I am in a quandary over my greenhouse at the moment. It could really do with some serious shading on the southern slopes. Although we’ve not had very hot summers the last few years, when it is scorchio outside it can be furnace time in the greenhouse.
Rare, but it does happen.
I’ve spotted an interesting company at Hampton Court last year that makes photo voltaic glass panels for greenhouses and does a retro fit service.
You replace your glazing with the PV glazing and it shades your plants in the heat of the summer and generates electricity.
You need a fairly big greenhouse to make it work and of course it costs a bit.
Plus in winter and early spring there is a reduction in the light that reaches your plants. You could alleviate that with low energy growing lights, but does that make sense???
I’m torn for several reasons.
It would be good to generate some energy from the sun, and greenhouse shading would be a bonus, but can I justify the cost?
Since the dear Government has halved the feed in tariff, though this is being challenged at the moment, solar panels are not such a good investment.
Then there’s the upheaval, I would need to completely empty the greenhouse within the growing season.
That’s partly good because it does need doing, but a major challenge to fit around work. Plus, like most people there are plenty of other things that need attention in and around the house.
So I am mulling it over.
Watch this space.
