As a greenhouse grower or manager, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day activities and allow the little items to get missed. When it comes to energy issues, these little items can really add up! Energy conservation has been a popular topic of conversation, but there are many aspects that are often overlooked by today’s growers.
The Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) just opened a $10 million state-of-the-art research greenhouse facility in London Ontario, designed in part and built by JGS Limited, and manufactured by GGS. It is the newest addition to the Southern Crop Protection and Food Research Centre (SCPFRC). This research facility will greatly benefit growers, as the work done in this laboratory greenhouse is aimed at improving crop quality, productivity, and disease/insect resistance.
Before you start your next building project with a greenhouse manufacturer, make sure they are ETWW (Easy to Work With). They should be flexible enough to accommodate customizations, reduce the amount of work/hassle for the grower, and stand behind their work after the job is done.
I do not believe there are many greenhouse manufacturers still left in the dark ages of “keep your greenhouse low or your heat costs will rise”, but if you do come across one, run for your plant life! Here are some reasons to consider building higher.
Many growers are concerned about maximizing greenhouse ventilation. In some maximum ventilation designs, condensation control is sacrificed and dripping becomes an issue.
