The Chinese Greenhouse (Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series) by Chiras, Dan -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Title Page Copyright Page Contents 1. My Introduction to Chinese Greenhouses

Early Experiences with Greenhouse Growing Building a Four-Season Greenhouse The Chinese Greenhouse Meeting Dr. Sanjun Gu and The Real Chinese Greenhouse What’s this Book about?

2. What’s Wrong with Conventional Greenhouses?

Shortcomings of Conventional Greenhouses Conclusion

3. What Makes the Chinese Greenhouse so Special?

A Closer Look The Advantages of Earth-Sheltering How Earth-Sheltering Actually Works A Brief History of the Chinese Greenhouse Evolutionary Changes to Chinese Greenhouse Design A Chinese Farming Success Story Do Chinese Greenhouses Really Work? Chinese Greenhouses and All-Season Greenhouses Conclusion

4. Building a Chinese Greenhouse: Site Selection, Excavation, and Drainage

Above Ground or Underground: That’s the Question Compensating Strategies Selecting and Excavating Your Site Getting it Right: Proper Orientation Proper Drainage: Protecting Your Greenhouse from Water Infiltration Water, Water, Everywhere, and You can be Sure It Will Find a Way In Conclusion

5. Thermal Mass, Framing, Glazing, and Insulation

Thermal Mass Framing Your Greenhouse Roof Slope: What’s the Optimum Angle? Glazing or Plastic Insulation How Much Glazing do you Need? Conclusion

6. Improving Performance: Daytime Internal Heat Banking

Daily Internal Heat Banking Additional Considerations Conclusion

7. Improving Performance: Daily Heat Banking with a Solar Hot Air System

Using a Solar Hot Air Collector to Bank Heat Where Can I Purchase a Solar Hot Air Collector? Mounting a Solar Hot Air Collector How does a Solar Hot Air System Work? What’s the Proper Tilt Angle? Mounting a Solar Hot Air Collector on a Rack Controlling Hot Air Systems Build Your Own Solar Hot Air Collector Conclusion

8. Improving Performance: Daily Heat Banking with Solar Hot Water Systems

What Is a Solar Hot Water System? Drainback Solar Hot Water Systems Pump-Driven Glycol-Based Solar Hot Water Systems Which System Should You Use? Evacuated Tube Solar Hot Water Collectors Installing a Solar Hot Water System Conclusion: How about Long-Term Heat Storage?

9. Improving Performance: Long-Term (Seasonal) Heat Banking

Long-term Heat Banking: A New Idea? Long Term or Seasonal Heat Banking Heat Banking in Earth-Sheltered Buildings like the Chinese Greenhouse Active Annual Heat Storage Which Way to Go? Daily Internal Heat Recovery System Solar Hot Air System Seasonal Heat Storage with a Solar Hot Water System Conclusion: An Invitation to Share

10. Battling the Heat: Summertime Production

Summer Options Retiring the Greenhouse for the Summer Continuing to grow in a Chinese Greenhouse in the Summer Quit Bugging Me Conclusion

11. Getting it Right: Designing Climate Batteries

Climate Battery Design and Construction Climate Batteries and Cooling Conclusion

12. Supplementing Solar Input: LED Lighting

Do You Need to Supplement Lighting? What Kind of Lights Work Best? Understanding Light Understanding PAR When do you Need Supplemental Lighting? DLI: One More Thing About Lighting Conclusion Determining Daily Light Integral

13. Building My Chinese Greenhouse: A Pictorial Documentary

Site Selection and Preparation Building the Thermal Mass Wall Building Rammed Earth Tire Walls Earth-Cooling Tube Installation Waterproofing Mass Walls Framing the Greenhouse Installing the Roof Mudding the Walls Exterior Insulation and Backfilling Insulating the Interior Walls and Roof Installing Siding Revegetating the Berm We Made It!

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