Last Updated on September 8, 2024 by Sara Rose
Do you want to know more about passive solar greenhouse kits? It is a very sustainable way to grow fruits and vegetables all year round.
Passive solar is a design that capitalizes on the sun’s energy. It does this by carefully trapping the heat from the sun to create a warm environment for your plants.
There are many different kinds of passive solar greenhouse kits. The most average one is a rectangular-shaped greenhouse that has a large and flat south-facing side to capture the sun’s heat.
However, in recent years there have been more innovative designs that work to trap heat from the sun all day long. The reason these design techniques are called “passive” solar is that they simply position the building towards the sun’s natural path.
Oftentimes, humans build their structures based on the location of the road or the neighborhood rather than their natural surroundings. This can cause a lot of inefficiency for the building because it can require excessive heating and cooling.
By positioning our buildings in the most favorable natural conditions, you can save a lot of money. According to Williams College, “When sunlight strikes a building, the building materials can reflect, transmit, or absorb the solar radiation. In addition, the heat produced by the sun causes air movement that can be predictable in designed spaces.”
Passive solar greenhouse kits do the same thing, but for a greenhouse. If we can work with nature rather than against it, our lives will always be easier.
Let’s keep reading to understand more about passive solar greenhouse kits and how you can start using them today!
Table of Contents
Using Solar Heat For Greenhouse
What makes a passive solar greenhouse so efficient? Aside from the physical shape of the greenhouse, there are other key features that make these favorable for catching and storing the sun’s heat.
The reason one would want to trap the sun’s heat is because you can grow a more diverse range of crops this way. If you live in a temperate climate, your growing seasons are limited. You also cannot grow tropical fruit like papayas, bananas, or pineapple.
The use of passive solar greenhouse kits makes all these things possible. If you provide the right conditions, you can create a microclimate suitable for growing plants all year round.
Typically, passive solar greenhouse kits have a special type of glass glazing. A glass glaze is a type of liquid that is baked onto the window panes. In the case of the passive solar greenhouse, this glaze has the ability to trap and store heat.
Not only does it keep the heat inside the greenhouse, but it also has a clear color that promotes sunlight to strongly pass through. However, it does not allow for too much sun to pass through because that could end up burning the leaves of your plants.
It is carefully designed to optimize plant growth.
They also have key features that make them resilient to harsh weather conditions. Many of these passive solar greenhouse kits can be used in large amounts of snow, rain, and hail.
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The Design Of A Suncatcher Greenhouse
Another aspect of these kit designs is that they have some kind of reflective and insulating material installed on the inside of the walls. Usually, there will be a reflective material on the north-facing wall. When the sun enters through the south-facing wall, it will hit this reflective material.
This creates a type of solar mirror effect. The heat is then reflected into the ground which is also made from a more insulative material, trapping heat in your system even more. Gravel is a good choice for storing heat.
There also needs to be some type of ventilation system. Usually, this can be done by a small window vent installed in the front and back of your greenhouse.
Another way to create air circulation is to use a fan. You can install small solar panels to power the fan. These design points make your system 100% sustainable. This means it requires no outside materials to operate.
People have said that they grew tomatoes in negative 30 degrees Fahrenheit! Of course, you need to make sure all design points are carefully addressed. You need to make sure that your greenhouse is insulated and sealed.
If there is a spot where the heat can escape from the greenhouse, it will end up becoming an energy sink.
You can build your greenhouse to be any size. Always map out your available space before making any purchases.
There are many companies that sell pre-made passive solar greenhouse kits online. These are super easy and quick to assemble.
Alternatively, you can choose to build your passive solar greenhouse DIY. There are also plenty of plans available online that you can follow.
Finalizing Your Passive Greenhouse
As you do research, you can see there are a few different designs of passive solar greenhouse kits. Some are rectangular and others are based on a geodesic dome design.
The Geodesic dome is particularly interesting because it has many panels placed at different angles. This capitalizes on tracking the heat’s sun throughout the day versus only in the mid-day when the sun is highest.
There are many things that you can add to your passive solar greenhouse once you build the structure. Some cool things to consider are above-ground ponds, waterfalls, and solar panels.
You can create a thriving ecosystem inside your greenhouse. As long as you have an area that gets sun, you can easily use passive solar greenhouse kits. You can even set up an aquaponics system inside!
The fact that you are working with nature, rather than against it will make your life significantly easier. The method of using passive solar greenhouse kits is much more efficient than an indoor grow with lights. That requires tons of special equipment, energy, and money.
We highly recommend using passive solar greenhouse kits. It’s great for you and for the planet. So give it a try!
Feel free to comment and ask questions below.
Learn more about: How To Build An Aquaponics Greenhouse?
FAQs
What makes a passive solar greenhouse so efficient?
What makes a passive solar greenhouse so efficient? Aside from the physical shape of the greenhouse, there are other key features that make these favorable for catching and storing the sun’s heat.
The reason one would want to trap the sun’s heat is because you can grow a more diverse range of crops this way. If you live in a temperate climate, your growing seasons are limited. You also cannot grow tropical fruit like papayas, bananas, or pineapple.
