Greenhouse Conservation measures - Tips to Avoid Waste

Greenhouse Structures company GGS of Ontario Canada have come up with energy saving tips Growers can implement to help reduce heat loss and waste

1. Greenhouse Energy Curtains These popular energy conservers are widely adopted by growers.  Most growers make sure that they are taking full advantage of their impact by tweaking their climate control system from season to season and keeping it in good operational order. But how many growers measure the effectiveness of the curtain itself as it ages?

Manufacturers suggest that the maximum lifetime of an energy curtain is eight to 10 years, and UV degradation can occur after as little as five years. It is common to retain curtains far past this limit as long as they are not showing major signs of damage such as shredding or ripping. If energy curtains are allowed to remain in place after their efficiency is compromised, energy will be wasted.

 2. Lighting and Appliances

Waste can occur in the home if appliances are kept running unnecessarily. Take the same approach in greenhouses and any attached offices or warehouses.

 3. Doors and Door management

When these are left open unnecessarily doors and entrances are a major cause of heat loss. How often does someone pass through a mandoor and leave it open for an extended period? Whether it’s in the greenhouse or the warehouse, cold air will infiltrate that area and extra energy is needed to warm it again. Prevention for this common occurrence is to install door-closing springs on every man-door to avoid them being left open. Take this a step further and make sure that latches catch properly so that the wind cannot fling a door open and the door is properly weather stripped to eliminate drafts. Overhead doors can also be a source of wasted energy. If the weatherstripping is worn or they do not close tightly, there will be cold air penetrating, especially on the windy Winter days. Take the time to check each overhead door for issues when the cold weather sets in.

 A good measure is to educate the staff on how important it is during the Winter season to open overhead doors only as long as necessary, have a procedure and post it beside the door as a reminder. It’s unfortunate, but entranceways into the greenhouse are a common cause of energy waste. Scheduling a maintenance person to check each door in the facility for inadequacies annually will conserve a significant amount of energy according to the GGS blog.

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