Solar Greenhouse Design 101

[@mikerobertson6663]

Lindsay, thank you. Share more of your knowledge on youtube, please ! you're awesome.

[@CeresGreenhouseSolutions]

Thank you for your kind words!

[@mikerobertson6663]

@@CeresGreenhouseSolutions In the future should you find the time and being even more generous than you have already…. I believe this would make a good really topic. DLI - PAR requirements of various crops we might want to grow. Maybe discuss things we can do to when building our greenhouse to help meet the needs of the crops we’re going to grow. If we don’t ask then we won’t know! Thanks again Lindsey. Apologies for misspelling your name earlier.

[@CeresGreenhouseSolutions]

@@mikerobertson6663 That is an excellent idea and one we touch on in this blog here: ceresgs.com/quality-versus-quantity-which-is-more-important-for-greenhouse-lighting-optimization/ although you're right in that it would make a good webinar as well.

[@KendraKat82]

I’m in the beginning stages of planning a backyard greenhouse and found this presentation to be super helpful! Thank you for posting this.

[@CeresGreenhouseSolutions]

Glad to hear it! Let us know if we can support your greenhouse journey in any way

[@marxxcomics]

I really appreciate the presentation! I'd been looking at Russ Finch's Greenhouse in the Snow and was quite obsessed with that for a few years. Unfortunately my back yard is roughly 55ft E/W, which is really not big enough for that system. CERES is quite a bit more expensive, but I absolutely love what I've seen. The size works incredibly well, and I prefer it. Likely 18x24 with a GAHT system, but I'd defer to you after we've discussed my specific situation and needs. For the comments though, it's zone 5B/6A, and I want to grow mangos, bananas, avocados, guava, passion fruit, and papaya. Anyway, I'm glad I found CERES. I will almost certainly be in touch at a later time.

[@CeresGreenhouseSolutions]

Sounds like you would benefit from one of our designs for what you want to do. It might be worth reaching out and talking to one of our greenhouse experts just to see what your options are. If you would like to do so, fill out a contact form here: www.ceresgs.com/contact/ or email us at [e-mail]

[@shawnv1349]

This is the best, most informational presentation/video I’ve seen. Thank you!

[@CeresGreenhouseSolutions]

We're glad you found it informative. Let us know if we can be of more help to you and your greenhouse project!

[@greybeard277]

Just found this presentation, thanks for sharing a lot of useful information!

[@workthenplay]

I built a shed style greenhouse in on the West Coast of Canada but the problem I have is cooling (someone suggested fans and I am looking into that), but also looking into how I could use it more in the winter. This video gave me lots of ideas! Thanks :)

[@CeresGreenhouseSolutions]

We're so glad you found this video helpful. Feel free to reach out to us if you want to talk to a greenhouse expert about cooling options

[@stevegreenwood8168]

Thanks for a great presentation. I understand that double glazing is more expensive, but is the R value gain worth the loss of light entering the greenhouse. We live in northern England 🇬🇧. Thanks.

[@Zsy6]

This is the best presentation on the topic I've seen. Just ordered your book.

[@CeresGreenhouseSolutions]

Thank you for your kind words, we hope that the book is a helpful resource for you

[@willmakxam3834]

QUESTION: Is there an advantage to use a combination of polycarbonate (80%) and glass (20% of the lower front edge) panels for the roof? If the angle of the roof is perpendicular to the sun in the winter, thus the glass will allow the most sunlight and feed the plants best..... Anything wrong with mixed panels for the sake of feeding the plants? What about R value? Glass loses more heat (or lower R value), is it best to have less light food and more Rvalue?

[@CeresGreenhouseSolutions]

Really would depend on the glass that is used. Also, the construction details for building this way would be complicated and expensive. We do not use glass as an option for our greenhouses, but if you'd like to discuss this further with a designer, shoot us an email at [e-mail]

[@riversedgegoatdairy297]

@@CeresGreenhouseSolutions perhaps a more specific question: have you ever used recycled double paned windows in combination with polycarbonate? (for example: some of the lower vertical, knee wall as glass, and the sloped load bearing as polycarbonate. If so. How many times have you used two types of panels?

[@katherinebialek443]

I am finding window companies don't enjoy greenhouses as the humid conditions ruin their R rating, so it voids any warranty. I'm hoping to find a solution to condensation in a cold Canadian climate using glass.

[@jhnoakez]

Thank you very much for this presentation it was very helpful.

[@CeresGreenhouseSolutions]

You are so welcome! Feel free to reach out if ever you want to learn more or get a quote for a greenhouse project.

[@mariuszcielenkiewicz1430]

Thank you for excellent info! My passive solar greenhouse has just approached its first winter and with temperature inside at 5 -10 degrees C. (40-50 F.) humidity is at about 90-95%. Water is condensating and dripping everywhere. How do I eliminate or reduce that? Ventilating moisture out with intake from outside (25 *F) would cool the space below freezing. Is heating only option?

[@CeresGreenhouseSolutions]

Hey there, this is a great question as this is fairly common in the wintertime when the relative humidity is higher in the greenhouse. We would recommend venting the greenhouse and either putting a small heater in there or you could try a small dehumidifier.

[@OxAO]

Why not using double layer Polyethylene Film in the winter. Remove it and replace it with a shade piece in the summer? I'm hearing the Film is lasting around 7 to 8 years.

[@CeresGreenhouseSolutions]

We do offer ETFE film as a glazing option for our greenhouses: ceresgs.com/solar-design/glazing/

[@vincentjean6756]

Excellent! Greetings from Montreal!

[@nickguthrie9309]

Solar GHs that are expected to give plant growth in the winter beyond some greens need lots of sun time. First ask your met. office about about daily clear time hours in the 4 months straddling News Years day. Here on the west coast of British Columbia it's 2 hours per day. Elliot Colman's idea of cloched beds in the GH helps in temp stability though he seems optimistic about heat contained with that technique.

[@flyty2134]

Very nice seminar thanks.

[@CeresGreenhouseSolutions]

Hope it was helpful to you, let us know if we can help you with anything else!

[@Adolar]

Have you built any greenhouses with insulated mass walls on the north side? Earthen walls like adobe or straw bale, etc. seem to be an obvious option since they operate as thermal mass and they have a similar banking/moderating ability with humidity. Seems easier than a more complex technical solution and very accessible for DYI.

[@CeresGreenhouseSolutions]

We typically do not use mass walls, but they add thermal mass and can be a great greenhouse design strategy. Greenhouses can be incredibly moist/ humid environments so be careful about which materials you use/ how you seal/ protect them. The last thing you want is moldy strawbale

[@Lcr34]

What about greenhouses in tropics or arid places. Anyway to reduce temp inside greenhouse?

[@CeresGreenhouseSolutions]

Check out this video to learn more about our GAHT® System: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4W0ZHmCZa56nrc&ab_channel=CeresGreenhouseSolutions with a GAHT™ system, you can reduce the temperature inside your greenhouse in the summer through geothermal heat exchange

[@julielee2581]

I found this seminar very informative. Thank you. I did just order your book. I hope the book covers sizing as this topic was void from the video. If neither are true, will you suggest a guide to determining the appropriate size of the structure? It would be heartbreakingly painful to discover, after investing time, money and resources, that it is too small or unnecessarily too big. In short, size matters. Thanks in advance for your response.

[@CeresGreenhouseSolutions]

There should be general information on sizing in the book but if you'd like more guidance, check out this blog: ceresgs.com/can-i-feed-my-family-with-a-greenhouse/ and feel free to contact us to speak to a greenhouse expert to hone in your decision a little more.

[@KathleenEdge]

Do you build below ground geothermal greenhouses?

[@CeresGreenhouseSolutions]

The GAHT® itself is below ground. Do you mean earth-bermed greenhouses? Or something similar to a walipini? While we have build one or two greenhouses up against the side of a berm this is not our traditional style. We build our greenhouses with insulated walls and this increases their energy-efficiency.

[@AndrewPolidori]

Really informative thank you!

[@dianeanderson4959]

I’m interested on a designer for my project A combination sun room growing space around my swim spa between my house & garage…

[@CeresGreenhouseSolutions]

To learn more about our custom design services, check out this blog: ceresgs.com/design-development-package/, and feel free to reach out to us by filling out a contact form here: www.ceresgs.com/contact/ or emailing us at [e-mail]

[@randyc754]

T studs are insulated studs, may help a greenhouse project.

[@brianfees2903]

Exceptionally well done!

[@David-pk9be]

Brilliant info, thank you!

[@derrick_builds]

lol, The heat and the LIGHT get out at night. I'm so worried about the light getting out at night.

[@SpellsOfTruth]

56:02 Water is 2 times better than concrete. Wood is 4 times better than concrete. 4in thick wood panels retain heat better than 16in thick concrete.

[@scroogemcduck1462]

No way that's accurate. Do you mean that wood insulates better than concrete?

[@SpellsOfTruth]

@@scroogemcduck1462 Yes, 4x better concrete or brick.

[@robbieragsdalesarmered-dil1940]

Just build a wallipini

[@treasurehunt7812]

"From a carbon perspective" ... give me a break... goodbye