Breathing New Life into Agriculture
In the search for sustainable and effective agricultural practices, the naturally ventilated polyhouse stands as the new face of innovation in this sector. It harmonizes the protective shield of a conventional polyhouse, together with the innate, automatic climate control of natural ventilation. This relationship leads to the creation of an environment where plants survive without the negative effects of weather extremes and also without the need for cooling and ventilation systems that consume much energy.
Through the use of the forces of nature, such as wind, thermal buoyancy, and well-thought-out structural design, these polyhouses can create a lively microclimate inside them. Well-placed vents and openings stand like conduits for the gentle air to pass through, and thus the whole space is turned into a fresh, airy space with warm, suffocating air and humidity being gracefully shown the door. This air-cooling process that is comparable to the breathing of the earth, thus decreases the demand for the artificial cooling systems that are responsible for the greater energy consumption. It, therefore, leads to the farmers' savings both in terms of energy use and cost.
Beyond Energy Savings
The natural ventilated polyhouses are the iconic agents that provide the climate control capability by effectively using natural forces. The components of the system, mainly convection and wind-sourced ventilation, control temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels and effectively establish an accommodating climate. Reduced passive cooling can be achieved through the exchange of hot and cool air, thus eliminating the requirements for artificial cooling systems, and reducing energy costs. Moreover, they play a critical function in ensuring crop protection, acting as checkpoints for pests, and diseases, exposure to harsh weather conditions, increasing profitability, and extending growing seasons. Being able to tailor designs to such specific requirements is also another major benefit, since this also allows for adjustments to the local environmental conditions and the crops themselves. Over and above that, the use of shade screens, insect screens, and thermal curtains can be incorporated into the system to provide even more flexibility, and in this way, the environmental conditions for growth can be fine-tuned.