Air it out

This year, Pleasant View Gardens (PVG) in Loudon, New Hampshire, had its first season growing in its new naturally ventilated greenhouse. The house, the company’s fifth, is about 50,000 square feet, and in the cooler seasons, houses PVG’s new line of Savor herbs (a product line designed to be marketed directly to Millennials) as well as an array of other veggies from tomatoes to squash.

As the New Hampshire weather swings from near 100-degree temperatures to chillier temps, it’s important for PVG’s greenhouses to be able to stabilize those temperatures for ideal growing conditions.

While equipment, like fans, can help cool herbs and other veggies when need be, PVG took another route with the new structure — a roof that allows for natural air flow.

The Nexus Atrium structure’s rooftop opens up 85 degrees vertically, according to the manufacturer’s website.

“We have roof vents, and all the roofs peak, as opposed to further down the roof. So you get a nice, open top, like a chimney, and that draws the heat out and allows for much quicker cooling,” says Veronica Lende, PVG’s section grower.

To provide a visual, Lende says to draw the letter “A.” Slightly above where the lines intersect is where the roof opens up completely on both sides, allowing for the cooling to begin (not to mention, a great breeze).

The vent, Lende says, is not on a hinge, so the opening isn’t limited. “It drops down all the way, so it’s a complete open space, and there’s no restriction of air flow at all, it’s awesome,” she says.

And if unpredictable weather hits, the roof can be closed in three minutes. The roof can also be opened partially, if need be.

“It’s almost equivalent to growing outside, yet you have better control,” she says. “If it started raining, I could shut the roof and still leave the side vents open to have good air flow coming through, so it gives you more options to be able to manipulate your environment.”

And when it’s hot, energy savings is huge, says Russ Elkins, facilities manager at PVG. The new greenhouse doesn’t need any fans at all.

“Of course, this type of ventilation does have a larger upfront cost to build, but [it] pays back pretty quickly,” Elkins says.

Lende says of all the greenhouses on the property, this one is by far her favorite.

“I don’t want to be in any other house but this one, especially when we get into the warmer temperatures,” she says.

And herbs and vegetables like it, too. “Once the herbs are to size, generally they like cool and dry conditions,” Lende says. “And that’s exactly what this house provides.”