Reduce Air Leaks
Tuesday, 11 October 2005 09:13
In some greenhouses, cold air infiltration adds considerable to the cost of heating. Cracks around doors, vents and shutters that don't close tight, broken glass and tears in the plastic are typical examples. For example, a 4 foot square shutter that fails to close fully and leaves 1/2 inch gaps will allow about 12,000 cubic feet of cold air to enter each hour. To heat this amount of air over a 24 hour period to 60°F when the outside temperature is 0°F require almost 4 gallons of fuel oil. Most infiltration leaks can be corrected with minimal cost. Weatherstripping and foam insulation work well on small gaps. Shutters not needed for cooling should be covered with a sheet of film plastic or one inch of polystyrene or polyurethane insulation board. A few hours spent in tightening your greenhouses is well worth the effort.
Fact Sheet: Greenhouse Energy Conservation Checklist
John Bartok
