Off Grid Greenhouse Inquiry [RE-wrenches]

[Jay Peltz, Peltz Power]

Hi All,

there is quite a bit of hydroponics around where I live.

Water use is pretty small.  As it just flows around from tank to plants, they
take what they need, and the rest is reused.  They are a few different types of
hydroponics, some pump little amounts of water for lots of hours per day,
others pump, more water fewer times day.

I don't think the power use is really great for the water pumping, fans.  But
if you are using suppliemental lighting, then thats something else all to
gether.

Should be do able on solar.

jay

peltz power

Roger DeNault wrote:

> Hydroponics automates the growing/ watering process and can provide ideal
> micro/ macro nutrient mix and pH.  The requirement here may not be for
> heating as much as supplemental lighting.
> Roger
> Solar Technologies
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Lawrence Elliott" <larry at energyoutfitters.com>
> To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
> Sent: Monday, May 20, 2002 2:21 PM
> Subject: Re: Off Grid Greenhouse Inquiry [RE-wrenches]
>
> > Colin!
> > If I understand correctly a hydroponic greenhouse uses allot of water.
> > I would assume that the bulk of the energy needed is in the form of heat
> > (read : above freezing temps) from fossil fuels with the balance being
> > to ventilate primarily to keep temps down.
> > I myself have a greenhouse that uses pex tubing buried in the soil that
> > is heated by solar collectors.Using the el sid DC pump my power
> > requirements are almost nil.And ventilation is needed only on a low
> > level since I use shade cloth and keep the heat out in the first place.
> >
> > Would it be possible to use the water as both a heating source as well
> > as a heat sink using active pumping and heat exchangers? Do the roots of
> > the plants tolerate elevated temps?
> > This would supply a source of stable heat and would also eliminate allot
> > of the need to get rid of the heat in an inneficient "pumped air
> > ventilation system"The water could be pumped into large flat heat
> > exchangers that would expell the heat outside.
> >
> > >From my experience in heating in winter months I could not recommend the
> > Thermomax more highly.
> >
> >
> > Really never have understood the hydroponic thing though.
> > Plants love soil. Isn't it  where they live most of their lives anyway.
> >
> > Larry Elliott
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Colin" <colin at positiveenergysolar.com>
> > To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
> > Sent: Monday, May 20, 2002 1:57 PM
> > Subject: Re: Off Grid Greenhouse Inquiry [RE-wrenches]
> >
> >
> > > Wrenches, we need your help!
> > >
> > > Here's the situation:  a committed Off-grid client wants to run a home
> > > hydroponic gardening business.  We have come down hard on the facts of
> > load
> > > reduction and urged him to look towards other passive alternatives to
> > active
> > > venting, heating and cooling, but sadly the issue is that this
> > commercial
> > > greenhouse, which he already owns was designed for a massive infusion
> > of
> > > fossil fuel energy.
> > >
> > > Our initial load analysis had a first round conservative estimate of
> > about
> > > 10 kilowatts of PV array.
> > >
> > > What we are looking for is a) good websites for off grid greenhouse
> > and
> > > gardening systems, equipment, education, etc.  and b) sources for
> > efficient
> > > dc fans, electric seedling warmers, and Thermofor vents.
> > >
> > > Any help would be very much appreciated.
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > >
> > >
> > > Colin Mitchell
> > > Positive Energy
> > > Santa Fe, NM
> > >
> > > - - - -
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