![]() Solar greenhouse design depends on adding insulation on every surface that is not needed for light collection. This is usually where traditional greenhouses fail: they collect just as much energy as solar greenhouses (and often way too much) but can’t retain that heat when temperatures drop. Solar greenhouse design depends not just on capturing enough solar energy, but trapping it in order to keep the greenhouse warm enough during cold periods. A very small percentage of light comes directly from the North, and thus these sides are better off insulated. The sun moves higher and lower throughout the year, but it is always South. All these light-capturing materials should face where light is coming in: the South if you are in the Northern hemisphere (*For the rest of this article we’ll assume a location in the Northern hemisphere). Glazing is just a word for transparent materials, such as glass or clear rigid plastics. ![]() Thus, if growing year-round in cold climates, you need to capture enough solar energy through your glazing to heat the greenhouse. The sun is not only your source of light for growth in the greenhouse, but your source of heat. This is where solar greenhouse design begins: the sun. Orient the Greenhouse Toward the Sun (the South) For more on designing your own solar greenhouse, see The Year-Round Solar Greenhouse: How to design and build a net-zero-energy greenhouse, which includes how-to info as well as many case studies for tailoring your structure to any climate. By following these, you can create a naturally abundant, self-sufficient growing oasis, allowing you to grow more with less energy and hassle. Here are the seven basic elements of solar greenhouse design.
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