Table Of Content

MICROFICHE REFERENCE LIBRARY A project of Volunteers in Asia ~r~c-iiws of the CO& . Enerav-Conserving, Sol aZSGree*hou se6 by- John Bayas and Drew Gillett Published by: Marlboro College Marlboro, VT 05344 USA Paper copies are $ 9; $7.50 for readers in developing countries. Available from: Marlboro College Greenhouse Conference Marlboro College Marlboro, VT 05344 USA Reproduced by permission of Marlboro College. Reproduction of thl 's microfiche document in any form is subject to the same restrictions as those of the original document. PROCEEDINGS OF THE CGNFERENCE ON ENERGY-CSNSERKING, SOLAR-HEATED GREENHOUSES Edited by JOHN HAYES &DREWGILLETT Held at MARLBORO COLLEGE MARLBORO, VER,MONT 05344 on NOVEMBER 19 & 20, 1977 SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS TOTAL ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION NEW ENGLAND SOLAR ENERGY ASSOCIATION MAINE AUDUBON SOCIETY ENERGY RESEARCH GROUP, MARLBORO COLLEGE FRIENDS OF THE SUN VERMONT RECYCLED GREENHOUSES KALWALL CORPORATION SOLAR TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OFFICE, BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY ORGANIZING COMMITTEE DAN SCULLY JEREMY COLEMAN JONATHAN GORHAM ERIKA MORGAN JIM STILES JIMBURXE DREW GILLETT JOHN HAYES These Proceedings are available from Marlboro College for $9. TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1 PREFACE..........................1 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i . a 3 INTRODUCTORY LETTER by CHANDLER FULTON (Brandeis Univ.) . 4 SECTION 2 WELCOME ADDRESS by Vermont Congressman JAMES JEFFORDS . .lO KEYNOTE ADDRESS by THOMAS LAWAND (Brace Research Inst.) Solar Energy and Greenhouse Agriculture: The Challenge Ahead . . . . . D . . . c . . . . . . . . .12 SECTION 3 CHAIRMAN: DREW GILLETT (Brookhaven National Laboratory) WILLIAM YANDA (Solar Sustenance Project) - Solar Sustenance Project - Phase II Final Report. . . . . .16 NORMAN SAUNDERS (Circuit Engineering, Weston, MA) - The Overall Solution to Solar Heating . . . . . . . .39 WILLIAM MAKCFSKE (Ramapo College) - Ramapo Aquaculture - Greenhouse System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 WILLIAM MILBURN", ROBERT ALDRICH & JOHN WHITE (Pennsyl- vania State University) - Internal and External Solar Collection and Thermal Storage for Green- house Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4.8 DOUG TAFF*, R.B. HOLDRIDGE (Parallax Corp.) & JOHN WOLFE (Dartmouth College) - Hybrid Passive Systems I. Design Considerations, Theoretical Predictions and Performance of an Attached Solar Greenhouse Used to Heat a Building . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . - . . .58 DOUG TAFF*, R.B. HOLDRIDGE - Hybrid Passive Systems II. Close Control Design Criteria Establishing Cost- Effective Solar Heating - The Hybrid-Delta Line , . .63 DOUG TAFF*, R.B. HCLDRIDGE & AL CONVERSE (Dartmouth College) - A Comparative Study Between the Thermal Efficiency of Window-Wall and Active Collector Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . .67 NED NISSON (Center for Ecological Technology) - Preliminary Report on a Free-Standing Solar Green- house in Western Massachusetts. . . . , . . . . . . .70 WILLIAM JOHNSONg ARTHUR SEDRICK (Kalwall Corp.) & ANDREW SCOVILLE* (Dynamics Research Corp.) - Evaluation of Passive and Hybrid Temperature Control Methods for Greenhouses . . . . . . . . . . .79 SECTION 4 CHAIRMAN: ERIKA MORGAN (MAINE AUDUBON SXIETY) DAVID MACKINNON (Rodale Press) - Light Levels in Solar Greenhouses: Some Recommendations . . . . CARL LINDSTxlOM & ABBY ROCKEFELLER* (Clivus Mulct%).-. . l 94 Greywater for the Greenhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 CHARLES WING (Cornerstcnes) - The Maine Vocational Region Ten Hybrid Solar Greenhouse . . . . . . . . . 109 DAVIS STRAUB* & EVAN BROWN (Ecotope) - A Preliminary Assessment of the Unique Features of a Parabolic Aquaculture/Greenhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 ELIZABETH COPPINGER (Ecotope) - The Effect of Solar Energy on Aquaculture Support: A Preliminary Assessment . E&&&on ~f'a'S&r~H~a~ed &en-' . . 122 ECOTOPE GROUP - house for the Environmental Farm Project, Canyon Park Junior High, Bothell, Washington. . . . . . . . 127 ROBERT GINSBURG* (Southern California Institute of Architecture) & JACK PARK (Helion, Inc.) - Evolution ofi'a Solar Greenhouse. . . . . . . . . . . 137 E.R. FREEMAN (Provider Greenhouses) - The Evolution of a Small Solar Greenhouse. . . . . , , . . . . . . 141 SECTION 5 CHAIRMAN: DREW GILLETT ED MACDOUGALL (Brookhaven National Laboratory) - A Home-Built, Low Technology Solar Greenhouse. . . . . 148 JOSEPH FREDA* & LEAFIE FREDA* - A Simple, Inexpensive Unheated Shelter for a Winter Garden at the North Shore Science Museum, Plandome Manor, h7 . . . . . . 162 MICHAEL PISERCHIO, WILLIAM DUPONT, JOHN HAYES* (Marlboro College) & JEREMY COLEMAN (Total Environmental Action) - The Use of Retractable, Insulated, Reflective Shutters for Augmenting Radiation and Retaining Heat in Greenhouses. . . . . 166 CARLA MUELLEiR*, JOHN WHITE & R.A. ALDRICH (Pennsyl- vania State University) - The Growth and Response of Vegetables in Sub-Optimum Greenhouse Environments 180 EDWARD MAZRIA, STEVE BAKER, ERIC HOFF, DAVID JENKINS & JIM VAN DUYN (University of Oregon) - NOT1 Solar Greenhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196 RICHARD MACMATH (Sunstructures, Inc.) - Passive Greenhouse Design in the Great Lakes Region: A Case Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 KATHI RYAN* & EARLE BARNHART (New Alchemy Institute) - Plant Response and Food Production in Solar Bioshelters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216 EAR--E BARNHART - Biotechnic Strategies in Bioshelters. . 222 SECTION 6 CHAIRMAN: BRUCE ANDERSON (Total Environmental Action) RICHARD GOTTLIEB & BUZZ TENENBOM* (Goddard College) - Solar Greenhouse Experience at the Institute for Social Ecology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229 MARK WARD (Cambridge, MA) - Some Observations k'the' . Design and Construction of Greenhouses. . 23? MARK HAHN (Ramapo College) - Greenhouse at R&p; . . ' . College.................. l 244 TAMIL BAUCH* (EGGE Research) & MORTON SCHIFF* (Enekgy . Shelters) - Energy Conservation in Greenhouses. . . . 251 ‘ROBERT LIU (Light & Plant Growth Laboratory, USDA) - Spectrum Separation Chamber for Plant Growth. l 253 REED MAES (Environmental Research Institute of Michigan) A Large-Scale Northern Climate Solar Garden . . 258 DAVID SNELL (Snell Nurseries) - A Solar Heated and.Air. Conditioned Greenhouse Using the Greenhouse as the Collector . . 262 TYRONE PIKE (DubinlBioimb 6sboliitkj 1 &ek&&e.a~ . . Cary Arboretum. . . . . . . . . . . . 264 RAMON RUEDA (People's Development Corporation).-'Pro&&n. at the People's Development Corporation . . . . . . . 266 SECTION 7 WILLIAM YANDA - SUMMARY SPEECH - Insurmountable Opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268 CONRAD HEESCHEN (Dryden, MK) - A Closing Le& l . . . l Observations. . 273 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : . 275 ., _-,. PREFACE This volume contains the papers which were delivered at the Conference on Energy-Conserving, Solar-Heated Greenhouses which was held at Marlboro College, Marlboro, Vermont, on November 19 and 2C, 1977. Copies of these Proceedings may be obtained from Marlboro College at a price of $9. The decision to hold this conference was made by a small group of New Englanders who were attending the Second Annual Conference on Solar Energy for Heating of Greenhouses and Greenhouse-Residence Combinations, held in Cleveland, Ohio, in March of 1977. The group included Jeremy Coleman of Total Environmental Action, Harrisville, NH; Jonathan Gorham of the Maine Audubon Society; Jim Burke of Vermont Recycled Greenhouses; Jenny Greene, a greenhouse owner from New Hampshire; Mark Ward, a greenhouse recycler,/builder from Cambridge, MA; Drew Gillett, the.n of the Kalwall Corporation of New Hampshire; and John Hayes of Marlboro College. It was not that we thought then or think now that the government-sponsored approach as reported at Cleveland is inappropriate or invalid, but that we couldn't understand why greenhouse pioneers such as Bill Yanda, Tom Lawand, Steve Baer, Ed Mazria of NOTI, the New Alchemists, Doug Taff, then of Garden Way, Dave MacKinnon of Rodale Press, the Ecotope Group, Malcolm Lillywhite of the Domestic Technolo g;r Institute, and many others were conspicuously not in atten ante. We felt the need for a conference, a truly national conference, which would include this group as well as the Cleveland presentors. When we returned to New England, we formed an Organizing Committee which included Dan Scully of TEA, Jim Stiles of Friends of the Sun in Brattleboro, VT, Erika Morgan of Maine Audubon, Jim Burke, Jeremy Coleman, Jonathan Gorham, Drew Gillett and John Hayes. This committee, in its call for papers, invited the Cleveland presentors as well as all others whom we could fin3 who were carrying out greenhouse research. It is interesting that only one group from Cleveland, the Penn State group, submitted papers for inclusion in this conference. In the future, when we come together to discuss greenhouse research, we need to bring together three apparently disparate groups: the government-sponsored researchers, the independent researchers, and the growers. We all have important contribu- tions to make, and we can and should all learn from each other. Notes on this Conference To say that our collective minds were boggled by the sheer amount of information presented during the day and a half conference would be an understatement. As originally planned, the conference was supposed to convene for a morning and an afternoon session. Because of the tremendous response to the 1 call for papers, two extra sessions were included. This lOO$ expansion of alloted time was still not enough. Wfth the ever- growing interest in this exciting area of research, the organi- zers of the next conference should be prepared to be overwhelmed. This enthusiasm for energy-conserving greenhouses is also shared apparently by a goodly number of people who did not submit papers. Who could have predicted with the really minimal amount of publicity that nearly 600 people would want to come to a day and a half conference in an out-of-the-way place such as rural southern Vermont? Unfortunately, because of ltilted facilities, registration had to be restricted, and, eventuti.!ly, 375 people attended and the rest had to be turned away. T:rle participants came from 25 states, 2 Canadian provinces and France. Instead of attempting to explain here what went on at the conference, two letters are included which were sent to the organizing committee after the conference. The letter by Chandler Fulton serves as the Introduction,and the letter by Conrad Heeschen serves as the Conclusion. In addition to these two letters, it should be mentioned that Bill Yanda's closing address, more than anything this committee could write, captures the spirit, conference. the excitement and the enthusiasm generated by this Your help and support is needed to maintain this momentum. 2 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The organising committee would like to thank &il t&so1 :%o helped make this conference a success. In particular, the committee would like to thank the sponsoring orgatizations: Total Environmental Action, the New England Solar Energy Association, the Maine Audubon Society, the Energy Research Group of Marlboro College, Friends of the Sun, the Kalwall Corporation, Vermont Recycled Greenhouses, and the Solar Technology Transfer Office of Brookhaven National Laboratory. There are many individuals who contributed to the success of this conference. They include the members of the Paper Review Committee: Bruce Anderson, 911'1 Shurcliff, Earle Barnhart, BillXanda and Tom Lawand. Thanks also go the the Chairmen who made the Sessions run smoothly: and Bruce Anderson. Drew Gillett, Erika Morgan Jeffords, Tom Lawand, Special thanks go to.the speakers, Jjim Bill Yanda and all the other pi*esentors who consented to report on their work. The people who helped run this conference are far too numerous to include here. At least a dosen members We owe them very special thanks. of the Marlboro College Energy Research Group were involved in running the lights, setting up chairs, registering participants, etc. Greg Gibbons and his crew did an excellent job in preparing meals during the conference. Piet van Loon, the college Business Manager, was instrumental in making sure all the proper equipment was available. Kim Gibbons and Maureen Little answered the many inquiries about the conference. Joanne Hayes did almost all of the typing and registration organieation for the conference. Special thanks are due Jack Ruttle, of Rodale Press, who offered much encouragement and many suggestions for organiaing the conference, and Jim Williams, of the Brattleboro Design Group, who did all of the graphics for the registration flyer and these Proceedings. Finally, we would like to than:. the conference participants for their enthusiasm and lively discussion sessions. Without them the conference spirit wouldnot have developed and our enthusiasm for greenhouse research would not be nearly as great as it is, 3 Chandler Fulton Department of Biology Brandeis University Waltham, Mass. 02154 l%rou$h so~hi&%outeti und s%?dtive ilzs-tati 2r18 am secuvhing for SiQPZ pOSt% Cd k8#8 to eMbt8 fiim