The concept of greenhouses have been around for thousands of years. Now it is time to take greenhouses to the next level and start changing the way they are built and designed. First I believe that most greenhouses are poorly designed simply because they are built from the top down instead of the ground up. Every part of the greenhouse needs revamping and we need to look at greenhouses as an essential part of our communities and not something which we hide on the outskirts of town or in the countryside.

Homes-We need to start designing and building greenhouses into the house structure itself. This is why I believe Earth Homes are so perfect for this greenhouse incorporation. Not only do they add light and color to a home but also warmth. In addition they give everyone the opportunity to grow their own vegetables, flora and plants year round. A greenhouse incorporated into the design will require that most homes are facing south or south east to obtain the strongest light for northern climates.

Greenhouses included with the home will require a slanted glass roof and the water from rain and snow can then be harvested and stored in underground reservoirs for use in the home. In addition water can be held in large glass or lexan pillars and this not only becomes a source of visual interest but thermal reservoirs. The heat absorbed by the daily sun can then become a source of geothermal energy used to warm the home in the winters and cool the home in the summers.

With some imagination collected water can then be used to grow Tilapia fish which will feed off the natural growth of algae. Hydroponic lettuce can also be fed to the fish and their natural refuse can be then used to fertilize the very plants they are fed. Tilapia are a source of food in itself.

Now the floors of these greenhouses can then be dug into the earth as much as six feet to take advantage of the earths natural insulating factors. Once you have these greenhouses at such a depth, incorporated with other features, it may not even be necessary to insulate against the cold Canadian winters.

During the summers it can grow very hot in greenhouses and this heat can be geothermally siphoned off to supply energy to the cooling needs of of appliances such as refrigerators. Each greenhouse can also incorporate solar energy fans and louvres or stirling engines so that the greenhouse remains at a temperature that will not kill off the plants or fish. There is where the insulating factors of the earth will play a role for in the summer the earth will help cool the greenhouse to prevent it from overheating.

The main purpose of the greenhouse is to provide a source of yearly food for human and for animal. It can be screened off in various ways to protect the interior of the home if needed or can become part of the home decor if wanted.

Each greenhouse can be part of the earth home in a variety of ways. There is no limit to where it can be placed and can even become the “basement or the attic” for that home. The home can be designed around it or the greenhouse can be separate if need be.

Water can and should become an essential part of the greenhouse. This water can be circulated throughout the home for use in heating water for showers or bathing. Water can be filtered in natural filters to even find ways of reusing grey and black water using clay, sand, charcoal and gravel.