Who: Design and development began with students attending the Energy Sustainability Engineering Technology program at the NSCC Middleton campus. Control systems are currently underway with the support of the NSCC IT program. What: Design and build a super insulated greenhouse for year round food production in harsh winter climates without breaking the bank on the energy use associated with heating
. Where: The greenhouse (w̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶b̶u̶i̶l̶t̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶N̶o̶v̶a̶ ̶S̶c̶o̶t̶i̶a̶ ̶C̶o̶m̶m̶u̶n̶i̶t̶y̶ ̶C̶o̶l̶l̶e̶g̶e̶ ̶C̶a̶m̶p̶u̶s̶ ̶l̶o̶c̶a̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶M̶i̶d̶d̶l̶e̶t̶o̶n̶.̶ ̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶u̶i̶l̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶w̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶r̶e̶s̶i̶d̶e̶ ̶n̶e̶a̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶E̶n̶e̶r̶g̶y̶ ̶S̶u̶s̶t̶a̶i̶n̶a̶b̶i̶l̶i̶t̶y̶ ̶E̶n̶g̶i̶n̶e̶e̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶g̶r̶a̶m̶ ̶d̶e̶m̶o̶ ̶h̶o̶m̶e̶ ̶k̶n̶o̶w̶n̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶P̶i̶l̶i̶k̶a̶n̶ ̶H̶o̶u̶s̶e̶.̶ ) is currently looking for supporters and a location to construct the full-sized prototype. When: The preparation for the build is already underway with design elements selected,(L̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶u̶s̶e̶ ̶a̶p̶p̶r̶o̶v̶a̶l̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶a̶c̶a̶d̶e̶m̶i̶c̶ ̶c̶h̶a̶i̶r̶,̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶j̶e̶c̶t̶ ̶c̶h̶a̶r̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶m̶i̶t̶m̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶s̶e̶v̶e̶r̶a̶l̶ ̶v̶o̶l̶u̶n̶t̶e̶e̶r̶s̶.̶ ̶W̶h̶e̶n̶ ̶a̶ ̶b̶u̶i̶l̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶p̶e̶r̶m̶i̶t̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶f̶u̶n̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶r̶e̶ ̶a̶t̶t̶a̶i̶n̶e̶d̶ ̶g̶r̶o̶u̶n̶d̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶s̶c̶h̶e̶d̶u̶l̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶b̶r̶o̶k̶e̶n̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶i̶t̶e̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶M̶a̶r̶c̶h̶ ̶1̶s̶t̶ ̶2̶0̶1̶5̶.̶ ̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶u̶i̶l̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶e̶n̶v̶e̶l̶o̶p̶e̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶e̶x̶p̶e̶c̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶p̶l̶e̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶A̶p̶r̶i̶l̶ ̶1̶s̶t̶ ̶2̶0̶1̶5̶.̶ ̶I̶n̶t̶e̶r̶n̶a̶l̶ ̶w̶i̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶a̶u̶t̶o̶m̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶w̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶i̶n̶s̶t̶a̶l̶l̶e̶d̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶m̶i̶s̶s̶i̶o̶n̶e̶d̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶A̶p̶r̶i̶l̶ ̶1̶5̶t̶h̶.̶ ̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶g̶r̶e̶e̶n̶h̶o̶u̶s̶e̶ ̶h̶a̶s̶ ̶a̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶p̶l̶e̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶d̶a̶t̶e̶ ̶s̶c̶h̶e̶d̶u̶l̶e̶d̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶A̶p̶r̶i̶l̶ ̶3̶0̶t̶h̶ ̶2̶0̶1̶5̶.̶) electronic components have been purchased thanks to generous contributions from investors to our Indigogo campaign. These components will be used to develop control systems and monitoring for the Super Insulated Greenhouse. These systems are slated for development through the summer of 2016. Why: This project has been taken on starting in 2015 for several reasons.
• To demonstrate an example of energy sustainability in the real world that can solve a real world problem.
• To help industry partners evaluate the viability of an alternative design concept that will offer a reduction in energy demand associated with growing crops year round.
• To demonstrate a sustainable alternative that can enhance our nation’s food security.
• To be used as a living lab that would provide a better understanding of the implementation of energy sustainability methods and design of automation controls in the agriculture industry. How: Using the lessons learned from the Energy Sustainability Engineering program this project will be assembled using highly insulated walls and a modular construction concept. This will allow for rapid assembly of the building envelope. The project has welcomed participation of industry partners who can assist in raising the visibility of the project, add technical expertise, provide financial, and material support.
