Wow! You all have a wealth of information on greenhouse design! Thank
you for the tips.
Paul, we intend to use our greenhouse year-round to grow tropical
plants, especially dwarf versions of fruit trees such as banana,
cherimoya, rollinia, avocado, etc. for home use. Also, probably some
mushrooms and other non-tropical food crops in colder months. No
commercial aspirations. The environment will need to be both warm and
humid year-round. We plan to attach the greenhouse to an existing
southeast-facing wall of the house and want it to be sturdy and
aesthetic. The area available has about a 10 x 15' footprint. We would
also like to use the solar gain in the winter to help heat the house,
probably using some version of John Cruickshank's SHCS (Subterranean
Heating and Cooling System). A few days ago, the temperature at night
went down to 19 degrees! This was a thirty-year low for Tucson, but if
it happened once... By the way, we already have a 100 SF shade house,
open to the elements. It works great for relatively hardy plants, but is
not enough protection for tropicals.
Neal, when you send out the Penn State study on greenhouse applications
of holograms can you include me on the list?
Brian, thanks for the links regarding filtering infrared light.