Advantages and operational features of attached greenhouses

Glazed veranda. Greenhouse, connected to an individual residential house, can prove to be the most suitable space for relaxation. It is suitable for use throughout almost the entire year, as long as the sun is shining or during a warm overcast day, as well as at night following a sunny day. The greenhouse creates a unique climatic zone, intermediate between the outside air and the air of heated rooms. Through the greenhouse, the apartment opens up to the outside, thereby providing an opportunity for interaction with nature, while at the same time, the greenhouse protects the residential house from cooling winds. Therefore, it is also used as a protective zone. The microclimate created in the greenhouse provides favorable conditions both for humans and plants.

Experience gained in northern countries has shown that the duration of greenhouse use during the year reaches 8—9 months, starting from February through October inclusive. Of course, the air temperature in the greenhouse changes quite significantly in different months and even during the same day depending on the outside air temperature, wind, and above all, on the presence or absence of solar radiation. On a clear February day, the air temperature in the greenhouse can rise to 20°С, while in overcast weather it can fluctuate around zero. In summer, it is necessary to provide the possibility of ventilating the greenhouse, since it serves as an effective solar radiation collector, and in a closed space, the air temperature easily rises to 40—50 °С.

During the heating season, the indoor air temperature in the greenhouse is always higher than the outside air temperature. The difference between these temperatures increases as the outside air temperature drops (see Fig. 6, the area corresponding to the December-January period), especially on sunny days, for example in February and March.

In many respects, a greenhouse serves similarly to a traditional glazed veranda and provides the realization of the same operational possibilities. A few decades ago, a glazed veranda was installed both in many individual houses and in large buildings for collective use. Such a glazed veranda, often having beautiful patterned windows, usually adorned the entire house. It remains only to guess the reasons why the glazed veranda almost completely disappeared in houses built starting from the 50s. Perhaps it was considered a useless and outdated part of the building, since improved methods of room heating began to be applied. The cost of liquid fuel used for heating was quite low, and the use of central heating proved to be very convenient for the population.

The changed energy situation and alarming signals about increasing atmospheric pollution have forced people to think about the problem of energy supply and to engage not only in the development of new, but also in the reassessment of old design solutions. Thus, they returned to the glazed veranda, which is now recognized as expedient for practical use.

With modern methods of thermal insulation and sealing, it has now become possible to construct greenhouses that are characterized by more favorable conditions for human relaxation compared to glazed verandas. Staying in such greenhouses can be likened to conditions of being in the open air. Heat is retained better in a greenhouse than on a glazed veranda, despite the fact that its glazed surface area is larger than that of a traditional veranda. In the evening after a sunny day, one can have dinner, drink coffee, etc., in the greenhouse even in cool and windy weather.

Fig. 4. The greenhouse can have a multi-purpose function

Already at the greenhouse design stage, it is necessary to provide for the rational use of space for the implementation of various functions (see Chapter 8). For growing plants, it is necessary to have appropriate work tools, boots, and work clothing, for which it is advisable to set aside a place in the greenhouse itself or next to it. 1.1.2. Solar radiation collector. The greenhouse is equipped with a large light-transmitting covering, predominantly oriented to the south. Depending

Fig. 5. Spring comes early to the greenhouse on the design solution of the greenhouse and the heat-accumulating capacity of the apartment located behind it, a large part of the solar radiation entering the greenhouse can be used for the needs of humans and plants. In this regard, the greenhouse resembles a flat solar collector, which will be discussed in more detail later. The main difference is that under the greenhouse covering there is a room that is suitable both for use as a living room and for grow-

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Fig. 6. Comparison of internal and external temperature fluctuations in the "Polar-shein" greenhouse (Kuopio) for plant growing and solar heat utilization. When designed correctly, it represents a highly efficient thermal energy accumulator, since more than half of the incoming solar radiation during the heating season can be used for supplementary heating of living rooms. In northern countries, it is possible to obtain more thermal energy this way than with the best solar collectors.

Solar greenhouse for plants. During the day, the accumulation of solar energy in the greenhouse occurs in much the same way as in a traditional conservatory. A small part of this energy is consumed in the form of natural light for plants, and the main part — in the form of thermal energy to maintain conditions necessary for plant growth (see Ch. 7).

On a sunny day, however, only a portion of the incident radiation can be utilized. In a conservatory or an ordinary greenhouse for plants, a portion of solar radiation is spent on creating excess heat in cases where the total amount of incoming radiant energy is greater than the heat loss through the outer shell of the greenhouse (after it has

Fig. 7. In the greenhouse, one can comfortably spend leisure time reached the appropriate air temperature). Reductions in heat loss are achieved by using more advanced structural insulation solutions, as well as by applying necessary fixtures and placing light-transmitting structures, mainly in the southern direction. Additionally, thermal energy transfer (which is not required in the greenhouse during the day) is carried out either to heated living rooms or for heating massive

Fig. 8. Interior view of the greenhouse at an experimental residential house in the town of Kiso. Shown are the part of the greenhouse intended for growing plants, a recreation area, as well as the heat-accumulating floor.....

objects (see Ch. 5). The excess heat generated during this, especially during the heating season, does not need to be vented outside. In other words, solar radiation can be utilized very efficiently, resulting in a significant reduction in the need for additional heating. For the most part, in greenhouses where plants are grown only for domestic needs, the sole source of heat is solar energy, to which a small amount of heat transfer from living rooms is added (during the heating season). As a rule, devices and systems for regulating air temperature and humidity are not used here. Despite this, it is possible to provide favorable conditions for plant growth in the greenhouse if one takes into account the conditions that have arisen in the greenhouse space. In accordance with processes occurring in nature, the light and thermal regimes in the greenhouse change significantly, especially along the vertical gradient of the greenhouse, as well as along its depth depending on the shape and design. These changes must be taken into account when

selecting plants and their planting location (see Cl. 7.6). There is an opinion about high humidity and contamination of greenhouses, which negatively affects living quarters. However, this is not the case at all! A well-maintained and properly ventilated greenhouse space is a joy to behold. The air there is fresh and filled with aromas.

The soil for growing plants consists mainly of peat and is practically clean, and correctly prepared compost has no odor.

Insects usually do not penetrate from the greenhouse into living rooms. Based on the experience gained in Finland, only one negative factor can be pointed out:

high air humidity in the greenhouse, especially in the summer time, due to which it is necessary to prevent

the transfer of moisture from the greenhouse to the living rooms. However, this is observed mainly outside the heating season.

Greenhouse construction in Northern conditions

Throughout the ages, northern residents have strived to connect with nature. However, with the mechanization of agriculture, changes in the extraction of means of subsistence, and the rapid development of urban lifestyles, many of them find themselves in conditions quite distant from.

people spend time in natural conditions, in close contact with the surrounding natural environment. People know well that their income and livelihood depend on weather conditions, type of soil, availability of water, livestock, etc., i.e., a person lives by using natural resources in accordance with the laws of nature.

The situation is different in industrial cities,

where people spend the majority of their day inside vehicles and buildings. The opportunity to be outdoors is limited mainly to the evening and weekends at the end of the work week. However, the harsh northern climate and the need to protect oneself from mosquitoes in summer hinder long periods spent outdoors near one's home, even if the conditions are favorable. Every reader can check how many times they spend their free time in the evening,

Features and development prospects for attached greenhouses

for example, in spring or autumn, on a balcony or outdoors.

Many people, especially those living in multi-story apartment buildings, have a need for hobby gardening, which gives them the opportunity to interact with nature and reap the fruits of their labor in a very concrete form.

It is highly likely that due to the lifestyle and psychology of northern residents, environmental conditions, and energy and economic reasons, a Renaissance period for the improvement of glazed verandas, i.e., greenhouses, will arrive.

Since greenhouses are equally suitable for use both in single-family homes and in urban-type housing, this provides a wonderful opportunity to spend time "outdoors"