Greenhouse Energy Conservation Strategies and Alternative Fuels

Many greenhouse growers are looking for options to reduce their energy costs, but they don’t always understand which options will provide the greatest return on investment. For his project, Scott Sanford developed curriculum materials, extension bulletins, resource lists, and a spreadsheet model for educators to use for delivering programming on energy management and conservation for greenhouse production.

A workshop for high school instructors and three webinars were attended by 42 participants from six different states, and 64 additional people were trained using the materials Sanford developed. Presentations covered all aspects of greenhouse energy efficiency, thermal/shade curtain systems, energy efficient plant production methods, and heating greenhouses with biomass fuel sources. Greenhouse Energy Conservation Strategies and Alternative Fuels is available online.

Want more information? See the related SARE grant(s) ENC07-098, Greenhouse Energy Conservation Strategies and Alternative Fuels.