YMCA @ Virginia TechYMCA @ Virginia Tech

215 Maywood Street215 Maywood StreetBlacksburg VA 24060Blacksburg VA 24060

L. David RoperL. David Roper

http://arts.bev.net/RoperLDavidhttp://www.roperld.com/science/YMCASolarGreenhouse.htm

http://www.roperld.com/science/YMCASolarGreenhouse.ppt

YMCA @ Virginia TechYMCA @ Virginia TechCommunity GardensCommunity Gardens

Maywood Street off North Main Street

RSGH

House

Pond

Tank

Bee Hives

Orchard

CisternTank

YMCA @ Virginia TechYMCA @ Virginia TechCommunity GardensCommunity Gardens

RSGH

April 2010

July 2010

YMCA @ Virginia TechYMCA @ Virginia TechSolar GreenhouseSolar Greenhouse

Architecture by Colley Architects

Conceived in late 2006.Colley Architect’s drawings approved in July 2008.

YMCA @ Virginia TechYMCA @ Virginia TechSolar GreenhouseSolar Greenhouse

Heat SinkHeat Sink

•Air flow ~4ft/sec through 4” slotted drain pipes. (395 cfm)•Move 5 times the SGH volume per hour. (500 cfm)

Traditional Solar Greenhouse Heat SinkTraditional Solar Greenhouse Heat Sink

Univ. of Missouri

Traditional Solar Greenhouse Heat SinkTraditional Solar Greenhouse Heat SinkOmega

Lane Farm near Rural

Retreat VA uses

rectangular honey cans.

Blue promotes vegetative

growth. Red

promotes flowering.

Planting BedsPlanting Beds

ExcavationExcavationLate October 2008Jeff Ligon Excavation

Excavation & FootersExcavation & Footers

Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF)Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF)

1.5” insulating foam on each side.8” of concrete between.

November 2009Doug & Tim Hoback

Pouring Concrete into ICFPouring Concrete into ICF

Cold day in middle of November 2008Conrock Concrete & Jeff Ligon

Insulation Inside & Outside

Late November 2009Snyder Waterproofing

Heat Sink Insulation

6-mil polyethylene on bottom; 2” insulating board; 6-mil polyethylene on top.

Pat Bixler,Comm. Chair

Justin Boyle,Contractor

Early December 2008

Heat Sink Structure

Dave Roper,Worker

Tim Colley,Architect

Heat Sink

Installing Rafters

North Roof

Early January 2009Hammer Down ConstructionRichard Reid

West End

Late January 2009DiStefano Siding

East End

Installing PolycarbonateInstalling Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate OnPolycarbonate On

20’ long x10-mm thick double-walled polycarbonate with ribs separated by 1 cm.

Middle February 2009

Closed-Cell Foam Insulation

Wall panels outside and inside are Hardie Board, a cement-fiber composite.

Late March 2009Evergreen Insulation

Inside Hardie BoardInside Hardie BoardEarly April 2009DiStefano Siding

PaintingPaintingMiddle April 2009

Virginia Tech students

Abi ConveryVTYMCA

Gail BillingsleyVTYMCA

Building Soil & WalkwayBuilding Soil & Walkway

April 2009Debbie WileyDave Roper

ElectricalElectrical

May 2009Chris Roberts of Baseline Solar

2090-Gallons Cistern

Late April 2009David King

David Nickerson,Model Builder and Worker

Trex & Choice-Dek Composite

Boards

Heat-Sink Inlet & Shelves

Heat-Sink Fan

Vent Windows & OpenersVent Windows & Openers

Water System

David King

Control Panel

Heat-Sink Fan Thermostats

Heat-Sink Fan Variable-Speed

Switch

Window-Openers Thermostats & Switch & 120V AC->24V DC

Converter

Window FanThermostat

Chris RobertsBaseline Solar

ThermostatsThermostats Heat-Sink CoolingHeat-Sink Cooling: fan on at 70 : fan on at 70

degrees, off at 61 degrees.degrees, off at 61 degrees. Heat-Sink HeatingHeat-Sink Heating: fan on at 50 : fan on at 50

degrees, off at 59 degrees.degrees, off at 59 degrees. Window OpenerWindow Opener: Opens at 70 : Opens at 70

degrees, closes at 50 degrees.degrees, closes at 50 degrees. Window FanWindow Fan: On at 85 degrees, off : On at 85 degrees, off

at 65 degrees.at 65 degrees.

Roper Solar Greenhouse at night.3 lights on left are LEDs.3 lights on right are CFLs.

Payne ShelterPayne Shelter

Changes I Would MakeChanges I Would Make Do not insulate the inside of the concrete walls; Do not insulate the inside of the concrete walls;

instead double the insulation outside the instead double the insulation outside the concrete walls. Gives more thermal mass.concrete walls. Gives more thermal mass.

Install much larger vent windows for more Install much larger vent windows for more cooling.cooling.

Connect the ends of the 4” slotted drain pipes Connect the ends of the 4” slotted drain pipes closer to each other at the 24” end pipes.closer to each other at the 24” end pipes.

Better brace the Hardie-board that separates the Better brace the Hardie-board that separates the rocks under the walkway from the planting soil.rocks under the walkway from the planting soil.

Not put the soil in until all inside structure is Not put the soil in until all inside structure is built.built.

Winter of 2009-2010Winter of 2009-2010 Middle school students at Blacksburg New Middle school students at Blacksburg New

School planted in west half. Tried some plants School planted in west half. Tried some plants that are known to not grow well in solar that are known to not grow well in solar greenhouses, such as tomatoes.greenhouses, such as tomatoes.

John Ogburn organized 8 gardeners to plant in John Ogburn organized 8 gardeners to plant in east half on 4’x7’ plots. I was one of them.east half on 4’x7’ plots. I was one of them.

Greens did very well with bumper crops.Greens did very well with bumper crops. Aphids appeared. Eventually controlled with Aphids appeared. Eventually controlled with

ladybugs.ladybugs.

North-East Quadrant in NovemberNorth-East Quadrant in November

South-West Quadrant in NovemberSouth-West Quadrant in November

Roper Plot in FebruaryRoper Plot in February

Temperatures in February 2010Temperatures in February 2010

Back Yard Solar GreenhouseBack Yard Solar Greenhouse

What to Grow in a Solar GreenhouseWhat to Grow in a Solar Greenhouse Mostly greensMostly greens

LettucesLettuces ChardChard CollardCollard KaleKale SpinachSpinach Nasturtium/TropaeolumNasturtium/Tropaeolum ArugulaArugula EndiveEndive MustardMustard Beet greensBeet greens

RadishesRadishes Green OnionsGreen Onions BroccoliBroccoli Beet rootBeet root Cauliflower (takes Cauliflower (takes

too much space?)too much space?)

Thanks!Thanks!

Gail Billingsly, YMCAGail Billingsly, YMCAArlean Hale Lambert, landArlean Hale Lambert, land

Pat Bixler, producerPat Bixler, producerTim Colley, architectTim Colley, architect

Travis Rookstool, architectTravis Rookstool, architectJordan Truesdell, engineerJordan Truesdell, engineerDavid Nickerson, modelDavid Nickerson, model

Justin Boyle, Green Valley BuildersJustin Boyle, Green Valley BuildersJason Boyle, Green Valley BuildersJason Boyle, Green Valley Builders

Jeff Ligon, excavationJeff Ligon, excavation

Thanks!Thanks!

Doug & Tim Hoback, ICFDoug & Tim Hoback, ICFNaraine Persaud, soilNaraine Persaud, soil

Richard Reid, carpentryRichard Reid, carpentryTom Bowden, carpentryTom Bowden, carpentryJohn Sullivan, carpentryJohn Sullivan, carpentry

Alex Lawrence, excavationAlex Lawrence, excavationChris Roberts, electricalChris Roberts, electrical

Abigail Convery, YMCAAbigail Convery, YMCAJohn Ogburn, grower organizerJohn Ogburn, grower organizer

Deborah Wiley, soilDeborah Wiley, soil

Thanks!Thanks!

Holly Scoggins, soilHolly Scoggins, soil

David King, cistern and water systemDavid King, cistern and water system

Master Gardeners, landscapingMaster Gardeners, landscaping

UXB International, parking lotUXB International, parking lot

Want More Information about the Want More Information about the SGH Project for the NRV?SGH Project for the NRV?

Web page:Web page:http://www.roperld.com/science/YMCASolarGreenhouse.htm

This slide show is available on the Internet:This slide show is available on the Internet:http://www.roperld.com/science/YMCASolarGreenhouse.ppt