Designing an energy-efficient commercial greenhouse
Source: HD.com
The design decisions that determine energy performance Five decisions account for most of a commercial greenhouse's energy profile. HVAC sizing determines how efficiently and precisely a system runs across a full range of conditions rather than at a single extreme; equipment can be replaced later, but resizing an undersized or oversized system after construction means a second capital expense (see how HVAC and dehumidification systems are specified for greenhouse use).
How this plays out in a real project Ceres designed the KWS Seeds sugarbeet research greenhouse in Kimberly, Idaho, with precision climate control as the core design requirement. The facility needed to hold precise temperature and humidity setpoints across four independent zones for two distinct research functions: seedling production and disease trialing.
To meet that requirement without inflating operating costs, the design integrated heat pump technology and energy curtains for energy efficiency, with Ceres' SunSense controller managing real-time environmental response across the facility from a single dashboard. Those choices, HVAC selection and environmental controls, were decided during design, not added afterward to compensate for a facility that could not otherwise hold its setpoints.
Why this matters: For operators, this is a water-management story. The useful signal is that direct substrate measurements can help cut drain loss materially without giving up yield or fruit quality, which is exactly the kind of controllable efficiency gain a facility can build on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does substrate sensing matter in free-drain strawberry systems?
Because drain percentage tells a grower what already happened, while substrate moisture and EC data show root-zone conditions directly. That makes it easier to cut water loss without guessing.
What is the operator takeaway from this trial?
If the thresholds are understood well enough, growers can reduce drain water materially while protecting yield and fruit quality, which makes sensing an operational tool instead of a reporting tool.
