Campus Greenhouse Project Provides Local Food and Research on Veggie Production in Cold Climates...

Campus Greenhouse Project Provides Local Food and Research on Veggie

Production in Cold ClimatesSusan E. Powers, PhD, PE

Daegan GonyerClarkson University

Potsdam NY

Problem – Mass-Production of Veggies

http://www.nationalatlas.gov/natlas/Natlasstart.asp

• California farm density• “factory farm” approach• Water not adequate• Nutrient and pesticide

pollution• Freight routes• Distribution networks

Vision for Year-round Sustainable Food in Cold Climates

• Controlled environment• Continuous production• Low land footprint• Local production• Technical Innovations

– Aeroponic growth– LED lighting– Passive solar design w/

renewable energy inputs– Sensors and controls– Materials and energy recycling

Achieving this Vision1. Laboratory Testing and Feasibility Assessment2. Pilot scale facility – proof-of-concept3. Business established4. Larger Pilot – Quantifying yields and revenues5. Full scale implementation

1 2

Efficient Lighting Systems

• Maximum day lighting• LED supplemental

lighting• Only photosynthetically

active wavelengths– Red and blue (+violet)

• Sensors and lighting control for suitable total lighting for each plant– 300 PPFD for lettuce– 650 PPFD for tomatoes

Resulting Pilot Greenhouse

Food Waste Digester

650 lb food/d3 1,400-gallon digester reactors20kW co-generation engine

Energy Cabin• Wood pellet boiler (20 kW)• Solar thermal supplemental hot water heating

(2 kW)• Integrated hot water storage and control

system • High net efficiency 85-92%

Integrated System

Green-

house

CheelEnergy Cabin

AnaerobicDigester

Food waste

Food

Effluent/nutrients

Plant wastes

Making it HappenCommitment: Clarkson University…

– Supports students with innovative ideas

– Provides opportunities for real-world engineering and business development and entrepreneurial experiences

• Research• Capstone classes• SPEED program• Shipley Center for Entrepreneurship

– Utilizes campus infrastructure as living-learning laboratory to promote sustainability education

Funding:• Student funding McNair Scholars

program• EPA P3 Phase 1 proposal funded ($10k)

(2009)• EPA P3 competition Phase II proposal funded ($75k)

• Awards from several Business plan competitions

• Digester donated – Feed Resource recovery

• Energy Cabin donated – after used for research

• Incorporate new company Blue Sphere Industries, Ltd.

• Dominion Foundation grant to integrate system into classes

On-Going Work• Greenhouse

– Optimizing growth (lettuce)• Nutrient solution• Reduced temperature, lighting to save energy

– Optimizing built system• Mathematical model for heat vs. light energy needs• Maximizing value of radiant energy gains

– Assessment and redesign of aeroponic units• Anaerobic Digester

– Acquisition and transport of food/organic wastes– Energy input/output

Key Points• New ideas for feeding our world’s population

are critically needed.• High-tech solutions can overcome agricultural

constraints for local food production• Enabling student ideas

and educating through real-world projects is fun and rewarding as an educator

Thank you!