You may be wondering how greenhouse cooling works and why greenhouse cooling is so important for plants. Greenhouses are structures built to provide a space to grow plants in a controlled environment. Cultivating plants in a greenhouse allows the grower to manipulate the indoor environment to create the best conditions for all types of plants to grow and thrive, regardless of the outside weather or the time of year. Greenhouse cooling allows the greenhouse to maintain this controlled environment by regulating the temperature and humidity of the air.
There are many benefits to installing a greenhouse cooling system: they maintain plant growth rates, provide healthy conditions for crops, decrease water usage, save on energy costs, and reduce the risk of crop spoilage during peak rainy seasons or other weather extremes.
Here are 4 steps to setting up your greenhouse cooling system:
1) Make sure you have the space
When setting up for proper greenhouse cooling, make sure you have enough space in your greenhouse to house the cooling units. Cooling units need ample space to function properly. You also want to make sure that your facility is prepared to have grids of nozzles installed strategically to ensure even distribution of water droplets that cool the air and raise humidity.
Consult with greenhouse cooling specialists ahead of time to make sure you get the right types of cooling units and nozzle distribution design for your specific space. Too much or too little space for your units could result in a lot of wasted money and time, and could potentially hurt what you’re growing in your greenhouse.
2) Insulate your greenhouse properly
The next big step is to install insulation throughout the greenhouse, including on ceilings and walls. Insulation helps keep heat inside the greenhouse during cooler months and cool air inside the greenhouse when it gets too hot during warmer months. It’s also important to block any drafts so one area of the greenhouse isn’t more affected than the others.
With proper insulation installed, less heat escapes back outside through louvers, vents, doors, and other openings in a greenhouse’s framework during weather conditions where plants are most vulnerable. During the warmer months, this reduces air conditioning costs by reducing the amount of greenhouse cooling necessary to maintain an optimal growing environment. The use of insulation is one of the simplest steps greenhouse growers can take to improve their thermal efficiency and conserve energy.
3) Prepare with good shading
Another way to reduce the load on greenhouse cooling systems is by shading exterior windows, walls, and roof surfaces with some type of covering material. This can be done using fixed shading devices, such as greenhouse shading screens or greenhouse blinds. It can also be done using moveable shading materials that are rolled up on cloudy days and pulled down into place on sunny days to block the sun’s rays.
These rays would otherwise enter through glass windows or clear greenhouse plastic covering material. This can quickly increase the temperature beyond the desired range. Plants can even be damaged or sunburnt from exposure to intense sunlight. Without proper shade where you need it, it’s incredibly tough to optimize greenhouse cooling in any space.
4) Make sure your humidification systems are optimal
Proper humidification is important in the greenhouse cooling setup process. One reason is because when the greenhouse gets too cold, humidity can condense on plants and surfaces. This can cause problems like mold or fungus growth, both of which will stunt plant growth and damage crops. Excess humidity can also lead your plants to become dormant and stop growing. Installing a humidification system in your greenhouse can help to mitigate these issues and keep your plants healthy.
Greenhouse cooling is important for maintaining the quality of crops grown in greenhouses. It’s also necessary for keeping plants at an ideal temperature for photosynthesis, respiration, and other essential plant processes. By using shading screens and blinds to control sunlight entry, optimizing humidification systems, and monitoring temperatures closely, you’ll be able to set up your greenhouse for proper cooling and ensure the success of your horticultural endeavors!
To learn more about how MicroCool can help you set up your space for optimal greenhouse cooling, connect with us here. You can also reach us by phone at 760-322-1111.