An Example of

Chinese Style Passive Solar Greenhouse

in Alberta

FreshPal Farm
Jianyi Dong
2020/01/11
Outline

1. Examples of Chinese style passive solar greenhouses

2. The design principles
3. The design of FreshPal farmʼs greenhouse
4. The greenhouse performance
5. Growing plan
6. Tentative conclusions

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Examples of Chinese style passive solar greenhouses

Millions of passive solar greenhouses in north China

guaranteed relatively low vegetable price in winter

3
Examples of Chinese style passive solar greenhouses

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Examples of Chinese style passive solar greenhouses

South side of a Chinese style passive solar greenhouse

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Examples of Chinese style passive solar greenhouses

A look inside

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Examples of Chinese style passive solar greenhouses

Earthen back wall on north side

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Examples of Chinese style passive solar greenhouses

Brick and concrete back wall on north side

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Examples of Chinese style passive solar greenhouses

Greenhouse covered by insulated blankets

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Examples of Chinese style passive solar greenhouses

Tomatoes in a Chinese style

passive solar greenhouse in
China, winter time, -20deg.

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 The design principles

Greenhouse faces south to receive max sunlight.

Two most important elements for a Chinese style passive solar greenhouse:
• Back wall
• Insulated blankets 11
The design of FreshPal farmʼs greenhouse

Dual poly cover to adapt to Alberta’s harsh weather

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The design of FreshPal farmʼs greenhouse

Animation of the greenhouse model

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The design of FreshPal farmʼs greenhouse

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The design of FreshPal farmʼs greenhouse

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The design of FreshPal farmʼs greenhouse

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The design of FreshPal farmʼs greenhouse

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The design of FreshPal farmʼs greenhouse

Snow vibrator

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The design of FreshPal farmʼs greenhouse

Electric motor to
roll the insulated
blankets

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The design of FreshPal farmʼs greenhouse

Opening the insulated blankets (video accelerated)

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Greenhouse Temp
Air Temp

In Dec and Jan, night temp was closer to 0 deg when it was very cold + too much cloud cover.
cloud cover
Very cold
+

2020-01-10 15:29:45
2020-01-09 07:14:45
2020-01-07 22:59:45
January

2020-01-06 14:44:45
2020-01-05 06:29:45
2020-01-03 22:14:45
2020-01-02 13:59:45
2020-01-01 05:44:45
2019-12-30 21:29:45
2019-12-29 13:14:45
2019-12-28 04:59:45
2019-12-26 20:44:45
2019-12-25 12:29:45
2019-12-24 04:14:45
2019-12-22 19:59:45
2019-12-21 11:44:45
2019-12-20 03:29:45
2019-12-18 19:14:45
December

2019-12-17 10:59:45

Before end of Nov, night temp was mainly kept above 5 deg.
2019-12-16 02:44:45
2019-12-14 18:29:45
cloud cover
Very cold

2019-12-13 10:14:45
2019-12-12 01:59:45
Temperature Log

2019-12-10 17:44:45
2019-12-09 09:29:45
2019-12-08 01:14:45
2019-12-06 16:59:45
2019-12-05 08:44:45
2019-12-04 00:29:45
2019-12-02 16:14:45
The greenhouse performance

2019-12-01 07:59:45
2019-11-29 23:44:45
2019-11-28 15:29:45
cover
cloud
Very
cold
+

2019-11-27 07:14:45
2019-11-25 22:59:45
2019-11-24 14:44:45
2019-11-23 06:29:45
2019-11-21 22:14:45
2019-11-20 13:59:45
2019-11-19 05:44:45
November

2019-11-17 21:29:45
2019-11-16 13:14:45
2019-11-15 04:59:45
2019-11-13 20:44:45
2019-11-12 12:29:45
2019-11-11 04:14:45
2019-11-09 19:59:45
2019-11-08 11:44:45
2019-11-05 19:14:45
2019-11-04 10:59:45
2019-11-03 02:44:45
2019-11-01 18:29:45
2019-10-31 10:14:45
2019-10-30 01:59:45

October
2019-10-28 17:44:45
2019-10-27 09:29:45
2019-10-26 01:14:45
2019-10-24 16:59:45
2019-10-23 08:44:45

•
•
2019-10-22 00:29:45

25

0
30

20

15

10

-5

-10

-15

-20

-25

-30
The greenhouse performance

Picture taken on Oct 29th 22

The greenhouse performance

Picture taken on Dec 22th 23

The greenhouse performance

Picture taken on Oct 29th 24

The greenhouse performance

Picture taken on Oct 29th 25

The greenhouse performance

Picture taken on Oct 29th 26

The greenhouse performance

Picture taken on Oct 29th 27

The greenhouse performance

Picture taken on Dec 15th 28

The greenhouse performance

Picture taken on Oct 29th 29

The greenhouse performance

Picture taken on Oct 29th 30

The greenhouse performance

Picture taken on Dec 15th 31

The greenhouse performance

Picture taken on Jan 10th

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The greenhouse performance

Picture taken on Jan 10th 33

The greenhouse performance

Soil temp is higher than air temp.

Low tunnel mini greenhouse can increase temp by up to 5 deg.

Picture taken on Jan 10th 34

The greenhouse performance

Dill weed sowed in late Dec

Picture taken on Jan 10th 35

The greenhouse performance

Green radish sowed in late Oct

Picture taken on Jan 10th 36

The greenhouse performance

crown daisy sowed in late Oct

Picture taken on Jan 10th 37

The greenhouse performance

Golden garlic sprouts sowed

in mid Dec

Picture taken on Jan 10th 38

 Growing plan for 2020 Finish cucumbers and
peppers, transplant
Cut leafy veggies Start to pick tomatoes Chinese cabbage and
green radish

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun-Sep Oct Nov Dec

Start tomato and pepper seedlings Start seedlings of Finish tomato and
Start cucumber seedlings Chinese cabbage and sow leafy veggies
Transplant tomato green radish

1. Harvest leafy veggies before end of Feb.

2. Start seedling of tomato and pepper at end of Jan. Start seedling of
cucumber at end of Feb.
3. Transplant Tomato at end of Feb. Transplant pepper and cucumber
according to weather forecast.
4. Start seedling of Chinese cabbage and green radish in early Oct.
5. Finish pepper and cucumber at end of Oct and transplant Chinese
cabbage and green radish.
6. Finish tomato in mid-late Dec. Then sow leafy veggies.

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 Possible plan

Strawberry U-pick during holiday seasons

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Tentative conclusions

1. When designing a passive solar greenhouse, the principles

should be strictly followed. Special care should be taken
considering the local weather condition.

2. Dual poly cover Chinese style passive solar greenhouse can

extend growing season in Alberta with relatively low cost.

3. Given the correct varieties and a proper growing plan, year

round growing can be achieved.

4. Passive solar greenhouses are environment friendly and cost

effective. They are good for not only hobby growers but also
commercial growers. They are profitable.

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Let the greenhouse go real “green”

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