Designing an Energy-Efficient Commercial Greenhouse
Why energy performance is decided long before construction begins An energy-efficient commercial greenhouse uses less energy per square foot of production without a reduction in
Why energy performance is decided long before construction begins An energy-efficient commercial greenhouse uses less energy per square foot of production without a reduction in
A university research greenhouse needs multiple, isolated climate zones, not the single shared environment that works for a teaching or production greenhouse. That difference drives
Greenhouse owners increasingly need more than an operating cost projection. Lenders, institutional partners, and public-sector clients are asking for documented sustainability performance, a credible electrification
Humidity is one of the most difficult variables to manage in a commercial greenhouse, and one of the easiest to get wrong in a design
Every piece of mechanical equipment in a greenhouse comes with performance data from the manufacturer. Heating capacity, cooling capacity, coefficient of performance, airflow rate, energy
Greenhouse ventilation design typically begins with a standard set of calculations — vent area sized to peak summer load, and openings and circulation fans positioned
Energy is consistently one of the largest operating costs in commercial greenhouse and controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) production. Heating, cooling, ventilation, dehumidification, and supplemental lighting collectively
Client: Catawba College Location: Salisbury, North Carolina Project Type: Consultation Industry: Education Technologies: SunSense™ automation, energy curtains, fogging system, dehumidification, exhaust fans & intake dampers,
Client: KWS Seeds Location: Kimberly, Idaho Partners: Starr Corporation (General Contractor) Project Type: Commercial research greenhouse – new construction Date: July 2026 Project Overview When
If you’ve been looking for an affordable house that is also highly efficient, you’ve probably ended up at a dead end. The two main options
Client: KWS Location: Einbeck, Germany Partners: Ceres, Block Ceres Involvement: Consulting Date: February 2026 KWS enlisted the help of Ceres Greenhouse Solutions after dealing with
Location: Ancram, New York Climate Zone: 5b Size: 30’x90′ Application: Commercial, Community, Educational Date Completed: 2021 Wally Farms, a 1,000-acre farm business incubator in Ancram,
Location: Shirley, New York Climate Zone: 7a Size: 23’x52′ Application: Commercial, Educational Technologies: SunSense™, wetwall, GAHT® Date Completed: 2025 Birdsfoot Farm, part of the 300-acre
Location: Hudson, New York Size: 23’x 30′ Application: community learning space Nestled along the Hudson River and in close proximity to the picturesque Catskill Mountains,
Location: Boulder, Colorado Climate Zone: 5b Size: 30’x60′ Application: Community Technologies: SunSense™, wetwall, mechanical dehumidification Date Completed: 2026 Ceres designed a 30’ x 60’ HighYield™
When an engineer sizes a greenhouse heating or cooling system, the most common approach is to pick a design day, typically a single worst-case temperature,
A comprehensive guide for growers, developers, researchers, and ag-tech investors The greenhouse industry is complicated — highly competitive, oftentimes undifferentiated, with varying price points. While
As growers and organizations look for more sustainable ways to produce food, the idea of the “net zero greenhouse” is getting a lot of attention.
The difference between a standard commercial greenhouse and a purpose-built research greenhouse facility is significant. General-use structures are optimized for production and cost. Research-grade facilities
Planning a commercial greenhouse or indoor farm is a complex undertaking. Before permits are pulled, equipment is ordered, or a single post is set, there’s
There is something uniquely appealing about dining beneath a canopy of glass while rain traces patterns overhead, or working in a sun-drenched conservatory where the
Location: Lander, Wyoming Climate Zone: 5a Size: 18’x36′ Application: Educational Technologies: SunSense™, GAHT®, Wet Wall, Insect Screens, HAF fans Date Completed: 2025 Located in the
The choice of greenhouse covering material is rarely as simple as comparing price per square foot. Upfront material cost is only one variable in an
For many greenhouse projects, the glazing decision eventually narrows to a familiar comparison: Polycarbonate or something newer like ETFE? Polycarbonate has become a common choice
With drought conditions affecting more and more growing regions worldwide, water efficiency has moved from a best practice to a business necessity. For growers evaluating
If you’ve spent any time researching greenhouse design, you’ve probably noticed that most conversations about materials tend to circle around the same options. Glass. Polycarbonate.
Many growers today are operating or acquiring greenhouses that were built decades ago. These structures have produced successful crops for years but may now struggle
Why Putting the “Build First” is Risky Feasibility – the state or degree of being easily or conveniently done. At first glance, building a greenhouse
So, you want a year-round greenhouse? Time to dig deep—literally. One of the most important decisions in any greenhouse project is the foundation design. The
In recent years, many fully automated indoor farms (vertical farms) have struggled financially or closed operations entirely. While indoor farming still holds promise, the setbacks
Key Takeaways With these factors in mind, the real question isn’t if commercial greenhouses can be profitable—but under what conditions they make sense as an
Location: Trenton, Maine Climate Zone: 5b/6a Size: 23’x40′ Application: Commercial cut flowers Crop(s): Flowers Ceres Technologies: GAHT® system Date Completed: 2017 Salt Farm Flowers has been
Location: Aurora, Nebraska Crop(s): Seedlings, restoration of the native prairie plants in the area Size: 30’x 44′ HighYield™ Kit w/ inline headhouse Application: Nonprofit Organization
In Salt Lake City, Utah, construction is underway for what will become an exciting new hands-on learning space for students and other community members to
When starting a new greenhouse cultivation operation or expanding an existing one, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with options. Typically the initial question is what
Crandon, Wisconsin — August, 2025 Ceres Greenhouse Solutions is proud to announce the completion of a second energy-efficient aquaponic greenhouse for the Forest County Potawatomi
Construction is officially underway on a new energy-efficient, year-round greenhouse for Growing Gardens, a beloved Boulder nonprofit committed to cultivating community through regenerative agriculture. Designed
Read more about our latest article here.
Construction is in progress on what will become KWS Seeds’ most sophisticated greenhouse research facility in North America, aimed at boosting the efficiency, profitability, and
Read more about our latest article here.
Read more about our latest project here.
By Floris Berghout, CEO of Viemose DGS Across the United States, greenhouse growers are navigating a fast-changing landscape. Rising input costs, unpredictable weather patterns, and
Hortidaily published a video with Ceres CEO, Chris Uhlig. Watch Here
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a greenhouse? Or maybe you’ve dreamed about growing fruit trees but dismissed the
While it is typically within the scope of the federal government to issue agricultural grants, there is currently a lot of uncertainty around the status
Hortidaily published an interview with Ceres founder Marc Plinke. Read Here.
Apeiron Construction recently published an article about Ceres. Read Here. “Apeiron Media, Inc.- publisher of Apeiron Construction – was set up with a clear vision
Location: Spokane, WA Climate Zone: Cold & Mixed-Dry/6b Size: 30′ x 57′ Application: Educational Crop(s) Grown: Leafy greens, and other produce Ceres Technologies: Vented greenhouse,
Location: New Castle, CO Climate Zone: Cold & Mixed-Dry/6a Size: Custom 60′ x 120′ GH/ 15′ x 120′ attached north headhouse Application: Commercial Crop(s) Grown:
Location: Longmont, CO Climate Zone: Cold & Mixed-Dry/5b Size: 18′ x 24′ Application: Community Crop(s) Grown: Indigenous plants Ceres Technologies: Vented greenhouse, GAHT® system Date
Ceres Founder, Marc Plinke interviewed by Mission Matters Business Podcast with Adam Torres. Listen on Apple or Spotify.
Location: Omaha, NE Climate Zone: Cold & Very Cold/5b Size: (2) 30′ x 147′ GH & (2) 30′ x 98′ GH Application: Commercial Production Crop(s)
Let’s take a look at some past examples of Consulting, Design Development and Environmental Optimization Services GAHT® Consulting- Tasmania Why did they come to us?
At Ceres we specialize in passive solar greenhouse design for many different types of growers. While most of our clients are looking for a full
Building Management Systems (BMS) have been instrumental in providing efficient control and monitoring systems in industrial and commercial buildings, primarily for heating, ventilation, and air
Check out our article that got posted to Argitech Tomorrow
Exploring the synergy between wind energy and greenhouses presents a sustainable pathway for agricultural practices. This blog delves into how wind turbines, as a cornerstone
Check out our article that got posted to Hortidaily
Check out Josh’s Podcast Interview with The Thriving Farmer Podcast titled “Josh Holleb on Advancing Efficient Greenhouse Design Released April 16, 2024 Listen Here On
Choosing to power your commercial farm with renewable energy is an excellent way to save money and lessen your carbon footprint. Two types of technologies
The number one hurdle we hear about from farmers, businesses, and anyone interested in building a greenhouse, is cost. As such, we have decided to
Find funding from utilities across North America By Gretchen Schimelpfenig Strategic businesses build greenhouses to pay for them quickly. An effective way to lower the
Check out Marc’s Podcast Interview with The Future Council titled Harvesting the future: Smart Greenhouses & Food Security Released February 22, 2024 Listen Here
Have you ever wondered what you can cultivate within the confines of a greenhouse? The answer is just about anything, although some plants will require
Check out Marc’s radio Interview with California’s KPFZ Recorded January 23, 2024 Listen Here
Location: Fort Bragg, California Size: 18′ x 24′ Application: residential Crops Grown: coffee plants Ceres Technology: SunSense™ controller, shade cloth Is it possible to engineer
Check out this news story in MMJ Daily Read here
If you’re an avid gardener that wants to stay prolific when the days get colder and darker, you’re probably thinking about ways you can optimize
As winter approaches, many regions face the inevitable shift in weather conditions that come with this season. For commercial greenhouse operators, this means adapting operations
Learn how to heat your greenhouse in the winter by harnessing and storing solar energy to keep your greenhouse growing through the colder months without
Listen to founder and Chief Innovator at Ceres get interviewed for the podcast “Care More Be Better”. A podcast focused on social impact, sustainability, and
Climate Zone – Maryland Heights, Missouri, Zone 6bSize – (2x) 30’x80’ greenhouses, one greenhouse has an inline headhouse for adjacent classroom space Type – HighYield™ Kit Crop
Ceres was lucky to be connected with a municipality, which introduced a community project that would use captured methane gas from a local landfill to
Climate Zone: Prescott, Ontario, Zone 6 Size: 30′ x 33′ Type: HighYield™ Kit Crop: cut flowers Year Complete: 2021 Application: commercial Brenda Visser’s green thumb
Ceres’ announcement of partnership with Rabensteiner, to develop new “glasshouses” Read Article here
This blog is a summary of the RII Water Circularity Best Practices Guide. Our intention is to briefly outline some important points the guide makes,
In a world that is becoming increasingly urbanized and disconnected from nature, the concept of biophilia is gaining significant traction. Biophilia, a term coined by
At St. Thomas More School in Spokane, Washington, the community’s most significant service initiative revolves around growing food. From kindergarten to 8th grade, every student
By: Wolf Reichard As an emerging and innovative approach to farming, indoor agriculture, also known as vertical farming or controlled environment agriculture (CEA), is receiving
Colorado’s largest rooftop greenhouse will grow nearly two tons of leafy greens a day. Read Article here
A greenhouse is an excellent addition to a school’s campus and curriculum. An educational greenhouse acts as a living classroom to provide hands-on learning
Like any business, greenhouses should be completely prepared for any unexpected emergencies, including power outages. For commercial greenhouses, a power outage is much more than an
Ceres was founded with a mission to create energy-efficient growing spaces that make net zero food production possible. To achieve this, we have designed greenhouses that are
The answer is yes. The more difficult question lies in the specifics. How big of a greenhouse do I need to feed my family? What
Developing a greenhouse lighting strategy for your grow operation might seem overwhelming. How much do I need to use greenhouse supplemental lighting? Does light intensity
The Center of Excellence for Indoor Agriculture Thinking of starting a farm? You are not alone. Farms offer an opportunity to connect with nature, work
A rooftop greenhouse is a commercial greenhouse built on top of an existing building, such as a grocery store, restaurant, apartment building, hospital, or warehouse,
5 ORGANIZATIONS TRYING TO SOLVE CEA’S ENERGY PROBLEMS Read Article here
Climate Zone – Pomfret, Connecticut, Zone 6Size – 23′ x 40′Type – Singled Sloped HighYield™ Kit Year Complete – 2016Application – educational In 2015 Ceres became
Vertical farms have drawn significant investment, and significant scrutiny, over the past several years. Pittsburgh-based Fifth Season closed operations in 2022 after raising $35 million
Not all greenhouses are created equal. Variance in greenhouse design, heating systems, and structural materials make certain greenhouses more applicable for colder climates than others.
A Ceres greenhouse just north of the Canadian border has been getting a lot of attention recently. After being featured in the July issue of Greenhouse
Natural gas prices are historically volatile: Henry Hub prices rose roughly 60% during 2025 before easing in 2026, and the U.S. Energy Information Administration expects
When we design our commercial greenhouses, certain aspects of the structure (truss spacing, glazing material, and climate control equipment) can be adapted to the client’s
