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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!