Keeping the Greenhouse Warm in the Far North

We had a great question come up recently from a customer that we wanted to share with you!

Question: Where is your northern-most dome located? If someone upgraded to use solar hot water heat exchangers, what winter temperatures could the greenhouse still be operational at?

Answer: We have nine Growing Dome Greenhouses in Alaska as well as nineteen from British Columbia to Ontario, Canada. Just last September we put up a 33′ Growing Dome at a school in Alaska. As far as the solar hot water heat exchangers go, you would have to have a decent amount of sun for them to do the job for you. In a sunny climate, the Growing Dome stays 30 degrees Fahrenheit warmer inside than it is outside.

I am quite sure that with the solar hot water heat exchanger that it would be 50 degrees Fahrenheit warmer inside than out. So, the outside temperature could get down to -20 degrees Fahrenheit outside before you have freezing temperatures in the Growing Dome. Customers have installed solar hot water heat exchangers in the Growing Domes themselves in a couple different formats. Some decided to feed the hot water into their water tank. This creates a temperature gradient inside the Growing Dome with the area nearest the water tank being the warmest. Others have installed pipes in the floor which makes for more even temperatures throughout the Growing Dome.