12Aug/110
How to Build Your Commercial Greenhouse
The success and productivity of running a greenhouse depend mainly on the kind of growing materials used. Since there are a number of designs to choose from, it is important that you familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of these designs. You should also choose plants suitable for the design of your greenhouse.
Kinds of Greenhouses
A detached or free-standing greenhouse is generally an independent structure a few meters away from your house. However, it can be joined by building walkways. The advantage is that you can build it as large or as small as you want.
The most common detached greenhouse for commercial use is the Quonset. This greenhouse is built using arched rafters that usually have solid end walls for additional support. Quonset greenhouses are suitable for the production of most crops but due to their limited head room and storage area, plant growth may be restricted, hence diminishing productivity and efficiency.
Ridge greenhouses are usually attached through a shared gutter. The absence of an inside wall below the gutter is an advantage as it increases efficiency. Gabled greenhouses are perfect for heavy coverings such as glass or fiberglass. Curved arch greenhouses are usually covered with much lighter substances such as polyethylene or polycarbonates. Connected ridge greenhouses are often referred to as range.
Planning
To ensure that your commercial greenhouse will be profitable, some of the factors to consider are proper area selection in relation to markets, utilities, labor, as well as future plans for expansion. You should plan the following:
Type of crops you will be growing (herbs, flowers, perennials, orchids, vegetables, potted plants, and others)
o Growing period of the crops (are they seasonal or year-round?)
o Plants that will be grown (to allocate the space and prepare the soil or pots)
o Growing medium (soil, no soil, mix, nutrient solution, compost, fertilizer)
o Growing methods (flooring, beds and flood, growing bags)
o Annual productivity
o Marketing strategy (wholesale, retail, or both)
o Capital or investment
Here are other things to consider when building a commercial greenhouse:
1. Space. The area needed mainly depends on the type of business you are planning to get into, whether retail, wholesale, or both. Two acres is the suggested minimum space for a commercial greenhouse. Make way for parking space for your customers and employees, delivery, storage area, and future expansion plans.
2. Zoning. It is advisable to consult your zoning officer about your plans to set up a commercial greenhouse. There are certain cities that require a permit for building a greenhouse to ensure safety and the welfare of the community.
3. Highway access. For retail businesses, a location near or along a high-traffic road or near a residential site can greatly increase business. Wholesale business needs access to some interstate highway to deal with heavy road traffic.
4. Environment. Select a clean location, one that is away from industrial pollution like factories
5. Climate. Avoid areas with extreme temperatures. Some plants may be sensitive to extreme sunlight or extreme cold weather.
6. Slope. Aim for a ground slope to provide water drainage that is vital for your greenhouse. Greenhouses must be situated on gravel base, 6 to 12 inches above grade.
7. Water. Plants need sufficient humidity for optimal development and the highest production of flowers and crops. Test water that comes from natural resources. They are known to have impurities that may be harmful for your crops.
8. Electricity. Ensure that your commercial greenhouse will have enough supply of electricity. As early as in the designing stage of the greenhouse, call on your area's electricity provider regarding power availability. Also call on your electrician to help design the electrical layout.
9. Expansion. All throughout the development and planning stage, factors must be considered for later expansion plans.
Note that before setting up your greenhouse business, careful research should be made. You will be learning new things as you go along with this business venture.
By: Thea Tan
4May/110
The Green House – Solar Power
Green is big. No matter your political/scientific beliefs, you cannot deny the power the green movement has. Implementation of Green Technologies have an immediate impact on a universal expense: Utilities. This article s about saving you money, and building the value of your house. Currently, over one-third of all electricity usage goes to heat and cool our houses.
Solar power has been around forever... literally. It is an inexhaustible source of energy, and in all respects, it's free. In fact, we already utilize solar energy to heat and cool our homes, cook our food, and power our vehicles. The fossil fuels we burn today are nothing more than stored solar energy that plants captured through photosynthesis. Over millions of years, heat and pressure transformed dead plants and animals into deposits of coal, oil, and natural gas.
Application
Right now, solar house systems are available that reduce monthly energy bills 50 to 70 percent. There is also a current trend in building "Zero Energy Houses." Utilizing this process, builders construct homes utilizing airtight envelopes, Energy Star appliances, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and of course a passive photovoltaic solar system. In Lenoir City, Tennessee, Habitat for Humanity volunteers constructed these modest sized homes (1,000-1,200 sq ft.) homes for around $100,000 each. Each of the homes in the neighborhood dubbed 'Harmony Heights,' each energy bill averages less than $25 per month.
Intelligent Design
When building a new house, consider the following tips from Mother Earth News:
Solar design for Cold Climates:
1. Choose a building site with no obstructions to the south for complete access to the low angle of the winter sun. Another plus is a site with trees that can block prevailing winter winds, which are usually from the north.
2. Choose a design with a long south wall facing within 15 degrees of true south.
3. The house should include ample thermal mass (dense, heat-storing materials such as concrete or earthen floors). Consider building an earth berm on the north side for more thermal mass.
4. Most of the windows should face to the south for access to the winter sun. Place a minimal amount of window area on the east and west sides, and place very few windows in north walls.
5. Use shorter overhangs over south windows for better winter heat gain and ample overhangs over other windows for shading.
6. Cover windows and glass doors at night with insulating shutters or insulated drapes to prevent heat loss.
7. Maximize insulation in walls and ceiling. Use rigid insulation under the floor and around its edges.
8. Consider using a dark roof surface to pick up maximum solar gain in winter.
9. Mechanical ventilation will probably be needed in winter; a heat recovery ventilator, which preheats incoming air, is a good option.
10. Consider a porch or plantings to the west to block afternoon sun in summer.
Solar Design for Warmer Climates
1. Look for a site where the house can be positioned with plenty of outdoor living space to the north. Another plus is a site with trees to the east and west to block morning and afternoon sun.
2. The house should be compact in shape, with less wall area exposed to the sun. Build shaded porches and patios.
3. Focus on creating outdoor living spaces to the north and east for cooking, sleeping and relaxing. Comfortable shaded verandas are inexpensive additions that make a house feel luxurious.
4. Take advantage of the cooling effects of vegetation by planning for plenty of trees, vines and garden space. Established shade trees are an invaluable resource -protect them!
5. Maximize insulation in the walls and in the ceiling.
6. For the roof, use a radiant barrier and reflective metal or light-colored roof tile and create air space between the roof surface and the sheathing.
7. If some winter heating is required, thermal mass, such as a concrete floor, and windows to the south can be used.
8. If using south-facing thermal mass for winter heating, use deciduous trees or a vine-covered arbor to shade it in summer.
9. In arid climates, use thick walls as a buffer against the sun. Minimize windows to increase this effect.
10. In hot, humid climates with no winter, don't worry about thermal mass. Lift the building off the ground over open crawl space to encourage airflow. Maximize window and door openings on all sides.
Value
According to The Appraisal Institute, a solar electric system increases home value by $20,000 for each $1,000 in annual reduced operating costs. In addition, there is a federal tax credit of $2,000 and state rebates encouraging consumers to purchase a solar power system. An online calculator (http://www.findsolar.com/index.php?page=rightforme) is available to compute the approximate cost of the system, along with a rating of solar exposure, rebates, tax credits, increased property value, and much more. Currently the return on investment for solar power is long term. For Denver, Colorado, the expected years to break-even range from 6 to 15 years. Like Hybrids, until solar power systems come down in price, you should not invest in the system for a short-term gain.
By: Stephen Joos
1Apr/110
So Many Benefits in Building a Green House
Energy and cost efficiency are two perks of building using green architecture and design. At first the cost of building green may seem steep compared to a standard home, but the savings on utility bills can compensate handsomely. In green house design, electricity is used more efficiently.
Alternative energy sources can be used to actually save money. Using wind turbines can be one way to create electricity in green homes. Solar panels are an additional way to power electricity in a green house. With the cost of gas and coal powered utilities soaring, an investment in green technologies is likely to offset or even eliminate dependency on these limited resources for those building a green house. Installation and materials are the only aspects of solar and wind power that cost the builder anything. Both abundant and constantly renewable, the resources of sunlight and wind are free! Building green houses with wind turbines and solar panels can be both environmentally friend and economical as sources of power.
Another design concept that can be used is the gray water system. Gray water systems are more efficient because they use water from one area of household and recycle it elsewhere in the dwelling. For instance, using a gray water system could allow green home residents to collect water used while showering for watering a garden or flushing toilets! Unnecessary water waste is decreased in recycling water throughout the home from day to day. Reducing the carbon footprint of a home and saving money on water utilities are two benefits afforded by using state of the art gray water system technologies.
Building materials used and design of the dwelling are also key factors to consider when building a green house. Recycled or salvaged materials are an option in building a green house. From insulation to roofing and even flooring, it is possible to use recycled or salvaged materials for nearly every surface in green house designs! Recycled and salvaged materials have the double benefit of being both more cost effective and in many cases, more durable than other kinds of building materials. Using locally salvaged building materials can reduce the carbon footprint of a home even more if they are locally obtained. Since it does not require as much energy to manufacture and transport locally salvaged building materials, less pollution is created building a green house.
Different kinds of architecture can be used in building a green house in order to regulate indoor temperatures. Design which increases exposure to sunlight and heat retention is possible with green architecture and would benefit those building in cold climates. In warmer climates, a comparable principle of design can be used in building a green house. In warm places, residents can minimize sun exposure and harness naturally cooler biomasses beneath the surface of the Earth. The ways to reduce carbon footprints while saving money are truly endless when building a green house!
By: Al Zan