How Thermal Renewable Energy Can Benefit Your Greenhouse Operations and Bottom Line

2015 PRO Green Expo | L. M. Baer | How Thermal Renewable Energy Can Benefit Your Greenhouse Operations

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How Thermal Renewable Energy Can Benefit Your Greenhouse Operations

and Bottom Line

PRO Green ExpoColorado Convention CenterJanuary 15, 2015, 1:00 PM

15 January 2015


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How We Think We Use Energy

Resi-dential

16%Com-

mercial12%

Industrial33%

Transport38%

15 January 2015


3

How We Really Use It

Electricity30%

Transport30%

Thermal (Heating)

40%

15 January 2015


4

Greenhouse Energy Use

Electricity (Lighting, Motors)

25%Hea

t75%

15 January 2015


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Energy Resources: Today Sun! (for Better or

Worse) Urban Centers

Electricity Natural Gas (by Contract)

Rural Regions Electricity

(Electricity AND Heat?) Propane

Diversified Energy Portfolio = Reduced Volatility Exposure

15 January 2015

Photo courtesy of Connecticut Farm Energy Program.


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Energy Resources: Diversify Energy Efficiency: The Mighty Negawatt

Weatherization (Air Sealing, Including Fans)Appropriate VentilationDouble Roof/Walls (IR/Anti-Condensation)Movable Insulating Curtains/BlanketsFoundation Isolation/InsulationSide/North Wall InsulationElectricity: Motors, Lights, Etc.

15 January 2015


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Energy Resources: Diversify Renewable Thermals (Heating)

Biomass CombustionPassive Solar ThermalActive Solar ThermalGeothermal

15 January 2015

Photo courtesy of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs.


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Passive Solar Thermal Passive Solar is About

Design Energy Efficiency

(e.g., insulation) Orientation: Long and

Narrow Face South Heat Storage/Thermal

MassWaterMasonry, Rock

15 January 2015

Photo of Sweet Earth Farm by Jody Rader for the University of Minnesota


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Active Solar Thermal: Air Hot Air Use for Heat

Collected at Top of Greenhouse

Pumped to Pipes in Soil Maybe Better for

Smaller to Mid-Sized Installations

Works Well for Cold-Weather Greenhouses

15 January 2015

Black pipe collector at Elk’s Bluff Farm (Chuck Waibel), left; subterranean heating system at Garden Goddess Farm (Jody Rader), below. Photos courtesy of University of Minnesota.


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Active Solar Thermal: Liquid Hot Liquid for Heat

Solar Collector on Ground Piped to Different

Applications in Structure○ Radiant Soil/Bench Heat○ Hot Water○ Snow/Ice Melt

Controls Larger Applications, Too Replace Propane, Elec.

15 January 2015

Photo courtesy of Laurent Meillon, Capitol Solar Energy.


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Active Solar Thermal: Liquid Example System: Small- to Mid-Sized

InstallNine (9) 4 ft X 10 ft panelsBuilt-in “Battery”: 670 gal hot water tank

Annual Energy Production*

* Based on conversion factors vetted with a National Renewable Energy Laboratory Technical Assistance Grant.

15 January 2015

Per Panel Per System3.38 MWh (th) 30.4 MWh (th)125 gallons propane

1,130 gallons propane


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Active Solar Thermal: Liquid

Economics:Replacing $1.50/gal propane

Economics:Replacing $2.50/gal propane

Simple Payback: 10.8 years

ROR: 9%

Simple Payback: 4.3 years

ROR: 23%

15 January 2015

System Cost:$26,000 - $7,800 ITC = $18,200without any additional programs


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Cutting Greenhouse Costs It’s Almost All About Heat It’s Also About Scale, Location, Situation The Order to Add Resources

Energy Efficiency (Don’t Forget Electricity!)Renewables○ Passive Designs & Retrofits○ Active Solutions

Biomass Combustion with a Good FeedstockActive Solar Thermal: Air & WaterGeothermal…

15 January 2015


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ResourcesAmerican Solar. “Solar Heating and Solar Heat Recovery for Greenhouses.” Available at http://www.americansolar.com/resources/papers/Solar%20heating%20and%20solar%20heat%20recovery%20for%20greenhouses%208%2006.pdfColorado Department of Agriculture. Colorado Agriculture Renewable Heating & Cooling Roadmap. 2013. Available at https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/agconservation/renewableheatingcoolingConnecticut Farm Energy Program. Energy Best Management Practices Guide. Available at http://www.CTFarmEnergy.orgExtension.org. “Geothermal Heat for Greenhouses.” 2014. Available at http://www.extension.org/pages/27790/geothermal-heat-for-greenhouses/print/#.VHYQu4vF-SoGarden & Greenhouse. “Harnessing Solar Energy for Greenhouse Operations.” Available at http://www.gardenandgreenhouse.net/index.php/past-issues-mainmenu-18/111-2012-garden-greenhouse/march-2012/1294-harnessing-solar-energy-for-greenhouse-operations--thermal-massGreenhouse Grower. “Can You Afford Free Heat?” 2008. http://www.greenhousegrower.com/structures-equipment/equipment/can-you-afford-free-heat/Meillon, Laurent. Capitol Solar Energy. 2014. Information at http://www.capitolsolarenergy.com/contact.htmlOntario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “Small Biomass Boiler Technology.” 2014. Available at http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/14-009.htmUniversity of Connecticut. “Greenhouse Energy Conservation Checklist.” Available at http://www.hort.uconn.edu/ipm/greenhs/bartok/htms/Greenhouse%20Energy%20Conservation%20Checklist.htmUniversity of Minnesota. Cold-Climate Greenhouse Resource. 2013. Available at http://csbr.umn.edu/publications/reports.html

15 January 2015

http://www.americansolar.com/resources/papers/Solar%20heating%20and%20solar%20heat%20recovery%20for%20greenhouses%208%2006.pdf



https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/agconservation/renewableheatingcooling

https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/agconservation/renewableheatingcooling

http://www.CTFarmEnergy.org/

http://www.extension.org/pages/27790/geothermal-heat-for-greenhouses/print/%23.VHYQu4vF-So

http://www.gardenandgreenhouse.net/index.php/past-issues-mainmenu-18/111-2012-garden-greenhouse/march-2012/1294-harnessing-solar-energy-for-greenhouse-operations--thermal-mass



http://www.greenhousegrower.com/structures-equipment/equipment/can-you-afford-free-heat/

http://www.greenhousegrower.com/structures-equipment/equipment/can-you-afford-free-heat/

http://www.capitolsolarenergy.com/contact.html

http://www.capitolsolarenergy.com/contact.html

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/14-009.htm

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/14-009.htm

http://www.hort.uconn.edu/ipm/greenhs/bartok/htms/Greenhouse%20Energy%20Conservation%20Checklist.htm

http://www.hort.uconn.edu/ipm/greenhs/bartok/htms/Greenhouse%20Energy%20Conservation%20Checklist.htm

http://csbr.umn.edu/publications/reports.html

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Please contact mewith questions

Leslie Martel Baer, MS, MA Energy Strategist

[email protected]

15 January 2015 2015 PRO Green Expo | L. M. Baer | How Thermal Renewable Energy Can Benefit Your Greenhouse Operations

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How Thermal Renewable Energy Can Benefit Your Greenhouse Operations and Bottom Line

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