Optimizing our energy efficiency, one greenhouse at a time.

To make sure our greenhouse veggies are as green as possible, we continually strive to optimize our energy consumption. With every greenhouse we build, we learn more ways to save energy and implement these changes to improve our model, and recommit ourselves to our mission of creating a better food system.

From the coldest Canadian winters to the sweltering summers, building our greenhouses on rooftops is the first step to optimizing our energy consumption. Heat rises and our greenhouses trap that lost heat from the building below, reducing our need for heating by about half compared to a traditional greenhouse on the ground. And, since our greenhouses insulate the buildings below, they also save on heating and air-conditioning year-round. 

Keep reading to learn the other ways we keep our greenhouses at the perfect temp…

Keeping warm in the winter.

Not only do our greenhouses trap the heat from the buildings below them, but the double-paned windows also trap the sun’s rays inside. Once the sun sets, we deploy our trusty insulating curtains to minimize heat loss.

As the days get shorter, we use high-pressure sodium lights that mimic the sun’s rays to facilitate photosynthesis and provide a little boost of heat at the same time. The lights are automated, turning on and off based on the light levels outside.

And during the coldest stretch of the season, we rely on our high-efficiency natural gas boilers, sending hot water through the pipes between the rows of plants to maintain the ideal temp for our plants.

Keeping cool in the summer.

Our greenhouses are controlled by a climate control system that optimizes growing temperatures by automatically opening and closing windows. When the sun’s rays are too strong, this same system deploys curtains to shade our veg.

A couple of our rooftops are also equipped with a pad wall - a cardboard cooling pad that’s filled with water. Fans draw air through, and the air is cooled by evaporation, blowing a refreshing breeze into the greenhouse.

In certain cases, when the summer sun is at its peak, we can also apply chalk to our greenhouses’ glass roof to soften the intensity of the rays and reduce the greenhouse effect.

We’re excited to build more greenhouses and learn how to increase our energy efficiency with each one!