SoCal Aquaponics

Attached solar greenhouses are lean-to structures that form a room jutting out from a house or barn. These structures provide space for transplants, herbs, or limited quantities of food plants. These structures typically have a passive solar design.

Freestanding solar greenhouses are large enough for the commercial production of ornamentals, vegetables, or herbs. There are two primary designs for freestanding solar greenhouses: the shed type and the hoop house. A shed-type solar greenhouse is oriented to have its long axis running from east to west. The south-facing wall is glazed to collect the optimum amount of solar energy, while the north-facing wall is well-insulated to prevent heat loss.

This orientation is in contrast to that of a conventional greenhouse, which has its roof running north-south to allow for uniform light distribution on all sides of the plants. To reduce the effects of poor light distribution in an east-west oriented greenhouse, the north wall is covered or painted with reflective material.

Freestanding hoop houses are rounded, symmetrical structures. Unlike the shed-type solar greenhouses, these do not have an insulated north side. Solarization of these structures involves practices that enhance the absorption and distribution of the solar heat entering them.

This typically involves the collection of solar heat in the soil beneath the floor, in a process called earth thermal storage (ETS), as well as in other storage materials such as water or rocks. Insulation of the greenhouse wall is important for minimizing heat loss. Heat absorption systems and insulation methods are discussed in detail in the following sections.

This information is courtesy of ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service