Greenhouses Powered by the Sun
Plants already harness the power of the sun for food. Now you can harness that power to help your plants grow. All greenhouses collect solar energy, but solar greenhouses are designed not only to collect solar energy during sunny days but also to store heat for use at night or during periods when it is cloudy.
Viewer Tip: Use of solar electric heating systems for greenhouses is not cost-effective unless you are producing high-value crops. Wall and floor insulation is used to retain more solar energy. Remember that a building designed to collect heat when temperatures are cold also needs to be able to vent heat when temperatures are warm, so proper ventilation is necessary.
This information is provided by ATTRA – National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Learn more in “Solar Greenhouse Resources.”
Seasons: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
