The structure of a backyard greenhouse differs in terms of covering materials used. Examples of these are glass, plastic roofing, polycarbonate and plastic walls. Greenhouses which are made of glass usually heat up because the transparency of the glass allows the solar radiation coming from the sun to enter and be absorbed by the plants, flowers, soil, and other objects inside the building.

In most cases, where a greenhouse is situated in warm areas, the interior surface of the building will certainly absorb the heat coming from the sun. In effect, the plants and warmed structures inside the greenhouse will have re-radiation reaction and will produce thermal energy.

An opaque-structured greenhouse will have the energy trapped inside the building. This type of greenhouse however, is not commonly used as compared to the conventional type of glass house. It only applies to some greenhouse owners who are concerned about growing unique species of plants and flowers with the element of the weather condition.

Primarily, the heating mechanism of a greenhouse is called convection. This process is explained by making a small window at the roof of the greenhouse. This window allows air to enter into the greenhouse causing a considerable drop of temperature. The concept of having a small window or opening is based on the principle of the automatic cooling system or auto-vent. Hence, the glass structure of the greenhouse serves as a barrier to airflow which meets the objective of trapping the energy inside the greenhouse. As such, the warmed air close to the ground is blocked from rising and flowing away.

Types of Greenhouses

There are two types of greenhouse and these are glass greenhouses and plastic greenhouses. Plastic greenhouses are usually made of multi-wall sheet and PE film. These commercial types of greenhouses are made of high-end materials and facilities that promote quality growth of vegetables and flowers.

The advent of technology also provided high-tech features on today’s greenhouse structures. There is equipment used inside the glass greenhouse such as lighting, heating and cooling systems and screening installations which are automatically computerized. There are greenhouse kits on the market that are innovative and easy to assemble. Another type is the “Push and Fit” greenhouse with connectors which can be assembled according to the size and build that the owner needs.

Portable greenhouses are also available. This type of greenhouse can be transferred from one place to another, such as a garden or open backyard area, and can also be used for a desired season. Buying a greenhouse can be a choice between the traditional and cheap type or the high-quality and expensive kind. The more durable ones are made of strong and quality materials and that is why a higher price is also expected.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_Parsons

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Hydroponics uses up to 90% less water and 50% less nutrients than traditional field agriculture, while producing nearly 10 times the amount of produce per acre. In areas that lack year-round fertile land, such as deserts and cold climate areas, hydroponic greenhouses can be used to cost effectively produce produce on a very local level, eliminating the high economic and environmental costs of shipping produce across the world. The main drawback to hydroponics is the high initial cost compared to field farming. Commercial hydroponic greenhouses can easily cost $100,000 or more to set up, compared to a field farm where the only initial costs are real estate.

Hydroponics becomes more cost effective as land and shipping become more expensive. As both gas prices and land prices rise at a near constant rate, the day when produce from hydroponic greenhouses is cheaper to produce than having it shipped in is quickly drawing near.

There is another route to producing tons of local hydroponic produce year round, and that is home hydroponic greenhouses. With a small greenhouse in their backyard, one could easily produce enough fresh fruits & veggies for their family year round, as well as having plenty left over for friends and neighbors.

Home hydroponic greenhouses, if done partly “DIY”, usually cost less than $3,000 to go from bare land to a fully functioning produce factory. This is one of the most viable solutions to reduce both agricultural and transportation pollution, all while improving the health and happiness of communities.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abramo_Moretti

In order for Tiberius to have this vegetable every day at his whim, Roman gardeners used artificial methods similar to today’s greenhouses. According to a description by Pliny the cucumbers were planted in carts, placed in the sun every day, and then brought inside for warmth. The food was stored in houses that were glazed with mica sheets.

The greenhouse was not modernized until pre-Renaissance Italy. Explorers brought exotic plants from the tropics and kept them indoors at night or for winterization. These early greenhouses were not adequate for providing balanced heat, but today’s greenhouses and greenhouse kits have none of these difficulties.

Early greenhouses have traditionally been seen as signs of wealth. However, as exploration into the fields of science and botany grew, greenhouses quickly flourished at universities. The French used greenhouses to keep oranges from freezing and as pineapples became popular they were tended to indoors. During the 17th century in Europe, greenhouses continued to grow in size as better glass construction techniques were found. In France, the Palace of Versailles had a greenhouse that was more than 500 feet long and over 40 feet high.

We associate the 19th century with large elaborate greenhouses of the Victorian era. Larger greenhouses were built in England, London, New York, and Munich.

Today’s greenhouses come in two varieties: glass and plastic. Commercial glass greenhouses utilize technology for mass production of vegetables and flowers. These greenhouses are filled with high-tech devices that heat, cool, and control lighting. The functionality may be so high-tech that is controlled by a computer.

Greenhouse kits are much simpler than these high tech devices. And you don’t have to know how the kits work, but most gardeners find it helpful to have a basic understanding of how greenhouses function.

Greenhouses use different transparencies of glass to work with thermal infrared radiation and solar radiation. While the glass allows most of the solar wavelengths to pass through it blocks the thermal wavelengths that the plants and soil inside the greenhouse give off. In other words, solar radiation is allowed to pass through from outside and heats the plants, vegetables, fruits etc. inside the greenhouse. The longer thermal wavelengths are trapped by the glass so they can I get out and the key keeps building up.

This is the most conventional explanation of how greenhouses work. Scientists complicate this notion by observing that polyethylene greenhouses function just as well as glass greenhouses even though they allow infrared radiation to escape. The easiest way to address this apparent contradiction is to note that the ground absorbs radiation from the sun and this increase in temperature is conducted to the air in the greenhouse which then warms and expands. The cooler and denser air sits at the surface and picks up more heat from the warmth ground. Therefore, the ground’s absorbed radiation heats a layer of air that is helpful to your plants.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anne_Clarke

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Using your greenhouse in any one of these ways is great; however, most people have a greenhouse for plants – a place to grow their own vegetables, flowers, fruits, and herbs. By using your greenhouse mainly for growing plants in a controlled environment, you can be sure that what you’re eating is grown the way you want it.

It can be free of unwanted pesticides that most commercially produced vegetables might have. You can grow your favorite varieties, and experiment with new types.

If you like flowers, then a greenhouse is perfect for you. Try some exotic flowers and plants in your greenhouse, because they are bound to do well in the controlled environment a greenhouse offers.

Let’s take a look at some requirements of greenhouse farming, so you can make sure your plants get what they need to thrive, and that your gardening efforts aren’t wasted.

Planting

Let’s consider the best way to start seeds growing. Most greenhouse gardeners like to plant seeds in flats, set up off the ground. This allows you to better work with the seedlings, to monitor their growth, and to keep the soil warmer than if they were sitting directly on the ground.

Use a good soil mix for starting your seedlings. You can buy commercially made planting soil, or you can make your own by mixing 1/3 garden soil and 1/3 well-seasoned compost and 1/3 sand. You know your seedling mixture is perfect if it is fine textured and crumbly, and tends to fall apart after being squeezed in your hand. Mix it well, and spread it in the flats. Plant your seeds according to the directions on the seed packets.

Misting

When the temperature soars, the humidity inside your greenhouse drops, and if it drops below 30 percent, moisture is pulled out of the plants through their leaves, and the growth of your plants is seriously hindered.

A misting system produces favorable, consistent conditions throughout the entire year, which helps increase germination and growth rates, helps to control diseases, and reduces plant stress.

A greenhouse misting system causes the greenhouse to cool and humidify by spraying a mist of very fine water. This mist is easily evaporated, bringing the temperature of the greenhouse down. Temperatures may be lowered by as much as 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Humidity levels can be maintained near 90 percent.

Greenhouse Fogging

Because an overly damp greenhouse environment can cause molds and other disease problems, some greenhouses are using a similar process called a greenhouse fogging system.

High-pressure pumps force water through tubing out through special fog misting nozzles, creating a fog-like mist. Humidity and cooling are accurately controlled, without causing noticeable wetness to the surfaces of your plants and greenhouse interior.

With a greenhouse fogging system, the plants may be provided with all the moisture they require simply by pulling the moisture from the air through their leaves, just as they do in nature.

With the use of a good misting or fogging system, your plants will be healthier, propagation and germination will be improved, and energy costs will be reduced.

Lighting

Lighting can be one of the most essential elements to successful plant production in a backyard greenhouse, since greenhouse plants have meticulous requirements for proper lighting. A good lighting system will help to add light to shady areas and propagation areas in the greenhouse,

There are many types of greenhouse lighting available, including incandescent grow bulbs, standard T12 fluorescent horticultural tubes, compact fluorescent plant grow light systems, high output T5 fluorescent tubes, and high-intensity HID grow lights, to name a few.

High intensity discharge (HID) lighting is used in a greenhouse to supplement sunlight, as well as to actually replace it during the winter when natural sunlight is in short supply. HID lighting is capable of producing 500% more light than regular incandescent grow bulbs using the same amount of electricity.

Metal halide (MH) grow lights emit a light spectrum, which contains the important red and blue wavelengths that plants need for proper growth. This color spectrum keeps plants short and compact, making it the best for all-purpose growth, starting seeds and cuttings, as well as for actually growing fruiting vegetables like tomatoes and peppers, full size bedding plants, and leafy greens.

High Pressure Sodium (HPS) bulbs work well as a multi-purpose light. They emit a spectrum, which is more concentrated in red/orange light. Because of the lack of blue spectrum light, using only HPS lighting can result in “leggy” plants, but it is favorable for the fruiting and flowering stage of a plant’s development.

Switchable, or convertible models provide the ability for growers to easily switch between metal halide (MH) and high-pressure sodium (HPS) in one fixture, in order to utilize both of these technologies without having to purchase both types of fixtures separately.

Adding supplemental lighting will give you stronger, healthier seed starts. Your plants will mature faster and will be more vigorous, plant yield will be higher, and flowers will be more spectacular than can be achieved without supplemental lighting.

If you are a serious greenhouse gardener, you will recognize these benefits to increase the health, strength, growth rate, and yield of your plants.

Water

It’s important to water correctly. With freshly planted seedlings, give them just a light misting at first so the seeds won’t float up to the surface. Apply enough water using this method until the soil is thoroughly damp. Keep it damp but not soggy. If you see green growing on top of your soil, that’s a sign that you are watering too much.

Keep in mind that because of the humid environment of the greenhouse, your plants will probably not need as much water as you are used to giving your outside garden plants. There is plenty of water in the greenhouse atmosphere for the plants to absorb.

Fertilizer

Good planting soil mixes contain the nutrients your plants need for at least the initial stages of plant growth. However, since these nutrients become depleted, you will need to feed your plants with a balanced fertilizer.

Please be careful with this, because if you over feed your plants, you can harm them worse than if they receive no additional nutrients at all. One recommended type of feeding mixture is liquid seaweed. Another is homemade animal-manure tea.

Monitor the Temperature

Your plants will wilt and die if they get too hot, so you need to monitor the temperature inside your greenhouse carefully and consistently. To make this easy on yourself, just install a thermometer at the level of your plants inside the greenhouse. This way you can do a quick check to know exactly when to adjust the cooling or ventilation.

Don’t allow your greenhouse to go above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s better to let your greenhouse be a little cool than for your plants to get too hot.You will probably need to install some kind of ventilation system. You have a few options here. The most basic is just to put a fan at each end of the greenhouse near an opening.

Vents in the roof of the greenhouse can allow you to let hot air escape when necessary.

Even easier than this is an automatic ventilation systems that open vents when the temperature reaches a certain level. This may be a bit costly, but it is very efficient and relieves you of having to open and shut them manually.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_M_Frederick

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Having the ability to manage the environment in your garden can make it possible for you to cultivate plants that don’t normally grow in your climate. By controlling the conditions, you can even produce out of season. This is really an avid gardener’s fantasy. Greenhouses unlock the barriers to gardening by making it viable to grow anything, anytime, no matter where you live.

There are several things that you need to know when planning on setting up greenhouses. Taking care to plan will increase your potential while saving you money. It requires a little research, lots of thought and that loathed process of budgeting, but all in all, it is lots of fun, especially when the planning is done and you can make your ambition of being a phenomenal gardener a reality.

There are five things to be considered in the planning process:

o Different types of greenhouses

o Greenhouse accessories

o Needs assessment

o Location

o Budget

After building the knowledge, determining your needs, selecting a location, and setting your budget, you will be ready to devise a plan and put it into action!

Types of greenhouses

Building your knowledge concerning the different types of greenhouses will make the process so much easier. There are various different types including different sizes, shapes and building materials. Whether you are planning for a huge garden, a small garden, or an herb box, there are greenhouses available for you. Hobby gardening to commercial gardening can be accommodated.

Greenhouses are available in several sizes. They range from a window box to a full-size building. You can select an attached greenhouse (attached to your house or another building), or a free-standing greenhouse. There are even portable greenhouses, or hobby greenhouses, that can easily fit on your porch.

A lean-to shape is common with attached greenhouses, although an even-span can be attached too. A window-mounted greenhouse is a small, attached greenhouse. Free-standing greenhouses can take any shape and size.

What is more to important to some than shape or size is the building materials used in the construction of a greenhouse. The materials used will determine the cost, the durability and the level of maintenance that will be required to keep the greenhouse in good shape. Some materials will require a permanent foundation; while some that are intended to be portable, won’t require a permanent foundation.

The frame of a free-standing greenhouse can be made of wood or pipe with choices of different grades of wood, plastic, aluminum, or galvanized steel pipe. The type of framing material may be dependent on your choice of coverings. For coverings you may choose tempered glass, fiberglass or plastic film. In selecting the materials, you should consider the pros and cons of each as well as the cost, maintenance requirement and durability.

If you are building the greenhouse yourself, you should check with your local building inspector to find out about recommendations for materials in your area and whether or not a building permit is required.

Greenhouse accessories

It is best to become familiar with greenhouse accessories before you select your greenhouses or develop your budget. In order for your greenhouse to work, there are some accessories that you will definitely need. Other accessories are for convenience.

One of the most important accessories to consider is watering devices, because plumbing may be required. Plumbing can really cut into your budget. So, it is a good idea to check out the options for watering your plants inside your greenhouse. Of course, you can carry water and hand-water your plants if you have the time, but there are watering devices that will automatically water as instructed.

The next most significant knowledge to build is about climate and light control equipment. This includes equipment that will help you to control the environment in your greenhouse. Temperature control equipment such as heating systems and solar panels will allow you to control the heat, while evaporative coolers, humidification devices and shade cloths can help to cool and humidify the area. Ventilation and air circulation equipment may be necessary too. Artificial lighting can be used to compensate for sunlight if the greenhouse doesn’t get enough sunlight.

Control equipment really adds potential to your greenhouse. It can actually create an environment that best suits your garden, regardless of your climate or the weather. Control equipment can be automated, where it takes care of itself, or it can be manually implemented as needed.

Of course you will need planters, pots or containers, unless you plant right in the ground. Plant stands and shelves will allow you to plant more in less space. You will also have to have the basic gardening supplies including hand tools.

These are a few of the necessary greenhouse accessories. In your research, you will become familiar with lots of accessories that make gardening in a greenhouse a whole lot simpler and more enjoyable.

Assessing your needs

It is very important that you assess your needs. Otherwise, you will likely end up getting something that doesn’t meet your needs. When that happens, you will end up spending loads of money to revamp your plan after you find out that greenhouses you have selected aren’t sufficient.

After you have done all of the research on types of greenhouses and greenhouse accessories, you will know what is available. You will probably know what you want, but you need to make sure that it will meet your needs.

Now is the time to decide if you want a large greenhouse, or maybe more than one small greenhouse. It all depends on what you are planting and the best environment for the plants. For example, if you are planting plants that grow best in dry environment along with plants that require humidity, it will be best to have two greenhouses so that you have the ability to control environment appropriately.

Decide what you are going to plant and do the research to determine the best growing conditions for the plants. This will help to establish what you need in terms of greenhouses and accessories for controlling the environment.

Selecting a location

Location of the greenhouse will dictate what gardening accessories are needed in regard to lighting control. Some plants don’t require a lot of light, while some require sunlight for the whole day. Positioning your greenhouse will determine whether or not you need artificial lighting. Choose a location where the greenhouse gets sunlight all day if you can. If you can’t, be sure to plan for artificial lighting to compensate for shady hours in the day.

Budgeting

Budgeting is usually the first thing you do when planning a project. You probably had some idea of how much money you could spend on your greenhouse project, but after doing all the research, you are likely to find that you need more money to get exactly what you want.

Now is the time to separate your wants from your needs. This may include formulating two budgets, one for now and one for later. For now, take your current budget and plan to purchase the things that you need to get your greenhouse going. Your budget may decide whether you will buy prefabricated greenhouses, have your greenhouses built, or built them yourself. It may decide what accessories you can get now, and what conveniences you will have to put off until later. Later, you can always add-on or buy additional accessories to enhance your gardening experience.

Be sure to put your greenhouse plans in writing including drawings of what your long-term plan includes. This will help you or your contractor to remember what you are shooting for throughout the project. With good written plans, you won’t accidentally place things where they will have to moved or torn down to expand your greenhouse. Of course, things can be moved, but moving them can be expensive and can jeopardize the strength and durability of the materials.

Planning before you start to build greenhouses is vital. It can save you lots of money and make budgeting so much easier. It can actually set long-term plans to create the perfect gardening atmosphere, one that you will be proud of and enjoy working in.

Every gardener has a dream. Make the vision a goal, and you’ll definitely realize it. Making the gardener’s dream come true is promising with a little research, a lot of planning, patience, and hard work. It may not be something that you can have tomorrow, but you can start small and build-up over time until you have the garden that you never imagined possible.

If you have done a good job of planning, the future won’t include wasting your money by tearing down your insufficient greenhouse. Your greenhouse will be an investment in your long-term gardening plans.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Beart

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Greenhouses were once made of wood and glass and even cast iron and glass. These materials represented a dramatic technological development in their time. Now these traditional materials are a rarity. They are preserved in the grounds of stately homes and classic botanical gardens.

The arrival of aluminum made greenhouses available to a wider market after World War Two. They were still glazed with glass and comparatively expensive. But the demand for the hobby greenhouse had begun.

While high quality hobby greenhouses are often made of quality timber such as redwood the most common type of greenhouse structure for the amateur is made of aluminum. A timber frame will always look better. The aesthetics of the aluminum structure reveal its origins in commercial horticulture. To many people they are unappealing, if functional.

Commercial greenhouses are still often based on aluminum structures, but the glazing material has changed. Greenhouses are usually glazed with twin wall polycarbonate these days. This material has the advantage that is is cheaper than glass and does not shatter. It also provides better thermal insulation than glass. The air trapped between the two walls keeps warmth from escaping into the outside environment.

Even the frame of a greenhouse may be made of plastic. The potential of UPVC, a rigid plastic material that is resistant to ultraviolet radiation, was first recognised in the construction industry. It is employed for doors and double glazed windows. The same system has now spread to greenhouses. Standard units of double glazing, or made to measure panels, are made in a factory and brought to the site where they can be bolted together.

The use of new materials has allowed new designs of greenhouse structure to be explored. A greenhouse used to be a rectangular structure often with a pitched roof. This was a practical design and is still widely used. But the dome shaped greenhouse has become increasingly popular. Often called a solar dome, this type of structure makes the most use of light.

Dome shaped greenhouses were constructed out of cast iron in the nineteenth century. They were a great luxury. They were often used as palm houses. Surviving examples are spectacular and rare structures.

Aluminum allowed dome shaped greenhouse to be mass produced for the first time. The same shape can now be found in redwood frames too. Greenhouses of this type are often used as sun rooms and to cover pools in cold climates.

On a vast scale the same concept of a dome shape has been for the famous Eden Project biomes in Britain. The framework of these structures is made of steel. Three giant dome shaped greenhouses cover a reclaimed china clay pit and provide a series of environments that reflect the diversity of the planet.

No less visually spectacular, in its own way, is the humble polytunnel. This is a greenhouse structure made of a plastic sheeting stretched over a steel framework. Greenhouses of this type are widely used commercially. There are so many of them in Southern Spain that they can be seen from space. Satellite pictures show large areas of the region carpeted with polytunnels.

Their commercial uses are obvious but they the polytunnel can also be used in the same way as the more spectacular greenhouses of the Eden Project. The Alternative Technology Centre in Wales has a polytunnel planted with a range of tropical plants. A small water feature provides humidity for the plants. The whole effect is of a peaceful and lush tropical environment.

At a simpler level the use of plastics has created the possibility of a greater range of temporary structures than was possible in the past. It is possible to build. or buy ready made, a vast range of temporary plastic greenhouses that will fit into the smallest space. Even people who have only a balcony or terrace can now have a greenhouse.

Now that the greenhouse is no longer confined to the simpler rectangular structure it is possible to adapt them all types of space. Modern plastic materials can be cut, bent and stretched in ways that would have been impossible with glass. The change in greenhouse structure and the availability of new materials has made the greenhouse more accessible than ever before.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abhishek_Agarwal

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Simple Greenhouses

A greenhouse can be a lot of different things to different people. A greenhouse doesn’t have to be a humongous investment in polyurethane and PVC that overshadows the size of your garage. If you are only looking to extend the growing season of a few tomatoes or something of the sort, a simple hoop style green house can take care of your needs.

All you need for simple hoop style green house are some pipes, screws, 2 X 4′s and a good plastic covering. Make an easily transportable greenhouse that one or two people can move from spot to spot with each growing season. Even this simple piece of green technology can make a huge difference in the length of your growing season. These small hoop houses are typically only big enough to cover up a few plants and they are used to warm and maintain earthen plants for the most part. These are the simplest greenhouses you can create, aside from the seed starting greenhouses that can be created from a milk carton.

Something a Little Bigger

Most gardeners who are interested in making their own greenhouse for hydroponic or traditional growing methods are looking for something on a much bigger scale than a milk carton or plastic covered hoop house to get a few plants through the winter. Using some fencing, PVC pipe, metal piping, plastic, and some wood you can easily make a permanent backyard greenhouse that is pretty durable and weather proof under most circumstances. It is just as effective to build your own greenhouse and a lot less expensive than investing in a prefab model.

The first part of making a greenhouse from scratch at home is building a frame. You can easily do this by outlining the perimeter in 2 X 4′s. After building the frame fill in the space between the studs with some sort of metal framing. Galvanized pipe and fencing are both great ways to do this. The ceiling can be made of rabbit fencing all the way across. You are going to cover this structure with heavy duty plastic. The frame needs to just be a simple support that follows the size and shape of your desired greenhouse. Make sure that you put a door in so you will be able to gain access to your plants.

Once you have created the frame you are going to cover the entire thing with a plastic covering. UV resistant polyurethane is the way to go when you are looking for a permanent structure. Make sure that the plastic is well attached to the frame. After that you are done. It is not nearly as complicated as building other structures where subfloors and installation are of great importance. This is the simplest way to make your own greenhouse. If done with care this easy to create greenhouse will last for years. Feel free to add shelves and tables to the inside to hold your plants.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Don_Robinson

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Looking at the big picture, even if all countries keep their emissions low, there is still a short-fall of 30-40% in greenhouse gas reduction by 2050, if everything goes well. Of course it will not go that well! Human nature, as often demonstrated throughout history, always appears to deliver too little too late. So projected results for greenhouse gas reduction must be tempered.

This means that if ‘business as usual’ and superficial or ‘green wash’ (i e: the dissemination of misleading information by an organization to conceal its abuse of the environment in order to present a positive public image) continues, as evident at present, the mandatory and eventual urgent action to reduce fossil fuel use by 2050, could be as high as 62-72% reduction, after all other avenues have been exhausted.

To achieve such a dramatic reduction seems impossible, even though totally necessary to result in effective greenhouse gas reduction. To create a dramatic greenhouse gas reduction of this magnitude after all the built environment, culture change, transport and agricultural solutions have been tried and largely failed, would cause a great deal of economic and social upheaval. world wars have occurred under lesser circumstances before.

But, being basically an optimist, I am predicting many early initiatives will actually succeed to a certain degree. I believe the ultimate challenge will end up forcing an urgent and mandatory reduction of 40-50% reduction after all other measures are exhausted.

Greenhouse Gas Reduction – Determine The Rate of Change

The shortfall in greenhouse gas reduction needs to be adjusted progressively rather than occurring all at once. Obviously this progressive change is acceptable to most politicians and society as a whole and there are positive signs that this technological change has already begun. What is in contention is the actual rate of change and the present extent of greenhouse gas reduction.

To determine this rate of change, a multidisciplinary expert management is needed and decisions made that are based on science and sustainability based economics, not political machinations and hijacking of the agenda by powerful and influential industries.

This all means that solar and renewable energy will definitely have to progressively replace fossil fuel sources to a large degree. The extent will greatly depend on the success of greenhouse gas reductionfrom the built environment.

Solar Energy Reality

Although passive solar design is now an accepted solution for achieving high levels of energy efficiency, its entry into the market place has been relatively small due to poor public awareness and conservative industry inertia to keep ‘business as usual’. Although there has been progress, the rate of change is and will be, far too slow. Also, many projects that claim to be sustainable are of low quality and off the mark of what could be achieved if reality was more important than ‘green wash’.

Increase Innovation Process

The greatest challenge is to change for the better while not destroying the obvious economic benefits of continuing to use fossil fuel. It is realistic to understand that fossil fuels need to be used in an ecologically sustainable fashion, as increased renewable systems and technologies deliver the desired outcomes. For this reason, all governments must somehow increase levels of innovation processes and speed up change from the old economy to a new, workable one sot that sufficient greenhouse gas reduction can be achieved..

Change of cultural habits

It is not all about technologies either. The change in the cultural use of water and energy has to be an important focus until new usage habits are established. A restructured, sensible lifestyle and appropriate patterns of development need to be embraced sooner rather than later, if contemporary society has any chance of surviving the next 50 years.

It is overwhelmingly recognized by the most respected Climate Change scientists that the normal rate of change in western societies is way too slow to meet the greenhouse gas reduction and changes in the chemical constituency of the atmosphere which is needed. In most notable opinions, the very slow rate of progress will most certainly result in a run-away greenhouse effect that could devastate human habitation on this planet.

Political parties to work together

Non-scientists or those semi-trained do not seem to realize the catastrophe this world will face if ‘business as usual’ persists.

All political parties will need to work together on greenhouse gas reduction policies with the community and more importantly, to support industry, which I have witnessed is often far ahead of government policy. If encouraged, they have the capacity to research and develop and change more efficiently than solely relying on government intervention and expensive regulation.

Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Consumption patterns

Calculations on the possible results of culture change and voluntary reductions in the consumption of food and household goods, is an interesting but far from certain area of action. From my estimates the most this culture change ingredient can realistically deliver would only be approximately a 3% greenhouse gas reduction.

Organizations like ‘Days of Change’ and ‘world changing.com’ and many other initiatives are starting to push this approach as a panacea for progress. I am yet to believe that this approach will make much of a difference, though am supportive of the intent and motivation of those trying to make a difference.

Although potentially useful in promoting the cause, the important changes will come from the building, development and renewable energy industries. There is some dependence on culture change initiatives with these industries, but it is minor compared to market initiatives and forces and the power of good marketing and advertising.

This is the aspect of change in a capitalist society that will create the wholesale advances necessary. The great work of the non-profit industry associations is also where advances are happening – successful outcomes on greenhouse gas reduction policies will increase their influence, helped by a supportive attitude from the media.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Garry_Baverstock

– Wooden Greenhouses –

Wooden Greenhouses are the choice for the traditionalist and the expert gardener. They are commonly made from Canadian Western Red Cedar, which is renowned for it’s exceptional long life outdoors as a result of it’s effective rot resistance. Wooden greenhouses are the traditional style of greenhouse before the aluminium greenhouses and plastic greenhouses became more popular towards the end of the last century.

A timber greenhouse will obviously blend in naturally with your garden and will become an integral feature rather than something of an eyesore which you wish to hide away. Timber is also the choice of the expert gardener and it is generally agreed that it is the best material for a greenhouse. One of the main reasons is that the red cedar greenhouses are much better at maintaining a constant temperature than aluminium ones, which obviously leads to a healthier and more natural environment. An experienced gardener will know the benefit of having things to hand and a wooden frame will allow the gardener to easily fix hooks and shelves exactly where he wants them, so those all important greenhouse accessories are to hand. The wooden frame also makes it easier to fix an extra layer of insulation of plastic bubble sheeting, such severe weather conditions prevail.

The best time to add a protective coat to a timber frame is before winter sets in. Choose a good day in the late autumn and give the frame any attention it needs. Look for any wear and tear and treat it immediately. Most good timber frames come with a ten year gaurantee, but don’t wait for 10 years before checking.

Wooden greenhouses are slightly more expensive than aluminium and plastic ones, but do offer more to the experienced gardener. Aluminium and plastic greenhouses are a better choice for the beginner before upgrading to a timber greenhouse.

– Aluminium Greenhouses –

A major advantage of aluminium greenhouses is that they are relatively cheap and maintenance free. They are the best choice of greenhouse if your priority is low maintenance. However, you should be aware of the advantages of other types of greenhouse. For example, with wooden greenhouses it is easy to fix extra shelves and hookes, inside and out. Aluminium is certainly easier to maintain than a wooden greenhouse, but care should be taken to keep all structural components as clean as possible to deter pests and disease.Aluminium greenhouses are certainly the most popular at the moment and part of the attractiveness is the flat pack packaging and (relatively easy) self assembly. This helps keep the cost down and aluminium is the value for money choice of greenhouse.

Before erecting an aluminium greenhouse, there are certain considerations. Firstly you should decide upon the location of the greenhouse. Somewhere easily accessible during bad weather would be good. Observe areas of your garden during sunny days to see which parts get the most sunlight. Some protection from wind would be good, but not at the expense of blocking out light. Also, be aware of any stray footballs from next door !

If you’re after a value for money and low maintenance greenhouse then aluminium is a good choice. You may lose some of the aesthetic qualities of a wooden greenhouse, but you do benefit from modern technology and design.

Article Source:  http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Garry_John

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Technology has been defined in several ways. The simplest is the knowledge of using tools and techniques to improve the working condition, organizational management and artistic perspective in order to improve the efficiency of product, machine or human efforts. The primitive man is known for intelligent use of stone to convert it into weapon and shelter houses. The use of animal skin and bark of trees for covering body was a step towards fabric technology. The knowledge of technology to control the fire radically changed the status of man learning to add new items in his food menu and getting warmth in a cold climate. The wheel has brought us to the present state of global conveyance Flinging of leg bones into the space after a good and hefty meal inspired space odyssey. Information technology spear headed by internet has its origin in smoke signals and more recently to printing presses. Now we have industrial, educational, information, medical, visual, micro, nano, and domestic technology to name a few.

Technology is not singularly applied by human kind to give impetus to his objectives. The animals and birds have also excelled in carving out technological wonders comparable and sometimes better than us. The nest of the weaving birds, signals from dolphins, breaking of coconut shells by monkeys, domestic technology of ants, technology of descent from an acute slope by elephants, migration of birds to places akin to their need and requirements, waiting for air to become hot before taking to a flight by kites and other heavy size birds and dropping of stone pallets to raise the water level in a narrow necked pitcher by crows are some to refresh the memory. Look towards the sky in the evening. You shall find ducks flying in inverted V formation, giving others the advantage of vacuum and stream line motion.

There is a difference in how the primates of yester years behaved, how animals and birds around us make use of the technology and how we are using it. The difference is great. Their efforts were and are always in improving their living condition compatible to the environment. Our efforts are diversified in many ways. Some are good, some are bad and some are ugly. Lately, with the onset of industrial revolution, we have mostly added to pollution load of the environment or developed weapons of mass destruction. Technology which used to improve machine efficiency has focused its attention to human efficiency. We call it productivity. We pretend to exploit it as outsourcing. Green technology had no option but to introduce it and take charge of the entire state of affairs created by the human kind.

Green technology targets for an appropriate, equitable and sustainable environment by interlacing all known technologies and human involvement with environmental science to conserve and upgrade the environment and bringing it back to the quality available some 300 years back. Green technology could be termed as a refinement in the available technology in as much as, it helps in managing pollution of all kinds in such a way that these turn out to be ecological and economically friendly.

Technologies that are green are rated by their carbon footprints. A competitive and successful green technology has a low set of greenhouse gas emissions from persons, product, process, event or organization. There are two ways to achieve the objective. The first which may be termed as green acts, is to recycle the waste, reuse through reconditioning and other alternatives, reduce resource consumption and to conserve available natural resources. The second which is creating a green conditions, is to evolve technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions thus reducing carbon footprint. These measures have proven effect on global warming reduction.

The first category of green technology is to encourage and redefine the conventional ways of keeping carbon footprints at a low level. These are recycling and its extension to water and air purification, solid waste treatment including sewage treatment.

Recycling defines environment by conservation at its best. Used materials generally thrown as waste is recycled into new products. Composting is an age old concept of recycling green waste into manure. Recycling plastic waste into new plastic products is most prevalent now. Recycling reduces fresh raw material consumption by utilizing middling and scraps. It reduces wastage of energy that is required to convert fresh raw material into end products It reduces air pollution as waste is now recycled instead of incineration. It reduces water pollution as there is less land filling thus reducing leachate reaching water bodies.

Waste water is purified by chemical, mechanical and biological processes to convert it into drinking and other usage. Air is purified both in industries as well as places of human habitation in closed spaces. Industrial air pollutant such as Sulfur oxides gives back Sulfuric acid, particulates such as fire ash is converted into cement and bricks. Solid waste generation from human habitat is segregated into bio-degradable and non-bio-degradable waste. Bio-degradable waste is composted into manure and bio-fuel. Non-bio-degradable waste is further separated into metal, glass, plastic etc. The first three are used as intermediate raw material and recycled into the production pipeline to get useful products. Hazardous waste materials are suitably treated to non-hazardous entity and then most of these are also recycled. Sewage treatment has acquired a state of the art technology. It is treated to make it free from parasites, bacteria, fungi, algae and viruses. Treated solid waste is used as manure and the treated waste water is either used for irrigation or further treated to make it fit for domestic use.

Green technology that creates and sustains green condition has focused its attention primarily on renewable energy resources. Renewable energy such as solar, wind, tidal, nuclear and geothermal have been identified as having minimum greenhouse gas emission and has tremendous potential to replace the conventional energy providers such as fossil fuel and petroleum. The latter are non renewable energy resources that are major pollutants and major reasons for greenhouse gas emissions.

Green products are a category in itself as it has both the properties of reducing greenhouse gases and replacing highly polluting non-renewable energy resources. Fuel cells are one example. It eliminates air pollution from automobiles and it replaces hydrocarbon fuel. Plastic cement manufactured from waste plastic bottles is another example. This product takes less energy for its preparation than the conventional cement manufactured from iron slag, lime and sand. Moreover, this plastic cement has more permeability and hence can breathe better. Rain water can filter through surfaces prepared from it and hence enrich the water table beneath.

These days, market is getting flooded with toxic plastic toys which are highly injurious to the delicate and tender toddlers. These are being replaced by toys made from recycled plastic bottles. The latest innovation in this segment is fabric made from used plastic bottles material. Dress material for Cricket India members are made from this fabric.

Green technology is catching fast the computer software segment too. Now there is software which shall alarm you from wastage of electricity while you are in your home or at the other side of the globe.

There has been a lame excuse floating around that shifting to green technology requires too much research and development and the cost of implementation is very high. It may be appropriate for some such endeavors such as technology for geothermal energy usage. It is also argued that it takes lot of time to break even. Here, people fail to compare such logic with technologies that are in use and later revised to green technology. An instance in case is the steam engine which saw transition to diesel engine and now almost replaced by electric engines and in near future with electromagnetic induction forces and magnetic forces. A time cycle would show that invention and commissioning of coal driven steam engine took a far longer maturing time than electric engine or the future versions. All such transformations are far too profit friendly. Break-even time has also been quite low.

You may expect wonders in the future with the advent of nano technology. Imagine a chip grafted in your brain to replace computers which are one of the major consumers of electric energy and are generating huge electronic waste. You should start dreaming of recharging your space vehicle with universally available solar energy replacing high cost, highly pollutant and heavy weight, cryogenic fuel. You may have the pleasure of travelling in identified flying objects to several light year distant part of the universe.

Green technology is marching towards a future that has a future.

Article Source:  http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=PN_Singh