Greenhouse Heating & Cooling Systems

Heating and cooling requirements for greenhouses depend on the temperature needed to ensure your plants thrive. Gardeners should choose a system that allows for expansion of the greenhouse. The best heating and cooling systems offer the capacity to heat or cool under the most severe conditions.

Factors

• Before selecting a system, calculate the amount of heating and cooling your greenhouse will need year round. Include factors such as the size of your greenhouse and the maximum temperature difference needed to heat or cool the greenhouse.

Types of Heating

• Heating systems exist for every type of budget, including space heaters that use fans for heat distribution. Hot water and steam heating systems use boilers, valves and piping to steadily heat the greenhouse. The use of a solar radiant system is one of the most expensive ways to heat a greenhouse.

Cooling System Types

• Some greenhouses rely on air movement by ventilation alone during the spring and fall. Most, however, require some type of system to help lower the temperature in the summer. Evaporative cooling, shade cloth and paint may help. Evaporative coolers remove heat from the air by changing water into a vapor that leaves the greenhouse through a vent.