Science - March 17, 2005

Energy screens not used in enough in greenhouses

Better use of energy screens in greenhouses could save the sector around fifty million cubic metres of gas each year, according to recent research carried out at LEI.

Nearly all greenhouse growers have had energy screens placed in their greenhouses to make their energy use more efficient. The screen is a horizontal piece of material or film that can be stretched out over a crop. The screen reduces the area that has to be heated and therefore saves energy. The positioning of the screen is regulated by a climate computer. Recent LEI research confirmed that if farmers were to make optimal use of their screens, they could make energy savings of up to 12 percent. / JT