greenhouse orientation

[digitS']

I am sure there are studies on this. Agriculture has to be the most researched area of modern life - short of medical science. I'm becoming much more aware of the temperature differences between structures because of their orientation.

The greenhouse was situated to gain maximum winter light. The temporary hoop house next door also has the same east/west orientation to the long axis of the structure. It will really get warm in there during the day.

The new hoop house runs north/south. It is quite a bit cooler at mid-day. Interestingly, it warms quicker in the morning and must catch more warming sunlight during the late afternoon.

Steve
edited to correct spelling error

 

[897tgigvib]

East west is the normal orientation.

Northeast to southwest supposedly can save heating cost. I was once loaned a booklet put out by the state of Montana on energy efficient greenhouses. Bringing the floor to 4 or 5 feet below ground level and thermal mass types were talked about a lot in it.

 

[digitS']

You know about masonry stoves? I think there are other names but I'm talking about the massive ones with flues that run back and forth within the stove before exiting into the chimney.

There are olde drawings of English commercial greenhouses.

The north wall of these big greenhouses were brick and included horizontal flues for the furnace. Even without a fire in the furnace, I am sure that the greenhouse was warmer than if the north wall was glass, probably, much warmer.

Steve