Jennifer Brinker, Energy Advisor GDS Associates, Inc., an Ameren Illinois ActOnEnergy Partner

Aquaponics and Greenhouse Energy Efficiency

Quiz Questions What do you already know about energy efficiency

for aquaponics and greenhouses?

1. Can aquaponics be done in any climate?

2. What is the most popular type of greenhouse lighting?

3. What is the purpose of horizontal air flow fans in a greenhouse?

Check all that apply to you:

Greenhouse operators?

Aquaponics operators?

Who wants to save money?

Audience Poll

Overview

• What is aquaponics

• Greenhouse energy use

• Energy efficiency options

• Tools and resources

• Funding opportunities

What is Aquaponics?

• A system of agriculture involving the simultaneous cultivation of plants and aquatic animals, such as fish, in a symbiotic environment

Where does aquaponics work?

Outdoor aquaponics setup Indoor aquaponic greenhouse

Indoor aquaponics, fish and plants in one tank?

POP QUIZ

• Can aquaponics be done in any climate?

Yes

No

• Can aquaponics be done in an industrial or commercial building instead of a greenhouse?

Yes

No - May be more energy intensive, building issues, etc.

Greenhouse Energy Use Breakdown

• Besides labor, energy = largest cost for greenhouse

• 70-80% Heating

• 10-15% Electricity

• 5-10% Gasoline/diesel

• Energy usage varies largely by the purpose of a greenhouse

Energy Efficiency

• Glazing material

• Thermal curtains

• Insulation

• Lighting

• Controls

• Heating

• VFD’s

• Ventilation

Glazing Materials

• Typical glazing materials

• Glass

• Fiberglass reinforced plastic

• Polyethylene film

• Acrylic

• Polycarbonate

Glazing Material Comparison

Material % Light

Transmission

PAR

Conduction Heat

Loss

U-Value

Estimated Life Flammability

Single Glass 88-93 1.1 25+ None

Double, Insulated Glass 75-80 0.7 25+ None

Single Acrylic 93 1.1 20+ High

Double Acrylic 87 0.6 20+ High

Single Polycarbonate 91-94 1.1 10-15 Low

Double Polycarbonate 78-83 0.65 10-20 Low

Triple Polycarbonate 76-78 0.5 10-20 Low

Single Reinforced Fiberglass 90 1.2 10-15 High

Single Polyethylene 87 1.2 3-4

Double Polyethylene 78 0.7 3-4

Double, IR Polyethylene 78 0.5 3-4

Source: NRAES-3 2001 Revision

Thermal Curtains

• 80-85% of greenhouse heating needed at night

• Reduces night heating up to 70%

• Must be sealed to prevent chimney effect

• Double as shade system

• Automated curtains expensive for seasonal growers

• Manual curtains lower cost

Thermal Curtain Issues

• Plants hanging from rafters

• Irrigation hanging from rafters

• Heating pipes

• Poly tubes

• Unit heaters

• Gable, roof vents, or open roof systems • Fully drawn curtain will restrict summer air

flow

Perimeter Insulation

• Existing buildings: install 2” at base of slab, 8’ out

• New structures: install 2” along perimeter of building, 4’ deep

• Extend up to bench height

• Waterproof with vapor barrier

• Decrease heat loss from base by up to 75%

Environmental Controls

• No ventilating and heating at the same time

• Can increase greenhouse efficiency by 2-3%, per 1˚F reduction

• Can be programmed to provide optimal conditions

• Payback two-five years

Efficient Heating

• Boilers

• High efficiency and on-demand water heaters

• Unit heaters

• In-floor heating

Water Heating

• Boilers

• For both raft/tank heating and greenhouse heating

• High efficiency tank water heaters

• For raft/tank heating

• Not enough capacity for greenhouse heating

• On demand water heaters

• For raft/tank heating

• Not enough capacity for greenhouse heating

Boiler Tune-Ups

• Can reduce your boiler’s gas consumption by 10% and increase output—saving you energy and money

• Save on costly emergency outages and repairs

• Extend the life of your heating equipment

Root Zone Heating

• This is what we are doing in aquaponics!!

• Lower heating costs of 20-25%

• Study: 7% increased yields for tomatoes

• Reductions in air temperatures up to 15˚F

• Happy roots = happy plants

On Demand Water Heating

• Excellent opportunity for aquaponics

• Recirculation = minimal water heating needed after initial fill of rafts and tanks

• No wasted energy for water heating

• Can rise water temp:

• 19 gallons/min @ 20˚F rise

• 12 gallons/min @ 30˚F rise

• 10 gallons/min @ 40˚F rise

Water heating cost example

• Install high efficiency natural gas, LP, or biomass boiler

• Ex. 80 gallons water from 60˚F to 135˚F

Electric = $1.47 [$0.10/kWh]

LP = $1.28 [$2.00/gallon]

Pellets = $0.83 [$185/ton]

NG = $0.70 [$1.10/therm

Unit Heaters

• Low cost

• Easy installation

• HE models available

• Heat distribution location will affect heating costs

• Place closer to ground rather than hang high up

Unit Heater Efficiencies

Type of heater TE SE

Gravity vent heaters 80% ~65%

Power vent heaters 80% ~78%

Separated combustion 82% ~80%

Condensing unit heater 93% ~91%

• Thermal efficiency (TE): combustion and heat transfer efficiency

• Seasonal efficiency (SE): includes TE plus heat loss out exhaust vents when heater is idle

• “Gas-Fired Unit Heaters: A guide to greenhouse heating strategies,” Catalog 10 115, Modine Mfg., September 1996

• “High-Efficiency Condensing Gas-Fired Separated Combustion Unit Heaters,” Catalog 6-170, Modine Mfg., July 2009

Pumps and Motors

• Larger motors typically more efficient than smaller motors

• Motors <1 hp 40-80% efficient

• Aeration pond using two, 1 hp 50% efficient motors consume $2600 of energy per year

• Single 2 hp 80% efficient motor will consume $1633 of energy per year

• Smaller inefficient motors require more ventilation for cooling of motor

Variable Speed Drives (VFD)

• Use for air and water handling equipment

• Larger pump or motor for multiple tanks/ponds with a VFD (if have varying load during year)

• Can be staged to trigger pumps to operate at a lower speed when needed or stage other pumps to come on-line as needed

• Use on HAF and exhaust fans

VFD Example

Aerating 20 indoor tanks with 2-1 hp motors can utilize the VSD system so that if only 5 tanks need aeration, 1 motor will operate at 50% capacity. If 10 tanks need aeration, 1 motor will operate at 100% capacity. These scenarios are programmed into the system and can be adjusted

Lighting

POP QUIZ

What is the most popular type of greenhouse lighting?

Light Emitting Diode (LED)

Metal Halide

High Pressure Sodium

Mercury Vapor

Types of Lighting

• High Intensity Discharge (HID)

• Reflectors

• Light Emitting Diodes (LED)

• Light Emitting Plasma (LEP)

High Intensity Discharge (HID)

• High Pressure Sodium (HPS)

• Most efficient lamp for greenhouses

• Majority of light is near 700nm, wavelength that plants need

• Metal Halide

• Provide white/blue light, most similar to sunlight

• Install pulse start metal halide (PSMH) with electronic ballasts

• Combine with HPS lamps to produce full spectrum of light

Reflectors

• Help create uniform lighting and growth

• Many factors determine the efficiency, including shape and reflecting angle

Light Emitting Diodes (LED)

• Designed to only emit wavelength that plants need

• Better for smaller areas due to limited light output and high cost

• Not recommended yet for commercial growers

Light Emitting Plasma (LEP)

• Claims to replace HPS with LEP using ⅓ to ½ wattage

• Very expensive

• Being tested in Netherlands, Germany, etc

• Very close to needed color spectrum

• Claims need to be

verified

• Minimal heat generated

33 Source: Chameleon Grow Systems

Ventilation

• Natural Ventilation • Ridge and Side Wall Vents

• Roll-up Sides

• Mechanical Ventilation • Fans

• Louvers

Natural Ventilation

• No operating cost

• Dependent on weather conditions

• Ridge and Side Wall Vents • Relies on pressure differences

• Heated air escapes out top of ridge, cool air comes in side wall

• Roll-Up Sides • Mechanical and manual systems

• Greenhouse should have plenty of space around it for adequate air changes per hour

Mechanical Ventilation

• Fans • Matching inlet and exhaust fans on opposite

walls

• 1 air volume/minute is desirable

• Multispeed fans, or VFD’s, recommended

• Louvers • Provide protection from weather when closed

• Intake louvers 1¼ times bigger than fan diameter

• Maintenance • Can reduce a fan’s energy cost by up to 20%

POP QUIZ

Horizontal air flow fans (HAF) are used for ventilation.

True False

HAF fans are used for circulation/destratification of the air in the greenhouse.

Building Insulation

• Separate insulated fish building

• Can help maintain water temp for fish

• Fish do not need supplemental sunlight

• Potential to decrease water temp to plants in summer??

Aquaponics EE Example

• Growing fancy lettuce, micro-greens, herbs and tilapia

• Water temperature 78˚F

• Air temperature minimum 72˚F

• Operation 24/7/365

• NG cost = $0.90/therm

• Electric cost = $0.04/kWh

Aquaponics EE Example Cont.

Original Plan Efficiency Recommendations

• 8mm double polycarbonate

• Power vented unit heaters

• No thermal curtain

• Perimeter insulation

• No knee wall insulation

• No environmental controls

• Un-insulated fish house

• Standard NG water heater

• 8mm triple polycarbonate side and end walls

• Condensing unit heater

• 65% shading thermal curtain

• 2” perimeter insulation 4’ deep and 2’ up knee wall

• Environmental controls

• Insulated fish house

• On-demand water heater

Example Annual Operating Costs

Original Plan

$19,299

Efficient Option

$9,515

Cost savings = $9,784 Increased project cost: $31,800.00 Simple Payback: 3.3 years

Funding Opportunities

• Ameren Illinois ActOnEnergy • USDA – REAP program • Federal tax credit (RE) • NRCS – AgEMP

Agriculture Energy Management Plans

• NRCS offers funding for energy management plans done by approved Technical Service Provider (TSP)

• TSP’s are listed on the NRCS website

• Must sign up at USDA office to get approved for funding

• Efficiency measures and incentives vary by type of measure but may be available through Ameren Illinois ActOnEnergy

Contact Information

Jennifer Brinker

GDS Associates, Inc

608.354.0185

jennifer.brinker@gdsassociates.com

44

The Ameren Illinois ActOnEnergy® Business Program

Since 2008 ActOnEnergy has provided over $30 million in energy-efficient cash incentives to Illinois businesses.

ActOnEnergy® Lighting Incentives

46

• Tube Fluorescent

• T12 Phase-out

• Compact Fluorescent lights (CFL)

• Light Emitting diodes (LED)

• Exterior Lighting

Agricultural Fan Incentives

Unit Incentive Amount • $25/fan to $100/fan,

depending on the size of the fan

• $25/fan to $100/fan,

depending on the size of the fan

• $1000/fan

• High Efficiency High Speed Exhaust/Ventilation Fans

• High Efficiency Circulation Fans

• High Volume Low Speed (HVLS) Fans

* Use the ActOnEnergy Specialty Equipment Application for these measures.

Example of Agricultural Fan Incentives

A central Illinois Farm installed: • High efficiency circulation fans

• Lighting

• Received $1900 in cash incentives from Ameren Illinois ActOnEnergy

• Lowered energy bills by nearly $2800 per year!

A southern Illinois agricultural business: • Replaced five industrial fans with one high-

volume, low-speed fan

• Received $1150 in cash incentives from Ameren Illinois ActOnEnergy

• Is saving an estimated $1000 in electric costs every year!

Grain Drying Incentives

Installing high performance grain dryers could save you up to 30% on your energy bills. Incentives vary by project.

* Use the ActOnEnergy Custom Application for these measures.

Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) Incentives

• VFD incentive $90 dollars per HP controlled (under 500, over-custom)

• Installed on an AC Motor

Agricultural Equipment Heater Timers and Waterers Incentives

• Equipment Heater Timers

• Cash incentive is $10/timer

• Livestock Waterer

• Cash incentives range from

$75/waterer to $100/waterer

* Use the ActOnEnergy Specialty Equipment Application for these measures.

Ameren Illinois ActOnEnergy

Energy

Advisors

Call ActOnEnergy:

1.866.800.0747

• Website: ActOnEnergy.com/Business

• Phone: 1.866.800.0747

• Fax: 1.309.677.7950

• Email: ActOnEnergyBusiness@Ameren.com

Resources

Quiz Questions

What did you learn about energy efficiency for aquaponics and greenhouses?

1. Can aquaponics be done in any climate?

2. What is the most popular type of greenhouse lighting?

3. What is the purpose of horizontal air flow fans in a greenhouse?

Questions?

Certified Energy Auditor Seminar

March 25-28, 2013

Springfield, IL