Dynamic Thermal Simulation in Greenhouse Design: A Practical Overview
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,
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
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
Choosing where to build a commercial greenhouse is one of the most consequential decisions a grower will make. Long before crop plans, equipment selection, or
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
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.
At some point in the process of every greenhouse project, the focus narrows to a deceptively simple question: What should we use for glazing? It’s
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
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
When ETFE comes up in greenhouse design, it’s often described as lighter than glass, highly transparent, and long-lasting. Those are useful starting points, but they
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
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
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
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
One of the most difficult challenges in greenhouse CEA (controlled environment agriculture) is designing an appropriate ventilation system to maintain proper temperature and relative humidity
Strawberries are a beloved fruit, known for their sweet flavor and vibrant color. Growing strawberries in a greenhouse can enhance the process, allowing farmers and
Mushroom cultivation is more than just a niche farming practice—it’s a thriving sector with immense market potential. Whether you’re looking to tap into the high-profit
Since 1988, Growing Gardens, located in Boulder CO, has been committed to the mission of “cultivating community through regenerative agriculture”. Their vision is to connect
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
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
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
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
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 Center of Excellence for Indoor Agriculture Thinking of starting a farm? You are not alone. Farms offer an opportunity to connect with nature, work
Rooftop greenhouses are changing the way we think about urban and other densely populated areas. We are seeing cities redefine themselves by supporting and implementing
Vertical farms have been getting a lot of attention in the (Ag)news lately, much of which has not been positive. Pittsburgh-based vertical farm company Fifth
The cost of energy is rising at an alarming rate. Natural gas prices, in particular, have greenhouse growers nervous about their operational costs and questioning
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
Imagine running a business that uses innovative sustainable growing methods, creates little to no waste, and gives back to the community by supplying fresh, local
As much as cultivators wish they could predict what their outdoor growing season will be like, they are always at the mercy of Mother Nature.
Strawberries are a delectable fruit, making them among the most valuable to grow. Out of season, they are almost impossible to find, and if you
BIM (Building Information Modeling) is a 3D modeling process used for design and construction in order to more accurately plan and build structures. At Ceres
By Hervé Maumus-Hue Carbon dioxide (CO2): The Basics Introduction 1 – Different types of plants, different biological processes 2 – C3 plants: the importance of
By Hervé Maumus-Hue Managing a perfect growing environment is challenging and is the topic of much research. We know that the environment dictates the efficiency
Get A Free Quote At Ceres, we help our clients become smarter growers by staying at the forefront of greenhouse technology. We conduct our own
For the second installation of our greenhouse lighting series, we will be discussing the difference between the two most commonly used artificial lights in commercial greenhouse
The Relationship Between Greenhouse Design and Supplemental Lighting The benefit of growing in a greenhouse, rather than growing indoors, is the ability to utilize free
A survey was conducted in the Summer of 2019 to gather information on the current state of the CEA (controlled environment agriculture) industry. The survey
Our data engineers have developed a comprehensive online tool that compares the energy savings of a Ceres sealed greenhouse against a traditional greenhouse design and an indoor
Over the last several decades, interest in local food has grown from a niche movement into a broader conversation about health, sustainability, and community resilience.
The future of agriculture is changing rapidly. For generations, farming has depended on experience, intuition, and hard physical labor. But today, growers are facing a
For many greenhouse growers, environmental control starts with temperature and relative humidity. These are familiar metrics and are easy to measure, easy to adjust. But
Once you have chosen a contractor, your involvement in the building process is far from over. There are several things that you should be diligent about
One of the most important aspects of building a greenhouse is hiring the right greenhouse construction contractors for the job. You want to make sure
The following is an excerpt from The Year-Round Solar Greenhouse, with additional content provided by expert greenhouse grower Paul Alaback. Year-round greenhouse growers and all gardeners
With demand for local food continuing at a strong pace, a year-round greenhouse is often a good business venture. You can greatly improve your chances of a successful
This is a common question that circulates in forums, and for good reason. Aquaponics is a more environmentally sustainable method of growing than conventional agriculture,
