Chinese Greenhouse

Dan Chiras, PhD, is the author of 38 books, including Solar Electricity Basics, Power from the Wind, Power from the Sun, and The Homeowners Guide to Renewable Energy. He has taught workshops on solar electricity and passive solar heating for the Evergreen Institute, the American Solar Energy Society, the Colorado Renewable Energy Society, the Missouri Solar Energy Industries Association, and the University of Colorado. Over the past 45 years, Dan has published articles on natural building, green building, solar electricity, passive solar design, self-sufficiency, and sustainability in publications such as Solar Today, Home Power, and Mother Earth News. He has installed numerous solar electric and wind systems in Missouri and has lived on solar electricity since 1996. He lives on a solar- and wind-powered farm in Gerald, MO.

• 1. My Introduction to Chinese Greenhouses Early Experiences with Greenhouse Growing Building a Four-Season GreenhouseThe Chinese Greenhouse Meeting Dr. Sanjun Gu and The Real Chinese Greenhouse What's this Book about?2. What's Wrong with Conventional Greenhouses? Shortcomings of Conventional Greenhouses Conclusion 3. What Makes the Chinese Greenhouse so Special? A Closer Look The Advantages of Earth-Sheltering How Earth-Sheltering Actually WorksA Brief History of the Chinese GreenhouseEvolutionary Changes to Chinese Greenhouse Design A Chinese Farming Success Story Do Chinese Greenhouses Really Work? Chinese Greenhouses and All-Season Greenhouses Conclusion 4. Building a Chinese Greenhouse: Site Selection, Excavation, and Drainage Above Ground or Underground: That's the Question Compensating Strategies Selecting and Excavating Your SiteGetting it Right: Proper Orientation Proper Drainage: Protecting Your Greenhouse from Water InfiltrationWater, Water, Everywhere, and You can be Sure It Will Find a Way In Conclusion 5. Thermal Mass, Framing, Glazing, and Insulation Thermal Mass Framing Your Greenhouse Roof Slope: What's the Optimum Angle? Glazing or Plastic Insulation How Much Glazing do you Need? Conclusion 6. Improving Performance: Daytime Internal Heat Banking Daily Internal Heat Banking Additional Considerations Conclusion 7. Improving Performance: Daily Heat Banking with a Solar Hot Air System Using a Solar Hot Air Collector to Bank Heat Where Can I Purchase a Solar Hot Air Collector?Mounting a Solar Hot Air Collector How does a Solar Hot Air System Work? What's the Proper Tilt Angle? Mounting a Solar Hot Air Collector on a Rack Controlling Hot Air Systems Build Your Own Solar Hot Air Collector Conclusion 8. Improving Performance: Daily Heat Banking with Solar Hot Water Systems What Is a Solar Hot Water System? Drainback Solar Hot Water Systems Pump-Driven Glycol-Based Solar Hot Water Systems Which System Should You Use? Evacuated Tube Solar Hot Water Collectors Installing a Solar Hot Water System Conclusion: How about Long-Term Heat Storage? 9. Improving Performance: Long-Term (Seasonal) Heat Banking Long-term Heat Banking: A New Idea? Long Term or Seasonal Heat Banking Heat Banking in Earth-Sheltered Buildings like the Chinese Greenhouse Active Annual Heat Storage Which Way to Go? Daily Internal Heat Recovery System Solar Hot Air System Seasonal Heat Storage with a Solar Hot Water System Conclusion: An Invitation to Share 10. Battling the Heat: Summertime Production Summer Options Retiring the Greenhouse for the Summer Continuing to grow in a Chinese Greenhouse in the Summer Quit Bugging Me Conclusion 11. Getting it Right: Designing Climate Batteries Climate Battery Design and Construction Climate Batteries and Cooling Conclusion 12. Supplementing Solar Input: LED Lighting Do You Need to Supplement Lighting? What Kind of Lights Work Best? Understanding Light Understanding PAR When do you Need Supplemental Lighting? DLI: One More Thing About Lighting Conclusion Determining Daily Light Integral 13. Building My Chinese Greenhouse: A Pictorial Documentary Site Selection and Preparation Building the Thermal Mass Wall Building Rammed Earth Tire Walls Earth-Cooling Tube Installation Waterproofing Mass WallsFraming the Greenhouse Installing the Roof Mudding the Walls Exterior Insulation and Backfilling Insulating the Interior Walls and Roof Installing Siding Revegetating the Berm We Made It! Index About the Author About New Society Publishers