The main purpose of a greenhouse is to use the solar energy of the sun to trap heat into it during the winter season, cloudy days and throughout the night.
A solar greenhouse does more than collect the heat that the plants will need for growth. We'll get to that in a few moments.
Types Of Solar Greenhouses
With so many choices available you are sure to find one that will meet your needs. If you have the room in your backyard then a freestanding greenhouse would be ideal for you.
The two primary designs are the Quonset type and the shed type.
The Quonset type looks like an underground pit. It takes the shape in the form of a tunnel. To save up to 40% or more of heating costs it has a layer or two of plastic film.
The shed type features a south facing wall that is glazed to to get the maximum amount of energy from the sun. To avoid heat loss, the north facing wall is more insulated to keep the heat in. This is the main difference between a solar greenhouse and a standard greenhouse.
You can also attach a solar greenhouse to your house which is a good place to start transplants or grow herbs.
There are two categories of solar greenhouses, the active or passive greenhouse. They serve the same purpose but use different resources.
The Active Solar Greenhouse
The active solar greenhouse makes use of supplemental energy. It transfers the solar heated air from the storage area to the other parts of the greenhouse.
The Passive Solar Greenhouse
In a passive solar greenhouse where colder seasons last longer, you will need to use an electric or gas heating system. This will protect the plants from colder weather.
To get and keep the most heat, a solar greenhouse uses oriented glazing. It comes equipped with insulation to minimize the loss of heat and depends upon natural ventilation for cooling during the summer. It also uses heat storing materials.
Solar Heat Storage
There must be a sufficient amount of energy stored in this type of greenhouse to keep the warmth in during cold nights. To absorb the heat, one way of doing this is to put concrete or rocks directly in the sunlight to store the suns energy.
One the north side of the greenhouse, cinder clock walls are a good way to to store heat. Another way to store the heat is to use colored ceramic flooring. To reflect the heat and light to distribute to the plants, the walls or floors should be light in color.
A full greenhouse with plants inside it will store this heat much more easier than an empty one.
Compost will also help keep the heat in as it produces carbon dioxide within the structure.
Have fun,
Sarah James
A solar greenhouse does more than collect the heat that the plants will need for growth. We'll get to that in a few moments.
Types Of Solar Greenhouses
With so many choices available you are sure to find one that will meet your needs. If you have the room in your backyard then a freestanding greenhouse would be ideal for you.
The two primary designs are the Quonset type and the shed type.
The Quonset type looks like an underground pit. It takes the shape in the form of a tunnel. To save up to 40% or more of heating costs it has a layer or two of plastic film.
The shed type features a south facing wall that is glazed to to get the maximum amount of energy from the sun. To avoid heat loss, the north facing wall is more insulated to keep the heat in. This is the main difference between a solar greenhouse and a standard greenhouse.
You can also attach a solar greenhouse to your house which is a good place to start transplants or grow herbs.
There are two categories of solar greenhouses, the active or passive greenhouse. They serve the same purpose but use different resources.
The Active Solar Greenhouse
The active solar greenhouse makes use of supplemental energy. It transfers the solar heated air from the storage area to the other parts of the greenhouse.
The Passive Solar Greenhouse
In a passive solar greenhouse where colder seasons last longer, you will need to use an electric or gas heating system. This will protect the plants from colder weather.
To get and keep the most heat, a solar greenhouse uses oriented glazing. It comes equipped with insulation to minimize the loss of heat and depends upon natural ventilation for cooling during the summer. It also uses heat storing materials.
Solar Heat Storage
There must be a sufficient amount of energy stored in this type of greenhouse to keep the warmth in during cold nights. To absorb the heat, one way of doing this is to put concrete or rocks directly in the sunlight to store the suns energy.
One the north side of the greenhouse, cinder clock walls are a good way to to store heat. Another way to store the heat is to use colored ceramic flooring. To reflect the heat and light to distribute to the plants, the walls or floors should be light in color.
A full greenhouse with plants inside it will store this heat much more easier than an empty one.
Compost will also help keep the heat in as it produces carbon dioxide within the structure.
Have fun,
Sarah James
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