Operating a community solar greenhouse

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1979 · NESEA Newsl.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5380616

Jaehne, D

A community solar greenhouse was constructed as a demonstration project in Massachusetts to provide vegetables and seedlings for low-income residents and to stimulate community interest in solar energy. The $27,000 greenhouse project utilized electrical metal tubing as a support structure for the glazing. The aluminum tubing provided additional support required and minimized shading. The rock bed for heat storage was constructed with a lining of cinder blocks topped with crushed stone. Independent sheet metal ducts with manually controlled two-way dampers permit charging of the rock bed with warm air and retrieval of warm air from either the top or bottom of the rock bed, warm air may be circulated rapidly through the greenhouse on cold mornings and is also moved through the growing beds. Manually operated thermal shutters, constructed of foil-faced rigid poly insulation, reduce heat losses, reduce the interior volume by one third to maintain heat close to the plants at night, and provide summer shading. Temperature monitoring during 2.5 winter months indicated that the interior average maximum temperature was 71.9/sup 0/F, the average minimum temperature was 47.5/sup 0/F, the average outdoor minimum was 20.5/sup 0/F, and the water storage averaged 55/sup 0/F. Crop and seedling production, pest problems, vandalism problems, and community participation were discussed.

• OSTI ID: 5380616
• Journal Information: NESEA Newsl.; (United States), Vol. 15:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
GREENHOUSES
BUILDING MATERIALS
GLAZING MATERIALS
SOLAR SPACE HEATING
COMMUNITIES
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
ROCK BEDS
SENSIBLE HEAT STORAGE
SHUTTERS
BUILDINGS
ENERGY STORAGE
HEAT STORAGE
HEATING
MATERIALS
SOLAR HEATING
SPACE HEATING
STORAGE
140901* - Solar Thermal Utilization- Space Heating & Cooling