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tjon, .be sure to* en@bse a self addr.essed stimped envel,ope cxry6u qont get &..ans,wer. Better yet, send them a donation and put your money to good use (thats niy sugge& and 1 ..=+i.~, F , I. .*.. .was3ever in&tioned, by tpefi)- _.. - .I . ~ *. ,,Bear Creek- Thunder, P-0: .Box 1799, Ashland, Oregop 975!20;? + , . !@. .. - -:: \ Ecotope Gr&p: 747. 16th East, Seattle, Washington -981 12 r * * b. 0 : * *, , Q: ,. .$ ;;8 _____ , ; I * r : Descrjptioh an$ $-ralysis- df a Novel Pas?ive solar Heated Aqua--: : --I Reichmu tl?s paper, \, culturefireenhouie Co@plex near Washington, is published in Voldme 10 of &he : . __.-*I I& + -% , y {he$$er&an Sect:onof tle Internatiori\a!,!$?lar Sharing~the Sun! proceedings, publishid . (I .- j_ .* * . .* - -* -Energy - -.* .* I- . . c ,.-* * ..a ,. _. \ . I *. , * + I : ,.J ., .. . ,, , n * , ,mai Research. How&g Unit, kitid Stat&s B!f 1 . . b (2 sity _*, - 0 a . a f$
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L .x I 1 Development Adfilinistration: <.;, -7 __. I : i r> c . .7 . F .. ,* I ._. _ t . The concepts sllown were evaluated %y a multidiscipJinary team, ini--. . &ding engineers,architects, <nd horticultUrist& [The final design] . . . . .eK-Yutilizes only the greenhouse asa solar collector and a rock storage sys :! : t6m. The [first prototype] . ..is+un.ique in that ,it h& a,roof-top solar 4 /t coliector sewing both greenll-c-use and reside#~e.Jreheated air frh :=* -,a i the gr&nhouse p&seS thyough,+the roof-top solar collector before going i into the tiid&flaor rock-slorage-system,or directly into the house. In F rn i some areas, a greenhouse$ized for the familys food needs may bel6o .I: L small to significantly re$ce thg, heating load. With this design; the 8. 5, - : &ze of the r&f-t&p colle0r dan be adjusted to local heating reguiye: I-, ._._1 ;: . 8 _ ,.: .D * i i . the dut-, Quring the-&mmerl t-he ~reen!louse_is-sliaded and v&t? . _.,. side for co6ling. Convecti6n airmovenient throu&i tp . will draw air <from the gr&nhouse a.t a r?te of-one-half per 110~~.This air is hischa&ged tl ough attic vents that -& . --in the summer.: .d ; -_._ . 1. The house will bscooled n&zt&ally during the . the rock at night and cir-ul&ing warm house 6 -. during the daytime. This shotild be -at . 22 L .A ?. r iri all locations wherk summernight degrees lower than day temp&atur&. . *+ * a ,_r ,qJ .i( 117~ . r -; . iY ** * ,I. * 1 a 4 d,. I : ...,, .& , Ll, ,z-.. z w B .
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. Residkncc: * * Three bedrooqs. four qccupants. 1,336,~~q. ft. floor area. lO,i,SX it.3 . heated space, occupied 50% of the time, &re-l;alf air exchange per hour. Interior Temperature: 1 Winter 65OF Symi-ney 75oF Interior r2lative hutiidity: Winter;60%j Summer 70% , j Averageqccu-,lilan~,~O~ inpilt: 2 fY3/hr (toial) @ e-3 Average occtipant 0-rdemand: 3 ft3/hr (total) jl c .. . ,-4 : I 1 LSolar Collector: I * 2 520 ft2.. Lberage daily efficielicy of 40% (Based on sts by Rurai g ..,. ., n I Ho:usingRes:u-cl1 Unit, Clemson, S.C.) ; - , * . Average surface tympera.turr: Winter 120oF, 9*hr., rnq imuh 1,4dok \Summer 140F, 13 hr., irilaximum 180*F , DesiguGd rat& qf airflow through collector during winter operation are affoni 2 to-3 ft3jrnin/ft of surface. r , Summer convection flow tlirough solar air- cpllection, Gtk 8.SJaft.2 r, , opening and 120F average ternppature will be about 200 ft/min or 1,700 ft3/min d * t . : Rock Storage: I F . 1,ZbO ft3 of clean,railroad ballast (3 in. minus) , . + : Weight : .94 lb/ft3
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-, Heat-capacity: Static pressure \ 8 type. I. I. . j320F: , , Average winter tern&&at&e: If * . I Average summe: temperature:,.._ .XDF, 3 : Average stored ,win,t& .h,&at: 387,600~ BTU (15/s days storage @ 404 . L . , . out$ide) . +verage.stored summkrcodling: -1ld,oOO,BTU (-I day cooling stobagk, i, . . , - heat loss to .ground:.2,560 BTo/hr .br 6 1,440 BTU-/day (bz$ed by 4 ,a r. -, BTU/hrJft2 loss) RGck storage tests by Rural . ( L , ,Housing Reseztrch Uhit, Flemson, S.C. .* . \ . . * u. . . .a
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. I. \ Heat loss by itiiltration: Assume,,lO% in cindtictioli loss ) Ventilation for coG1ing; Win++-one-half air excl>ange perminutk e -. I . Summer-one-half air exchange per minute _Shading: 30% in summer \ * * e, 55OF, nraxrmiim P$F (auxil r . Interior.tempe&+ture,: Winter-hinimu.ni I -: ., .:-. ,. , :e ,. i&y cooling, c&&d with watqmist) , . ..\_ , * > t I $u&er-minim;m . - ,,_ ;-. 7gE; r&&mu& i 05F ,I @ i 1,. -.,. .. _ .:(g$lia&$?&?g, cdoled with wat& miStIll . , ~, , _[. +.;; -, r . t. .,=, .r . ~~,3 Relati~,ltb~~.~~;y, j&$aiy-aaerage7.0%, maxi&&n Pp,70 r -,<- I -. i (1 , #I , - ,I My--aver&e 70%, riiaximum 100% ,I> .. , z . . Maximum lye@ ot&solation: jahua$--9, July-- 13 r lnsalationrate: ,&&tie 60%absorption of available insolation Note: Relativdhumidity in whiter-in both the greenhouse and resi; * ~ . dence &ill be controlled by condensation ,on the greenhouse - , . I 8. .single gIaq ext&iof_.W!!en thYtijnterior temperature is- 9Or. . .- , ab ove the+zxterior -teqperattiie,-a- 90% relative-humidity can . $e maintained. A,1 OJ$rise.in temperature,is usually &Giate&:. .-- = c .. /--I , wiili aboLl{*a Z%droi, in .relative humidity. Therefore, if the 3 ~reenh@e is at 55OF and 90% relatiG> humidity, the hbuse y 0 %at 6.5-OFw.ouI,d be maintained:at about 70%*relative humidity, P . the-average for jai;iry. - -__ : ; In the sugmer, relativk humid@ and t&nperature in the,een_ - ,i.. . r house will I;e controlled- by ventilating all air directlyoutside /. 1 se, - :;*.3 throu& the sQlar colleCtor. Ai ventilatidn rat& of one-half air.. . . . exchange per$ninu&-associate~ with 50% shading shbuld main; - . c _ mperqttireiof 5oF over the exterior temptain <maximurn 1.. : a &a&&e, pr 105Of d&ing the hottest (lOOoF) day. A water ,: . / \ 4. mist should be use,dfor additiol;al cabling. . 9 I.i \ -T. c I1 L .% ff .,$ : I =.._ The paper concludes ljj stating: I _ - / , -,% : i I I .i i 4 f / Base: $$1976 co&, familiei, wiih annual incom*ei.$etween $8,000 2 :: . - .: ~ * and S lQ,.OOO E wodld savetab?ut$360 in foo&;osts sod $34Oin heating, . 4 L J ;*. x costs. These fafli& wobld als0 .be helpiQg tb stretch the,worlds su$% ; ply of fuel and fpod. , ,: .1 _ :I .* . r .- 9 ,.. , , . ,!. -.. __ 1 . * y.fL&) WY-m; +:.;- - ir --: I _I * e * _ * -r a Y ,4*. -61 .* ( I< - ._ -* ._, -! , -_ _ ,? C t J 1 J ,?
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- I. \ . Zomewor~s and its bresident, Steve Back,, I~eednb~ntrod~ction .a; inl>ovators in the 1 . fiel$ of solar en:rgy. Three af tl~is,compq~y$\developments llave,important applicatidns.. 1~ _:,,, -_ *,$ I. a to solar greGhouses. ,* *, . \ <fZ / *. + ..a .
Ti~e~Bea~~~~~~~~systell;sccn iq the Monte Vista greenlibuse&s.,a, c .~z~fnpleted : in 1973 (see l+uYe $%9<.. ,was invente$ +!$ QLivid It _ Hariison of Zomewoyks and solves -G-, (. ,the tridky probleyn of how to cbR;l . ,,bi*;e movable insulatj;n hci ighttransmitting cliar surfices. .In -th!s~:i f _ ! ?~~ste4i,ins~lating sty,rgf&& gAehds .
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able 41evels. In h-5 mornhg, *or - 1 when- temperatu*eS rise, a photo: cell switcll tells the motqrs to &aFIGURE 33 cuate @he cavity and the beads are) sucked back into their storage .cbntainers. .Ive see&n Dave get a sta~btlin~ ovation frofn audi0 .g eqces at solar conferences wl~~n+e wasdemonstrating this device. The Mhte Vista,,greenhouse was one of the first .applications of Beadwall@ ald used zix vacuums cJeane,r motors : ~ and stbrage bins to acc.ommodate, the. beids. Besides greenhouse ag&catiowhis system canbe retrofitted or newly installed. in home windows to niaximize direct.g&n and almost L _ eiiminat$-.heat losses. * , I., ^ I., , . Ni_ehtwall~ is a poor man~ Beadwall? in whi.Qq%;l supply tile motive power to . 4 m&e insulating panels. -They are simply rigid styiene or Styrofoam sheet$~that are cut to _ fit the exact dimension? of a window or greenhouse clear wall.-Zomework,.$ >uppli,es magr . netic strips*wifh sticky, backs, small metal contacts to attract the magnkts al;d an instruc- , tion sheet to help you put:it t@ether. When the magneQ are attached to-Qe,,perimeter.pf 1. -..,,the window and thetAmetal strips. are.,adhered to the styyofo?y-panel, $e magneti,c forbe _ at YOLK the iWil,l,tightly bond the insulation . to the wiiitl-ow \,, night. _ .ren?oFe the panels in ,. morn7:. I _ j,, .? * .. -. -2 .- 1-q s 1. .,--+= \. , . .-.9__ ;i .-* . .. . c 3, < ~\ ; i :\_ , . . .__ .5 : c. .-_ . I 1 J , .: -4 130 _L r -_s 5 . . .7 , -I E
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. ing for transmission of light and direct gain. As tlie~cleur areas in*.a greenlioL!se are tl1e,.major~ sources of lieat loss in the structure, they are prime candidates f&r Nightwall@ in&taliHtion. The @id panels could also do double duty as reflectors behind plant beds dqing the day. I tried a Nigl1twall@application in the Voute greenllouse. It didl;.t work too well but that was my fault. not the-products. I didnt put enougl1 magnetic strips around~theyei-imeter . and I applied it to a ne&ly horizontal ceiling surface. Nightwall @ wl!l wc&k,~wellon a vertical or almost vertical surface in a greenhduse. Zomeworks also supplies a chart to shbw you how many BTUs the kigl1 t\~~ll@?can. save 011 standard siied windo& in varioug-parts ,of the country. Its amazing, wl1a.t these simple applications &II do for you. ;a ~ \ .xJ ! * A third Zomeworks product .&a* . 0 \ .witli gfeenhouse potential is IT~kylid~. Its a device that ~1st~ cbunrerbalanr;ed weights i and freon containers to open high vents or skJ,ligli ts. Steve uses Skvlid in hii ,home and m / .grrenhouse. Six sk-ylids operate 340 square feet of insulated lo&es to prevel;t heat loss. Ba8ers gret!nllouse also has six , 30-gallon [email protected] tl1el;nial . stohge and 30 tons of rocl?s. This greenlloLuse .is a single: glaz.Ted! structure and 11~sheld 32-deei-ee i;inimums in 5 dcgree. outdoor lows. Baeris also using Skylid mrclt;lnisms aiyasshe trackers for concentrating collectors. ( FiyLire 94) These active and passive iillprovements provide important options for the solar greenliouse :o@er. As we-&ted in Cllapte~ ! FIC+URE V, tl16 beiinner might consider . 94
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the simpler passive approach first. It yoh.do want--one of the more conipI~x activesystenis, Zomeworks is definitely the place to goLt$r it. They also sell plans for breach boxwater .i heaters. F,or more information. wriie ho: :Zomcworks; P.0. Box 7 ?2; Albuquerque, New q., y. -Mexico 87 103 0 i
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prppriate for..your are& and conditiolx. For more information on the Solar Garden (TM) structures, write tp: Solar T@chnolog~ Corporation , l 2 160 Clay-UStreet; Denver Colorado , ; 80211. * . 1 6 L ,i _ aQ I j>, .\8 */ I Helion
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*\ yo~{ng, but cxperienced,i,nn$at&s in tnulti:disc,ipl s of alteniate der of thejcompany,U Jack Park,ois assist?d by Ken Johnson, a chemical primary field is wind-powered generators and they have of Kedco (an aircraft components company) high i line of solar water heaters with accessories and an Energy Source Analyzer which gives a site survey.$ith completely integrated. outputs of wind and solar energy. Naturally, they needed a solar greenhouse to rounhout theirefforts. The greenhouse pictured here is a .first generation prototype. it was buigt over, I
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.+L._,a--- -*- :- --i-------a* Sacks syimtiing pool, ihi& og,lygoes to sliow the type\ &char&& we all-io throu&. . / ..v * ,, . The idea&as to utilizethe deep&d fo,r a cop1 a$r source as well& $fo$cellar: The frame over the PO&) was cqyeied with plywob& and tar paperedfor waterproofing p.urpbses. T&e*; _ * large front 4indo.w faces t&e southa.nd has ari incliAe,of 60. ,The iqnernorth side of the - . A 3 die greenhouse is p$nted.whi;e to reflect light and allsides except the do&- insulitiif; iifh .I /a R-l 1 fiberglas batts. Only on; 55 gallon drum was i~stal~e~d-bec8us_ofthe.YYeight.f~~r~on __ - .. * Q.e light pool cover@? panels. I Ke$ Johnsons e&l,anation f:llows: ,,z 0 -TSt, . : ,-\1 .P > The next&p:was-to &gin pl&ting. Jack, instigated this.work in Feb; (L b r L 1 r&try starti& wtill\lettutie, t.d;na-toes, cucumbers and cantaloupes. On I I. , the lettuce and tomatpes, an experititint Gas performed. In some cans 1 of lettuce a?d tomatoei wasused as tie grqwingmedium. In other i * .x , j cans-of the s&e a h)dropoqic gravel was used as the grow-, leachate was us&d as a nutrient solution for: ., . * I,. , _. 2. occuired during the experimenta- v ,,A & : 1 .=c . R :I.. \ -,-.* wedo still . B ,-x.7 - 4 4 .. aventilatioli-cpr+oblem and pur next improvement to this green*z= ._ I is tb insfallla robf top wind.turbiQe to see if this will helpdraiv ; I_ c _--.r&gh. a-t. aqil%ker ra,te. If this f$ls, our last resort wiil be to , -. * iL=ins.tall,a small bat1~;bon-i f$n at the .top of the greenhotise inside, enI *,., .a closed. in a plenum chamber. During the da) tat: fan would pull pre\. heated airtipdto &k top oi:the ggeenhous,e, pus it do.wn between the 1 b - dquble gljz-d$ndbws$,intG a-&d of rocks, a heat sjnk, @henexit.ybut -: *; :5 ; _ - . . -.._ 1 to t;he atmospiiere. i . , I I _ -. -+I? -.* I 7. - :* . r - 3 ._ 3 1-..r G 1; additibn to those alteigtions, a shading lip protruding-oufabout 18 ,inches over the T r _- -I -*tdp h:& Been, added on &P help.. cohl-@e -unib:;The main recomhendation of Johnson and . , .; I.&irk is todeave yours~i~ming $&ifor syimming and &It your greenhouse on so!id ground. - .:i . vi& fhe br&power atHelioi1 yqw,G&e be sure that any manh?&ured greenhous< : * -- a plans would have,:the kiqksi&n@ out: W&e the& for informafion: Heli&~-l%%-4~(%, ,.- : e* -* , , Silmar, C.+ 9 1342. . F , .& .h __ .. &. >I$, .j.:y4 . ; , ..,<+*; .. ?1 :-I .3 I - $4 r .* . . > *i*. .. , J 1 . ; . -1 . ._, 5* * .: - ;.: ./ ,. . * .. I h * . .e .e- I ..-! . I :, L . r 1 . - . 4 . I ; i . A . . ..c The Vkgetable Factory :, pii .-Y. P .d i* : ..+&T *_ .yII * I , * I_ .; /-*-- _* The- Veietable Factory isYin*the busiriess of manufac&ng .rf f tl~erm~lly efficieni prefab . _ /. =-+ geenhocses. They r&ke both freestanding-and Iean&A$d.els. You assemble ~li~&ti~s . m._ a,t home? E@$I Ihe@ iiter8ture... Takes t~~~uh8nd~~~dults just,.four td s& hotirs to as! . ,-. I 6 ..I . > . I > . & < Y .--- :-I34 *, **y ___I_ ~ - . a: ._ (.I ;. ** =., ~(jl ; 1. _ _~~~__~-V-L -rT%- +- ~~ -: _-._1 ------_--+---. . c. > i ,: - . : .i. ,. ) 2 $m _ : > = *+. ( s 8 -1.._ 7 - . ; :9 L -*
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semble. Takeinb.experience. Only ascrewdriver and d~~~.are~eded.:....For tio{i-desiring $tal window-clear transparency ~JIspecific areas, a dquble w*all GE Lexaq@ p&G is avaii- . * . .. - (,,\ 1 _able.: i 13 * The company &one extensive testing tinTtheir double fiberglais-aciyl ..-P ,dati in,dicate: ia I., . ** m , _ ._~.-~.- -5 -. I,I _ .~
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. -. . Bgsicaily, &a.$, as >thertial*batrier, is not very. _effi&n?. In sict;al practice, a single yane of l/8 glass, the +thickness typicallytisCdin. : ;r . greenhouses, conducts 36% more BTUs than a singlepane o$ the ,glaz- C .ing usedin tti? Vtigetable Factory pan@. The Vegetable Fact$y wall panel,s are 249% more effective a instlatdrs thansbqe .&me1 glass.. .:.- .--_:I . -L They are 145% more efficient than double-insulating gpss, th,e recog- if; i nized Standafd in energy coriserving glazing. The anrftial difference-in *\ * .._. . fuel ,hea@g c&ts for a Vegetable Factory are *ported, to be l/3 to .-* -. AL> Y-e:, l/5 the cos& of conventional single pane hou&&~ ielative to climatic ;= ( 5. . area:conditibns and type bf coiistruction., . j ..~i.. ,-r,, . . . . . : * Vegetable Factorys patented houble--wall..constructioti is .2 rigid panes--... m?G . pernianently-bonded on analuminum I-b+Lamgrid?f&r &$aratipn w&g , -5; - . -1 creates a i$.j$e+&air space b@+en the layers or fiberglass. This ,sub_. -. ,.. 1: * -2 ! . stantklly. r$&ces the heat loss noimally~~xperieJj~~~ln . green,i!ouses. . _.- /-. \ -! _ ,A._-- . i ,. ,.; ,I . - ,//I ,. 4 The d,o_uble-wall fiberglass panels are veri light in&wqigit @a& lay;; *, 2 lb,:per sq. ft.) eliminating the need foi;ar$dl&r1 .;j
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ofs ,aqd side:), si&mded with klastic gasketry; eljtiinates most of the potentially expensive and leaky joihts of typical greenhouses. Very little of the aluminuIti structu,re is exposed, preventirig a great source of heat loss. \
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IS -T+heir cdmplete st;dy bf the \transmis&l chhracteristics of fiberglass/acrylic is oie of ~ , . . the best I have evkr seen. The insulating percentages are higher than usual. ,, -._ . Vegetable,Facto& c&mKis?on~d~GGar&n Way Laboratories of Verrrtont to inye,$tigate :--.- L .. .!^ the food produetign capabilities of the freestanding and lean-to model. I quote from th& % .:, c report,: . -: )d-1 * &-,e- 5.: , . _-- -._/ _ q I- Winter bush varieties ofsc~nash are universally pdor yielders, plus they, - cross-pollinate with summer squash,and zucchj!li. Thelatter two should I b ! .. Ifr ~-.-.----~- (~c ,. , be the plants of chpice. . ;-b Carrots are tbdihexp;nsive h&with. _ I, , .4 _~~ -~~-~ ._._, .-__ . Forgetabotit peas due to !heir rambling nature and,th,e;fac.t,that~~~leir 1 .7* . I L .$eld per foot of Space is ,pobr. ?. C .. .i * I Four-han&?g baskets of patio type,toma;oes will y,ieldI.byer a ridicu. __ , .._ lously long period and are hardier than inost standaid,.farieties. ; ___ 1. I , . : > _ .-~ * _. itt A . 1 o /The fiho&&~~h 0~ the.fbllowing ,p&e ,shows Garden Ways suggestedt$ock planting : : ,I ,.x&hod. This<-method in a 56 W x 12 L lean-& modelyi~l~s $245.64 $orthdf vegeta@& : . ;/ , : iri a yegr at +973 Ire&i! prices.
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Lately. the Veytable Factory bus been esplorin s the solar lieatin~ poten& of their , lean-to models. Tllt$ have an application on aprivate home in Nantucket. Massachusettk based in the same principtes x the lean-to designs in this book. For co:nplete literature and T-X pricing intormation. write Vegetable 1::ictory, Inc., 100 Court &wet. Copiague, Long Island. New iork 1 1726 . , k\ . ., Q I __._ .- 8; .~ =-;. * i! I - I1 1 .. .> i --4. . --\, .. * 7 5 -\ 136
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This is a young co*mpany withrbigplans. It is headed and founded-by Stephen Keninb, the president of-tl;e,TiQ; Solar Energy AssociationrKerijn is no newdomer to solar knergy ..+ applications. He hasi;worked for iomeworks and with Hamilton Migel, on his home (see .:- :... / page 94). Here is his hplanatioh of tlfe Solar Room: a, b : .r
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>, The Solar Ribrn is a,device that turns &e southern side of a home in- -1 ; ; ~_ JO a solar Beater. Made di. a special plas&, .a,Sblar Room can suppjy 1 -1 35% 65% of home space heatirig needs. With heat,storage and instila-+ * 1. -~ tion options its heating capacity is great1.y.increased. The Solai Room I, : is available-+-&Q-form and is- designed fo be an exterior room, seven i ,_ t-.a~- ~. Y A~.-; _ \- -~~-feet wide and as long as space permits; 20, 30 0.r 40 feet. The longer h : t .the Solar Room, the tiore heat is collected. 4. Iv Not only a heat collector, the Sdlar Roo~p is a versatile, inexpensive . i *. . - -addition to the home, costing only $2.50 to $3.50 per sduar;-foot of 1, .:Qoor space. It is a&airtight, thern!ally efficient space.and canserve&j _ m a a-greentiquse, a winter playroom for children or as B stmmm~ , f .. ;! ~___~ a- 1 _ ie3Tcoatv 2 _a I ieer. As a grienhousej the Solar Room is,an especially efficient space, -. .. providing wa&rrnth fgr the household and fr+ vegetables fy,r>he dinner .* _ :*; 4 \ .tabjti. In the Spriog tl!e-garden can be started early in the greenhousk , i -, and frandplante$outside when ,$anger of frost is pask ~.Lo fan The Solar Room is also a take-dowh: room. Be,qause df.its effectiveness as a heat collector it is not needed during w,arin. weather, and has ! been designed to take down during ,the sunimPr months. ThP i!liiial installation requires less tliatia days time, and after that rerti.ovil!g the r .... * : !_ 4.. Solar Rq~m in the Spring and puttilig it baFkra_gain in the Fallitakes only a few hours. When Got ih use, it takes up little storage space. I r 1. t \ The Sol+ koom kit is made p$$ble by the usk:of,an exotic I@ ilas *- tic that i resists the d.isinteg?aFin,z Aays-of the sun a#d thUs lasts for years add years, special aluminlln? extrusiond that hold the plastic in -. .. place. tfie best grade of c,l,ear heart redwood- that willgot. rotl.i&zon- . ~_-~ .. _ l. tact-wiirh ~the ground ot in bisture; and galvanized ribs that su$port I . -I rust. -The Solar Room is.G-._ -tire plastic skin ~arid will-n -7- i ,. I--: -,./ -- , which @:eans there are two laye_r_s_ofyjastiC witi~.insulaQng.tid~=+~ PI ! air: space in bYetween. It has &t&tbdd.winds pver 5;O miles,peI:hour. _. . . /
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, A I$0 foot lorig unit costs about $500 and-has&ottecCor area of about 330, square feet, a heating potential that is conservatively in tlie mill. , F. lions of BTUs per heatingseason. It has been estimated by the Cos AlamosScient,&ic Laboratory that aAlar collector of 330 squ$re,feet ,., * A % _ may supply -alf of the heating nqeds of a 1,000 square foot house in this locale. However, in order to be conzervative in the heat Cating of 8 Dur Solar Rbom. we claim that it will supply~50%$f The hehting needs 1I -of such a house.. A %lar Room costs a fraction jof the price of any
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Th? inflatable polygreen hous% naturally, doesnt have the durability of a rigid fiberglass or glass house. However, it definitely has an initjial cost edge over any simil&y size> EJe-fab solar collector. If the owner takes good care of.the material and stores it in the summer it migllt go as long as five heating seasons before ieplacement of the inexpensive polyethylene. Thats far bqond the pay-off period. As amatter of~fac:, in some applicaF tions-lik6 mobile-homes (see photo below), the Solar Room Gould pay itself off in,.one Any ljome .I r heating period. (Tha{,s ignoring the food producing capabilities of dwner gettin; hit for SlSO to $200 a month heating bills (common in many areas) should __. ?. certainly investigate this system.
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Besides the.intlatable Solar Room, the company is also developing water hea$ers and 4. thermally -: designed window box greenhouses. Write them for more iriformation at,$ox 1377, iaos, New Mexico 87.57 I.%. (I
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j)- .Sun Path: The apparent (from our viewpoint) mo\pem&t of the sun through ti;e heavens. On buf charts, the sweeping~~tGV&t .-line%are the suns path on-the 2 1st or * 22ndUof each inlonth. -_ -.. I 2) Altitude: The height in d,$grees of the sun frgm a true liorikon. Alti$des are *; I shown dn the co&eiztric &cles at9O inf+&ls in the upper right ofih~c&ris. -1 -.. *. : 3) Azimuth: :The distance in .degrees east or west of, true soutp shown on the radii _ 1 --------..--I. ..___ _, of?he charts. . ~ 4) Time-of-day: The nearly vertical lines represent the so& (Itot ;fr%e zorie or day- , 4 m \ . li$t savings) times o,f day. They are,noted across tlYio.qp stn path fine. * \ h >* c ----.j ** :. \_ ; _ . t Here we go! 2 ,i \ \ : r I . \ .l )@Fi$Rlie cTlartniEsX@& latitude (Figures i 00 and 10 1 a> --._---36 fiorth lati- for .____-- -.----- - - ...-.-. .j ~ 1 i - tude.) .. i *_ L . 2) On a piece of graph paper?&aw a scale, mbdel of the floorplan of Sjdur,$reeni i house. . A size ofabout one half l?y one inch fits easily on the chart. Cut it oLt. you may w&t to; cut out &ale hraw&gs of your home andany.obstructions. To be accurate, all models i must be measured and positioned to the sanie scale. i __-__.x .-;? 3j _ &i.the~greenh,ouse model mark the junction of ill solid and clear walls. * 4) P~ZKXCX~;~ model 6n the chart. By using the azimuth angles, .position the model ?& ,,.*// * in its acmal orient&tion. In our example, the site is facjni true south sq the-model isparal, lel Q the 90 east-904 west azimuth line. Tlie greenhouse center s&uld be i.n the exact ,> - c&t,&? gf fhe, Chart. If you have included a house, trees or other.oFstructi&s orient them ,/ ? ._. 5 1 * :. !;.: 4. .- ~-: ____._.__.._ :134 4 - . I _ I c -.. . ,?
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:. . to scale and positio3;fhem on the chart. d- 1 * . -~~ _I 5) The first/objective is to.examine tlie durationtiof.sunli$ht fhegreenhouse,willre---I ~ ceive at.variousifme,<,of year. Choose a month and fol1owits.sur-r path, noting the number a _. J _, of hours theJn,odel is~receiving direct sunlight. Solid b abd ~thstructions will SW& de, serving the, hours ofshadi&will C. ZIP incoming li tat certain times of day (see Figure 106) 9% r( Pto;esign clear.and solid walls to best suit y ,p.articular location. * 6,~ Next, to determine any solar al.titude; find the point at which a chosen time-of-+: day line intersects the sun path line.Now find the nearest 2plnFrti~bircle and follow.it. around to the degree marking in the upper right. That? then-sAtitude. When youre @ ,, * - *I . 1 - 1.. - ( : between circles-estimatk. s, I_ . 7) T.o-.~~tter...visualizC the-angle df..~.coming,li~ht,,~lace the,. flat, edge of .a,protrac. I tor across the time-of-day/sun path intersection you.are studying wi& the,middle of.the t / protractor wer the cenferof the chart. Take F s,traight edge and connec&$te center of the ,,A .d c . protractor to the determined ,solar altitude angle onihe.edge,That% where the sun is at in,cr ,, > . yc : - // #.. that moment of time,(see Figure. 1013. . * . w . 23.) A side view of the greenhouse cut. out of paper is helpful in determining light , Q . -patterns -through clear roof areas and sides (Figure 101). By repositioning the sol,id]clear areas in the model, you should be able to get mBximum winter sunlight for your location * ? 9,; and also obtain some summer shading. i I 93 This same procedure can be:used for any solar application. 12
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-~- --$a -->,.. . * : The following list of papers indicates the ambyrit aiid variety of:iv,irk-taking place ;n :,.I. 6 F ----universities, institutions and private fi&s across thenation: llrjuch of $lieresearch &aimed . ~.,& . . r : . . at soIvi;fiig problkms fpr large commeicial growers.who make th~irirli~i~ng-v&thh,gr~enhouses. HoGeVer, ti;2,-wo~~is~.ci~P;l~~ibI~iIo, e;very greenho&? situation. Most of these papersare I j _ -- $hly technical-in nti&@e. and-youd be wasting.time and-resdurces ordering them unless :- ~.--~; _ *.-__ .- --.:.--. .-.- -- ~~ _--. -\,. .--.. youcan u%lerstand and use the data. - -: .I.. ,. Ive, trikd tq present the&in. emphasis of .the papers by qudting i or abstracts in order tb give:,.you an id& of what the papers about. In so a : , used diagrams from the publication. : Y.., / I. * - Many of the papeis were presented it th\e Solar I&erg&Fuel, and F?,od Worksho; , * ._ presented by the Env-ironmkntal Research Laboratdiy qf the University -of,irizona in coa / >. operation with the Energy Research and.DevelopmentAdministration-and theUnited States .I. :- . . Departm,ent of Agric$ure, c-61 gra$f%l to tie& .H.. Jensen for permission t?3-,quote from L ! *t ;-T-tlie proceedings o$,that -conference. The entire proceidings &re availadld fqr $,5.Od. Write __~~ . t.&&+h-iive;$t$of L Arjzrina, Tucson En~ir~pment~l R~$~?Q+ Labs; Tucsoli International: -. , .-.. ,?!i&o$ Tucson, Arizona:85796. PaEers froifi, that.Confere&z are,indicated by an aste!isk. : Ybr,,,., ,.\ _ -1 3 ,), When the%%%?iiB~ors, Ive liiied tJie first author on the. paper. ,- . \ .F . -- 4 . ~ ;>: x ;: *C . D;rell,e Baird and David R.,Meais, University ofFloiid(. Perjbm&tik o~?i~Hydrohic Solar R\ I0 u \\1x 5 Greelzhouse!Hea til@ .SJlsttvn itz Florida. 1. / \ -I !A full-scale gree ped with a complete solar I; plate solar collectors, an exte vection water-to-air heat excil ;%. ,collectip_n and greenhouse h -trG@s components and dl , the summary..for, systems f -----L.
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. __~~ --+ I thermal ma&. p&nds of thermal mass. 3) ~~l~~oub$ glazed, riorth-insulated unit with 1200 pour& of thermal mass. j/ I*'1 9 2 . Tests we!e done ti kite May. .__I _~~ .._.._. y*, . w --y.: x _* \ . .._ . :F I; *. 2.. .. .._. #
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-J ...Gre&house No. . either greenhouse -.: ,period .monitored,. -Q-k, 55oF., ionsidered acceptable for most plants ni.ghttime temperature., _ .B -r--:-----*- ,_ _-.. I- +. Secondly, the average temperature spread for this greenhou,sewas 6?1 I, ,.- :; I r -: , the .order of 20 - 3,0F v$ich~ is also acceptable. The. dnly t&e. iti I i ;Y which the thermal environment in,greenhouse N& 3 was unacceptable B -. /i _ ,*.I to eos$ plants was during a very synny day following a previously ny d?y. The fan and,fbermal mass-system was;na+le to keey! the2enlp&atu+es below .92OF and-in T&rose to,100 *or so. Under these conditions it- isafelt that. some vPnting must b&:incorporated to maintaili, !I + _I, t ~reasonable temperatures ifi- the gfeenhofse;. I /: . . _ -, ,-I,,, C b ;; i b -The paper aiso.contains a design sketch of .Grlen!louse No. 3, temperature.graph !: j 1 _ and data for;test period, an ecotiomic comparison cif different &signs and an uhderstand. p ; able sales pitch fo; Kalw,al?$dlar Battery Collector Tubes, the ti.ater filled filqeqglass rubes :\ Ln used in the experiment. - P Ya -~ , -% : < , :;.+ a .l. . : 1 . ,=Y*S6hn E. Groh. The! University :of Arizona. Liquid Foaln Irlslcliltiol7~SS!,stei?7sfor Green- ,,.I 9 c -houses., ! :. .; .., --L I .., i 2. _I. % 1 - . .YL&id foal; insulriiion is a method of reducing nighttime energy losSi ; o __ * _z = es from roofs of greenhouses; This system titiliqksa-liqilid-based foam . ;$ 1 insulation-material placed-at nigl!t b&ttieen.twolayei-s of polyethylene . in the roof of a greenhouse and hasqhe c%lculated potential of+-qducing _ the night heat losses by!.85%. Actual measurem&ts on a test gieen. I f .house have Qroduced overall savings of47%tiheq comparedt6 an .. _ +fdamed two-layered*polyeth$l&e greendloLrs5; _- .,- i ~- -, , 2 :< /1 I . ... W - -.. . / The system u?il@es a foam gengrato!- to bloti I-i&ap bubbletypc kim betwien a .i * ..a?r &flat<d .polyethyl~n~,_~~e~~igure 86, page .?22.) The &am is drained an<l recycled * i _I_-_---. --. ___$++++.rblYe~ burst. $0 far, the system, has beentiskd only <i are-+ where the hight$me. A-_-)-_. lows do not get below friezing. TM% method has large-scalp possibilitie?Z&e Sou.th in its. > s n &esen t stdge Zf dkvelop,tient. - : i ,,A :3 q\ 11 > . i . _ .@ ,.* i . -J : I : *h;erle H. Jensen &d Cail N. Hodges. The., University of Arizdna. Residential *,Corltr;oJ Utilizilzg a.Combilled Solar Collector Greeuhotrse.. -1 .. ;t . ., This pap& is an overview of a combination of pioj,ects at the Envirqnmental Research Labs and how they a$ply to their lrdme-greenhouse experiment. . _~ I I * I / @ / ...The integration and performance oFfour.&ncepts in environment- *. .. e al control aie -being evaluated: a Venetian blind solar collector (see ^ Peck, this.section and ,j, . ;. hkated or .cboled:air, 3 . : I -1 _ I, i % . =,,. Y _i - v* , ---- *..., ,> i . - :. 4,. is ,A,( 7 -,____._- --s? ;j .I.- _-~
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Table l-Selected.Gultivars .,.. ...--- %;e@bles Pkpper Lettuce 7hEivar Christmas Pepper New Ace , Dutch type Summer Bibb Salad Bowl Patio ,I,~, _ Tiny.~~r, Small Fry Egglant &&rib&:-~~ Spin&h
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Environmental ReseBrch . . i Laboratory. . p;,. I . * , -. .Herbs . ,. 3.r * -* . Annuals-and Assorted G~~~~~~lj~~l$&ii, Inc. - . -. . , j *a 7 Perennials 9 \r . . r I . George Ball Pacific, Inc., Box 905>, Sutinyvale;-CA 94088 . :Ls-d , ?. Takii and Co., Ltd., Umekoji-Inokuma. P.0. Bo,x 309 1 (Kyoto Cen- : ;l: : -- 1 ;, _ tral),Kyoto, Japan. I. Rijk Zwaans Zaadteelt en Zaadhandel B.V., Gurgeni. Crezeelan 40 . j . -:f St . *. De Lier, Holland Joseph Harris Co., Moreton Farm, 3670 Buffalo-Rd., Roche;rter,i\lY a -,. - ~ c v d 14624 W. Atlee Burpee Seed,Growers do., PIO. Box 6929,hhi;adelphia;~A* -: ,,- , . 1 . ,a , 19132 California Strawberry Foundation, Plants Nur&-y, 357@hld Alturas L Road,Redding,@A90001 ,. f v> . , I 4 .d . f . .*i ?. ! 15 1 ......1 i 1 * * . I
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L * *A. W. Cerhart. Gerhart & Son Greenhouse, Inc., North Ridgeville, Ohio. E timi of Ekrgi Saving ideas. -. M-r. Gerhart is a commercial greenhouse v,egetable grower in dhio d -, gives some excellent-d-ataan costs; pr#blemS andpi$ctical 1 peri@zedi Here are some excerpts: ~ (ti ! . ;: r , . L Q, _I L i: _ ,: ...werequire two and a half to th;ee people.peiacre t$growa 200,;OOO - pound tomato crop:...we have,?to spend $24,000. per acre for natural .I .- gas...$30;000 to $34;000 for No. 2 heating oil...and an-estimated . . . T - $18,000 for coa! (1975 prices)...the trick is t.o burn a cheap coal effi_I , ciently and still mtisfy the Environmental Protection Agency. , . . i+ ,1 i-c *l tic ,
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. ...when the &ice -of oil w~&$up four Mnes, the price bfgreenliouse , . . 1 .* * ~ tomatoes did not increase four times. \ . * 1 b 9. * : .. --/,3 - i , I% 9 u ...we have adopted,..the drastic reduction of fresh air irito our plant. . , j p J . ,, , -.II/ . _ ; We simply do ,not introduce. any fresh air into the greenhouseanless . F ~. -- --~~~ - 5 it -isne.cessary ~__ --~-the crou,~We,kn.od-trl& plants needcarbon di- - ibid tocool . oxide (CO2)-and that many kinds of fungus .an.d bacteria thrive in high pi m.-, i ~.~ humidities. We in\roduce C02X/constant~y, startmg an. hour .or+so be.- ._ -~; ..:- ..* 3 -I ... . _ *. fore sunup and continuing until two..honrs. before~sunset,. Our CO-, ,- f -* generator is .water cooled, so host of the mpistureis removed tha? ~-- I * * 3 ~, a .. would ,be a part of tlie combustion pro&. This heat-$-then released. . into the greenhouse through a hIeat Lexcllanger or, if the sun is shining, 3 : the heat i.s store i e ? n our 100,~~00~@1on~cistern until nighttime..and 3 . A . -* then introduced thegreenho).is~~~Duriri-igatio , _water ,comes from : % a i $. .- I:< I ,,.$& cistern and generally we irrigate w$th water o P about 89 to 900F. .9 . ymJweuse fungicides to dontrol botrytis and lea&molds, a procedure we . 1 -. have used successfully the past.fo$r years : .
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.next-item of interest is the ins ibn of aluminun~ foit behind * our steam-heat pipes to reflect heat . into the greenhouse. We use building foil with p@er on one side an scar-d it Yfter the winier sea- 5, . rg : , . I son. .- 1 \r; 0 . . . * :, :.[ ,I , For ysars we Jiavl lined our outside walls with plastic sheet&, but this year we installeds 4~mildouble wall cover overour,giass, and,in; flated the co&r as isdone in plastic houses. There w~ill certain& -be,; ~ more potential in%the future for to use the double wall system. ,..
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.;. Insidewehave been experimenting withn~ethods to improve prqductibn withou t+increa&g energy consumption.One procedure that seems , T be effective is to warm the soil to ,approximgtely 700F. We have to lowered our. air tempera~~from t$<o to four degrees, and we are .still getting excellent production. . L- : I . b Perhaps the most intriguing energy utjlizajidn procedure with which * we are now working is the use of a reflect/ive material on the ground . --beds to reflect solar energy back up to the pkints. We first started Jhis
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a representative df a firm apQioached us with the-idea of using , , this material as a heat reflector_. -~ -tlle--t~p-~~-k-e-~ip at night. We over were not enthusedabout this procedure, butoffered to test;tfie rria- . . -.( . ! . -~..r.-,,.,:.,..,-.,.~.,~ -teri$ as a light reflector on the soil. The first year WR showed a ten ?. I II percenf increase in production on a sm,all plot, This year we-have one \ I ~ j- ; fourth of an acre covered wit11 Foyiob (manulfactbred by Duracote), I and to -d?te.we have an increase of 15 percent over the check areas. 1: II I.>- 4 1 iI ._, ..._ ._, Also, we -use artificial light.& in grow*ing cucupber tsansplqnti. FloI resd:nt tubes aremountedf:& to. six inches from t.he-plants, with t.he . . / * y lights on 24 hours a day./Iwo weeks from the seeding date, thetrans-. II * * . ,, plants are ready for grdund-beds. We use 100 square feet of area t6 . * grow 12,000, plants. The 6xcess he&t kom!th; Jigh$% used-to help,< >.; s -7 , ; heat ofir service rooti,.? ._-. _ ,
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At the end of the paper, Mr.-G.erhart e &;essCs optimism about his iidustry beingable to survive the energy cost increases. The entire papei should:be required reading for any;sne~thin$ing about entering t& cornmerc&,l ,greenho&e food growing business.
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Lgwand, et. al. Brace Rese&ch InsFitute of McGill JlJ&ersity, Quebec; Canada. Two papm-An Investigation of the Colztribution of Solar E~IF@JJ ifI Heat&g Greenhouses in evelopmerlt and Testiilg of arl EI~viro;l~j~e~~tall~~ Designed Greehouse r
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_I It was the Brac&qsti~ute Fople who first built and-eiluated an insulated and feflective north%all greenhdus?.\See Th? Herb Shdp, page 87.) They can also claim a-great deal of respo$ibility for awake; ing the scientific comrj?unity to the,idea of th7 greenho&e as /.; a collector: The first paper a ,gn*engineering analysis of the total solar enerby a test greeni * house in.Qh,ebec received in.a\mFasul-ed wiIlJer period. The second is on the evolution of the tilted north wall grettnl;louse..They,also disiribute.ineFpensive plans for tlieir greenhouse 1 I and other low cost owner buili solar energy devices.:. !I
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of a-LL-ow-C?m *David R. Mears.ach .C,-Direlle Baird. University of Flqrida. Dev&-prize? . * % Solaikeating Sjxtem:for Greerlhouses e .-- . !. * -2.2 A Gstemhas been developed and tested for storing large quantities r . . .Y . ,of wbrm water undei-a bench in a gr&nhouse.,and transferring the stored l$at to the gre&lhouse when needed. T11; unit ctin be constructed , !of 16w-cost material and therefore can liave large I, storage and heat trans: . 3 I .-._.. fer capacity. a Relatively lo,w-cost polyethylene film -sdlarwater ieaters have bee< , * * built and their perfortiance chaiacteristi& determined. :These collec,, a -tars would appear to be ni$re -economic2 to op&ate than convention(_ al flat-plate collectors at ielatively low {eyperatu,fes. . . * / : I * 1. . 143 ,* .,
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* shadecloth and clear poly coverI* . . ings are examined. Flow rates and, efficiencies of heating and losses\ are determined. In the system, the .11x -warm wateris then drained off the bottom of the collectorand stored in an insulated tank ~that fits under the greenhouse benches. The warm waterin the tank heats air moving through a poly tube which in turn heats the greenhouse. See r h Figure ,107 ,/ ., I:
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1 ..i i . *. -/ Robert T. Nash.;and John W. Williamson. anderbilt University,.Nashville, Tennessee. Tern11 ; ,c *s pera ture Stabilization ii1 .G;ken ho&es. *9 1 of t& SjQuitura] &at ]oc&yffificie~t of *test 5 This paper is a technical examiinat ~--~ I_.----. --e;t b&keen t]l-cf. -,/ and ~t]le lIeat ,transfer toe greenhouse, the, thermal storage coeffic i ase,,water in dr&ls). It aJc&*contajns SOme in- * greenhouse air and storage system. $In t m teresting observations from otherzourc I . -. ;! c --.~--.-. ----_ /( ,:. * 3 I . ...Many plants re.quire avariation of the air temperature for optimum _ ,. : ,; growth. Went has established that .there will be a best nyctotempera4 < I ture, or nighttime teinpkreture and;a best phototemperature, or day I 1. ~ 5I:r f I- . i, time temperature for any plant...Wellensiek stated...It has happened ,:Lin Holland that very am-bitious tomato growers have gotten up in the_-_--<,..----;.- -,-- * _I .-_._.._ 4-.:.*-:: .... ---- -.-- --, : .i . : rn-iddle of the night to heat their furnaces, but nevertheless hadpooi$r : crops than<their lazy neighbors, who let+the night temperaturefall. I : I\ ,*:,> P A continuaiion of Pro-f. Nashswork with tliermal storage is found in I * \ = L.i, mi _ * . . \ ,r . :.. a _I. 8 154 _ > r I , % f , I .. I I , , ,i * I. .
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published by, the Intepnational Sol&- Energy Society inrolt$e 7 : of.the Shari;ig the Sun! prijceediqgs; \ ;-- i 1, I I / / : , : p ? .* ,1 . .I ., -~ ;_.*-- 4 ~~ 1 ;.I-i: * / j \, *JohnF: beck> University of Arizona. JIasicSol& Collector Desigyhhd Considerations. , . - . . . <;~ -. + -~.. \ : -3..i ~.~ :, : ,; f?This paper &sen&a-few-basZ-p~mc~pI2s -oI?oK&tor design%Id 1 I ,s-Krt-alzpresents a framework with~which to drganizhlie-various , ---- general types of solar collectors; @at is, a system of solar colle&or i ,, .(I .,, taxonomy. LI >, ,. .. / , ? .,, There are some easy-to&der,stand graphics in this payj(er as well as an,explanation df . collectorcai the University of Arizonas Clear-View ctillect6r. This veketian blind$$e . -. adapt to a varieiy of operating modes and offers good potential foi grgenhouse deyelopi ! ment (seLFran&, page 103 .$nd Iniprovements, page 56). r 1
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*D.R. Price,.et. al. Cornell University. Solar Ifea.fi& of Greenhouses in the Northeast, ,.. * : I) r , -. ?his paper covers a wide iange of topics. To quote fromthe abs&act: .. -3 . ...To reduce heat loss at night froti. a greenhou<e,, the &se.archers have investigated various insulation techniques for use at ,night that Lmay be remoed:during the day. Pulling black cloth along the walls and across the ceiling reduced nighttime heat loss by approxima.tely 50%. i, r / ...An analysis Of using qnly the greenhouse as a collec.tor versus using a combinatio.n of thq greenhouse and external collectors is presented., , Ffoq a cost effectiveness standpoint, thece is justification for uslizg -.-_ oizl+v t/ze greeIzhouse 2s a collector *with modlficatio9I.s to improve its, ?ork, not sunny.New ,_, efficieficy; (R emember, this is upstate New tb7 Mexico...B.Y.) : fi - 1. .:: -,_ ., ._. : 1 * 4: .. tC. d. -. *
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i,., + There is also a listing of advanta&s and diiadvantages..Clf e;lsing the greenhouse as a col lector compared to adding a,n e.xternal s0lar dollec$or &&e+<aper. I, .i 1;. -, .; -/_;li:,:. 3 ~1 1 -3 --._ I *W .J . Roberts > et. al., Rutgers University. houses. i I Usilzg Solcir Energy to Heat PlasticFilm Greh-. *, c 3 The paper has a kection &Ffiack plqstic water flow~~oll<efo~ sandwiched between*0 &-*.inflited sections of clear film. Itals0 conI ICl) h, taini data and diagxams of a!por; ous concrete fldor, which acts as LY ETHiLENE storage for the solar lieated-water rTER B&RRlEFl , (seeFigure 108). The :collection.
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, &* a : 69 1 1 T4 -6. ,-:y; .: ( . z ., .-. *> ,. ., / : r \. I I .. ,, 1 \ _._ -- ). , .A 1 . : .I i : , and storage sy\Fern are linked toigethe;.with an air inflated greenhouse that utilizes a move, . .\ ,, c : J >:,;x 1 / * .: able black plastic insulating curiain.; . * .-a I . $lr. Roberts @c>&-n6wiqlged ex.pert i~~~lati;lj:9he~heati~~-v~~n~::needs ~-~~~I-1 _r, - m~PAfor greenhouses and has ptiGl;ed a good booklet in thbse requirements entitled He&t_ ;: -j ing and ~&ztiltiting Green?!otises, Cooperative Extension Service, Cook College, Rutgers-:, * a?, The State University ofrpew Jersey, New Brunswick, Ne& Jkrsey (in cooperation with the 7. A% . : ., U.S.D.A.) : e_ I -9 ?, ., .1 = ..V ., :., 1 \ -:, r ;; .I. c.I i . m I .4+ . 0 \ Y . .# c ,.I: _.-: 1 , -+ i ., y;,F&title, A Nice bieenhouse forNaity3 Winters: AllSolar. Organic Gardenink and F.arme ~* ,( mg Gag&Fe, September 1976, page 69.. : 4 ,%. . ,I . . . with .:- , This $ alno.n-technical presentation of Dave MacKinnoAs &ork (see page.96) 1 i a free-stanking solar greenhouse at Organic Gardening and, Farrr&gs New Fah. The unit . . m\axiriii&Zs*ins&tion on thi north; east and west walls, the walls losing only 500 BTUs per hdur at a 30 temperature difference witI? the outside. The de&gn niiriimizes. the.c~ear~areas: , ;It also ment@ns Daves designs afrempveable. polyethylene panels to cut ni&ttimeheat ioss&- through the clear surfaces. The:elationship of low nighttime temperatures to conventiotial greenhouse manigenlent techniques) was touclled .up,on. :, ---... . . _ a . . 3 /,, i -Bob Hofstetter...claimed &perior .plant growth in the1 solar g&en- - . house.Now he feels that constant warm temperatuyes,ellcqurage tiak, --* by _ j +. \ spindly giowth-and that the cool ni&ts held.insect pests toa Mini. . , . mum. Ifllesolar greenhouse produced excellent lettuc?e, excellent chard i L- \ * - a?d even some early ,spring tdmatoe$! I i _, 2 3. , ,. \- I?d certainly 1iketo Seemore hard rese&ch done in the a& of temperature. vs. he&h --! , : 4 and, p.lant &otith and increased research in .cqld and disease tol&ant,crbps. Its easier and .. . - I chehpr to plant ,tlle right seed than gain 10 in. January. ! L, _/ .: . , I , - > r ., * 4, -+ -.4. , . . I) ,1 ri . . r - *, _ L r. Joel C,. $implins, et. al. ,Rujgeis.v*ni;ersity, N.e$Bru&wick, New Jersey. Reducing Heq[ i Covered-~~~emllouses. Amearican Society of Agricultklral Engineers,- 1 i *. :1 _I- .* . the thermal characteristics bf various films andcyrtaing use!/ ;tL -&- ; f&r exteri& and interior &-e&Louse coverings, I __:\ -t ! , 1 9 ! < i I *T-ed H. Shbrt, et. al. Ohio, A<riqaltural Research and Development Cent& and ,the Ohio q s ,;St.ate Uni&ity. A SolarwPond for Heating Greerlhotlsesaud Rural ResidenCes-A A-elk& \.* , s5 inary Repojt. il - ..-J The paper &x&&s the.problems andpqtential of utilizing an independent sblar pond ~* . fdr heating bpplications. - * ____~~~Ps d f??. .* ,W \ , ?. : ! _. , * * ]The- sola; pond,is hkated by&i& radiation passing through the salt _s , .I1. . : . ? ..a . . ;.-;- 2, :~I -* I ir 7. h-2 -i . 1 l-5.6. J . .I 2 i r - * i i Ps : 1 / u iI i 1I. I ,;,. . ., %
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1 i water to the b,lack liner holding the liquid. As the black Liner tempera ture increases, heat is transferred to @e2d.percent brine in.the.bdt@m. , * ,\ -- : -I<--half of the pond. The heated 70 y&&t,-bfine rises no higher than the a bottom,layer of the gradient-;/aiid cooler 20 .p$-cent brine moves $qwn 9,. ._ to &lace it. The upper non-convective region is nearly trahsparent to * + incoming ultraviolet and visible rddiatioti,, and nearly opaque,to Incorn. . .,, - a,ing infrared and outgoing lofig-wave re-radiation. .One meter 639.5 *, 0. inches) of lion-conve&ve water is a goBd i;is&ator with a conductivity equivalent to apgroximately,e Cm, (2.36 inclies) of styrofqam. Since / * % .f _s.-, the Gallsire slso insulafed; losses aF. reduced significantly. i. rJ * i . .. -Q -, ., ,, A majgr advantage of the Solar pond is $at both sum,fier and yinter .. rtidiation:,c%n be collected and stored for later use. Aftef a ful! sum-, ., : : mers radiation, t&pond temperatyre tlUoughout t\ie bqttdm half . should apprqach .b&ing. The-OARDC .pond will be limited to 80 C, . :-*1. I. ClgOOF), bowe%er, to maintain liner stability. This upper tempera:fure.. limit wili be controlled with discharge heat exchal$gers or by covering * the pond with an opaq,ve plastic film. * d I P -A-.- -_ /. _. ,: . . . . : ., ;. :J Grq Sxone, kreenl?ouse..Coverings:,. The Choice is Your&.@rganic Gard&ng and:Eqbg _ J-c i , ri i ,Magaz$e-Se]?te&ber d-976, pa& 58. :3 , . -. :l 1 An. informat& non-technical discussion-of the aesthetic, economic and utilitaarian 2 1 factorsLnvolvedin choosing the clkar covering for your greenhouse. Good &&al! present!*. -. . tioa of ?tl;e multitude dF optl!ons .availa>le. > ..+ . i d ;, , 1 Z , I : 2 I 1 _ .*Jco . Whit$,-et. al. The Pennsylvania State University. Energy Co&F&tio;z W Systems fob ,1 .*: G .Z. i *e ,. GreeT!j*c&es. . * I * _; .;. _. ;Testbng and evaluati& of therm+ blankets .a& the problems involved in installatioi 1-B -. L , I con- T .. .- : . >;dTTd maint&an& are discussed in this paper. Also, sc$ne significant generaliiations i idemiqg the -u-be of phase change solution suCh as. salt hydrates $d aqueous tectic are *. . the utilizati@ qf conventionallypresented. The Penn State research concluded that ..., ., : T ?,, . . L .Iconstructed lapped glass &eenhouse$as.solar colledtors ddesixot.shdw pptentia! ifi central D * ., .. i : ,_ 1, ,Pennsylvania between November 15 and February 15. (Ifthis seems t,b be in contradicii tj6n to thi D.R. Price patier on Nep York grienhouses as coll$ctors: youllhave to. ch& ! w ou.t &e parameters for ypurself fo decide.) The paper also incLde;s interesting sections on j ra ,-., . . I 7. -1 utilizing stagnation in greenhous& and a self-fogging foof. . .I. , : . ..: i e . .A *James B. Wiegand. Presidetit, Sol& Energy Reskarch Corpdrat?on; Granite Building, -i2i8 ,: . 15th Street, Denver,,Colijr%db 80202.Greenhouse So1a.rjleating: Tecl$quesand Ebonb- c ., . mics. 4
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Ttie modes of operation and peiformance testing don>. at Solar Gar., dens, Longmoni;Colorado, are evaluated. Alternate s&em& and con,..
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., figurations of solar heating in green.house structures are discussed and o , a cashflow anaiysis for a trial project is exhibited.. Products useful in -- -.m ~~ .--------~greenhouse solar heating, including controls availabie now,.-and collec-. - 1 ,y (7 ~ tor and heatstorage systems avaiiable ioort; are discussedbriefly. PracI tical considerations in adapting existing greenhouse structuresto solar * , 4 * -hea.t are discussed? . . , i .. t m fo&pplying sglar technology to:. Mr,%iegand provides some honesty pros and cons existing buildings:However, Im skeptic.al about his 20 year cashflow ana1.y.sison a solarc. cg ,* greenho$se...I occasionally have to do those things myself. )a . ..
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c ii,.. . t _ F! Rito,NM ,>:,:,$. ,, 7% --L .-__ 2. ;; _ . ; . * A kandscgpe for J$uma@s, P&ey &i I%-essec, .Biote&l+c Press; 19~72 . ; e The -DaiZj Planet AZmhiac, Pacific vigh School;, Johq.Muir-Publ.icafiotis, 1976 _-5 i; . : 1 .. i .e v (I . ?.: > L _ d. 1 I. I < *. 1; . Pefiodicals $nd Papers? tp * .> ? 1 .+. The Coevoiution Quarterly pitblisl$ed by T]le Who;? Eartl; C-atalag)lk, edi.te;d bi Stewa;t.l 1;~: ,*.L .: ,.,I Brand-*and J.D. Shith, publishe&qtiate$y. \ -.,, qi .. ; . The Mother Earth News p;bli?he$ bi-rhonthly, at Hende;sonvillk,N.C. c . . . -h * -.I _ t P bgatiic Gardening and Farmirjg liobiishedmontl~lyb~ Rodale P;pss, l$nmaus, !a. : ! c .,..,.L1 ; -^ I . . 1 ;.-- ! ; ;. - ,. / ., . ,\ , * lr . 5 .v*: .j : ? -The DF$-qexe_ 1 / , *, L. .*, ~, . _ , , IL1 e , , -; Chapter _I _ . . . %. .I 2 .: i.: ~:. I e .I i : I ) direct Use.of.the SU12~.Ene~g~,IF~rington Daniels, Ball.alzine.Books, 1964 . The ComingAge of S~~arEne~gy, Q.3. Halacy: Harper;.and Row, 1.4J3, : 1 ,2. 4 Energy Primer, PortQla Institute, Fricke-Parks Press, !nc.,+.+ Solar Energy.and SheZ4er Desig!;, B.quc.eAndergoqTbtal .: ____~ ~~~~ -_i_. -.. IZTheSolar Home Boo?: BI;uce.Ande,&oti, Ch&hire , i. * m- -*. *. The Unheate@ Greenhouse, D. Gbold-Adams, . _The Owner Builder and the Code: Politks ,: h.* * .. I... . .a Kogon and Rc& Thalon, Scribner;, 1976 A. AI? A$aclzeh Solar Greenhc&se, .W.F. ,an,h Susan vigda TIT; < Lightning Tree Press, .,/ 1 I :. ,; II P Santa Fe,, NM,. 1976. ;I I OtlzerHomesand Garbagk, LeLkie,jMasteis, Whitehouse and Young, Sierra Club: 1975 ,, - * (e&$llent book for explanationbf heat loss cafctilatio,&., properties df bui}ding dateri&, - .. h climate data, soil analysis) h *, 3 . Periodicals, Pamphlet and Papers: . ._ :* L 1. A ProposedSofar I!!ea ed and Wind Poweri?d Greenhouse and.Aquaculture Com$Zex t _. Q Adapted to Northern Climates, Robeit Angtvine, et. al., Jiurnal of the New Ah&mists, . , 1 I - No. 2, 1974 ,- I,., r 4, I i -,, Optimal Shipe kj.Greenhouse Rooy$,&duced % f$m Vlze Solap Sllaj?e of irek nS + . and Other Plant Surfa&es>$. Bi&\erman and-D. Dykijova, Paper Y22 $rom the ,Interia$!onC * , . I: . - . .7:al Congi-es& $he Sull in the * . .-; . r, C. I; I ._ _ > z. -, 8R . i\ Z. . -_~: =., .: e . - ** I.. . .G B g/ ._ -VI , ! ! _ -. Y-----l % , A.~ - -! __, .. !
1,Radical AgricuZtuk,
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