Over a year ago we made our decision as to the covering for our redwood framed greenhouse. In this photo it is shown covered in 6 mil plastic which pretty much destructs after a year in our Sacramento sun. I cannot tell you how many times I have had to replace it now. Too many! So we chose Sundance Supply to purchase triple walled polycarbonate panels, which are sitting in their very heavy packing box on our patio.
Never in a hundred years would I have imagined that no one would know where to purchase exhaust fans and intake vents for a greenhouse that would close when not in use, so that all the heat built-up passively during the day would not be exhausted during the cold months and run on DC power from solar panels and batteries.
Never in a hundred years would I have imagined that no one would know where to purchase exhaust fans and intake vents for a greenhouse that would close when not in use, so that all the heat built-up passively during the day would not be exhausted during the cold months and run on DC power from solar panels and batteries.
Well, a year later we have learned a lot about what is available and what is not. It was a long road with many dead ends. We finally found a fan for the greenhouse that is DC (generated by solar panels) run. It is called a Snap fan. In fact it runs straight off the solar panel and doesn't go to a battery. We still have to choose the shutters that will close to block unwanted cold in the winter. The Snap fan will be placed low on the south side (under the shade of my large Vitex tree). We found our fan at Real Goods Solar Living Center in Hopland CA.
We have a pretty large window in the roof that will open with a Gigavent (automatically opens by temperature). We got it at Peaceful Valley Farm Supply in Grass Valley CA.
Here is a picture of a panel like one of ours. I took it at the Real Goods Solar Living Center. Of course ours will not be set-up on a portable frame like this one in the picture. They will be on the roof of the studio which is attached to the greenhouse.
Ours are not up on the roof yet, but it will be exciting to see when they do get up there.
We have a pretty large window in the roof that will open with a Gigavent (automatically opens by temperature). We got it at Peaceful Valley Farm Supply in Grass Valley CA.
Here is a picture of a panel like one of ours. I took it at the Real Goods Solar Living Center. Of course ours will not be set-up on a portable frame like this one in the picture. They will be on the roof of the studio which is attached to the greenhouse.
4 comments:
The Solar Living Institute is the perfect place to learn about different solar products and creative applications of solar and renewable energy.
If there is anything that Real Goods can do for you, please let us know. :)
Neat stuff. I like your green house. :)
I wish that I was able to have a greenhouse.....one of these day's I will. Great tips btw!
Gina
Aaron at Real Goods has been working with us in our unique application where we have direct DC from one panel to the Snap fan and are inverting the DC from the batteries (from the other two panels) to AC for my lights, heat pad and timers.
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