Better Than a rocket stove: Revolutionary Greenhouse Heating | Van Powell's Green Energy Solutions
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- 🌿🔥 Discover a groundbreaking greenhouse heating concept that outperforms traditional rocket stoves in this enlightening video by Van Powell. Learn about the heat principle behind this innovative approach and understand how it can provide efficient and eco-friendly warmth for your greenhouse.
Join Van Powell as he dives into the science and engineering behind this revolutionary greenhouse heating system. See how it surpasses the performance of a rocket stove in terms of fuel efficiency, heat distribution, and environmental impact. With this innovative heating solution, you can maintain optimal temperatures in your greenhouse while minimizing your carbon footprint.
In this video, Van will walk you through the design, construction, and operation of this cutting-edge greenhouse heating system. Learn how to harness the power of the heat principle to create a cozy and productive environment for your plants all year round.
Subscribe and hit the bell 🔔 for more green energy solutions, sustainable living adventures, and eco-friendly tips from Van Powell!
#GreenhouseHeating #RocketStoveAlternative #GreenEnergySolutions
I have seen a design of a larger greenhouse. In its center is a working table. Under the table is a rectangular area defined by chicken wire for compost. The table top is removable or hinged to give access to the compost area. At the end of the year, you fill it up and have a heat source for months. It's dead center in the greenhouse. You can even have large plastic water drums on the north side for a heat sink.
I did this in my greenhouse, but I dug a trench down the middle and put the leaves in the ground with pallets over it to walk on. It was a great idea until the first time it rained. Apparently, my greenhouse is on a low point and my pit filled with water. Before that, it worked great.
so perhaps if the sides were covered to keep the water away... would it stay great?
This is really ingenious. Never knew leaves produced so much heat decomposing in the winter. Really grateful you made this video to share this experiment.
Thermal mass also helps a greenhouse to maintain heat. Basically large tubs of water. It heats up during the day, and releases heat at night, so hopefully the greenhouse never gets too cold. Always good to have multiple ways to keep it warm. Plus the tubes underground, because if they are deep enough underground, the earth deep stays at a constant 50 degrees or so.. Look up "Nebraska man grows oranges in Snow", video . Something like that. It's an older video
If that amount of heat is being generated outside the greenhouse then how much better would it be if it was INSIDE the greenhouse? Contain the heat. Put a layer of soil over it and use it as a hot bed.
I believe it uses the composting heat generated by the leaves.
@@GWAForUTBE Yes. It would.
This is making me wonder about building above ground leaf composting bed external to the greenhouse at about 5 to 6 foot tall and running flexible drain pipe through it as a heat exchanger. Would not doing this mean that you could get the benefit of a geothermal without the expense of digging a massive hole? I am not saying the idea is without flaws, but I really don't have the equipment to dig a massive hole. BUT-I do have the muscle and space to put up some temp fencing at 6 foot tall and then fill it will leaves with piping buried below. This really has me thinking.
Awesome video Van! This makes so much sense and anyone can do this using the leaves from their yards that they would normally rake up and bag and sit by the curb. Free heat in the winter, can’t beat that!
If you quit learning, you're dying...lol Words of wisdom from my dad, an old fashioned gardener. I've learned a LOT from you guys and now I've learned how to keep my plants warm for nothing. Thanks man!! Subscribing now.
Thank you so much! I'm in NJ and I'll set up a leaf bin next to to my greenhouse this week if I can gain a bit of heat consistently throughout the winter!! I'm excited to try!
Great idea! I was thinking about putting a hot bed in the greenhouse but was trying to figure out a way not to compromise on space. This is fabulous!
I've known about decomposing organics putting off heat but what a great way to harvest it. Cheers fella. Keep us posted on how it turns out.
It's brilliant! We know that decomposing produces useable heat, but this is done the best, simplest way. I would try with grass cuttings, or horse manure mixed with the leaves only because they give off much more heat.
Great video. It's refreshing to see honesty and smart design from someone instead of a know-it-all video. Maybe chicken wire at the bottom of the north wall idea to gather finished compost along the bottom of the wall. Leaves in the top; heat, CO2 and insulation from the wall; great fertile compost out the bottom.
Planning to build a small green house this summer .... taking notes on your experiences !!
Beer and rtu yeast help the degradation process. No vegetables in the mix. Also a scrubber will help with the co2 . Great video..
Love it, brother!!!! Heart of Carolina here!!! Will build mine this fall with a north wall of screen and chicken wire with a bin outside. Maybe tarp the top to direct the additional heat back inside? Just think... no carbon MONOXIDE at all from burning material. I have tons of hickory leaves in the yard and I composted them the last two years. They literally turned to white/grey ash from the 160* heat during breakdown. THAT would be really handy to keep em ol maters n peppers producing, huh? Thanks for sharin, man!
I think the possibilities are incredible! Let's open up a Compost Heating Facebook page, and open source our results. My leaves, and my neighbors leaves that I pick up are just over a consistent 140F in the middle. I add all my organic liquid from my "Vernmenting" (new vermiculture method) to the middle of the pile. Be great to heat small houses with this some how! Great video thanks for sharing freely!
Thank you! I’m going to try this! I don’t have any leaves, because I am on property with all Pinetrees, but I’m going to collect from neighbors in the fall. Thank you very much for making the video!
Pine needles would be great insulation if you have dirt floors. Also to start blueberries in. They have their uses- plus they smell pretty good. They break down eventually & make just as good a soil amendment as any other mulch.
That, good sir is freaking genius!! I've been running a compost bin for years and noticed how warm it is but this is next level stuff! Thanks!!
I think you're great! What an idea at once so simple and powerful! Thank you for sharing this great thought and example of harnessing this readily available and plentiful heat source. Hoping to build a simple home soon, and will certainly use this great idea you've shown us. God bless you and best wishes. You have what so many lack: common sense and resourcefulness.
And its 24 hours. Low maintenance free and maybe even profitable. If not usable compost.
Wow! I'm so impressed! I need to cover my trailer skirt with it! At least in the back where folks can't see so much.
I love the humility thx for sharing
really great! thanks! btw large chip piles have been known to cumbust for no reason so be careful.
So did he ever say what the inside air temp was?
No; I wondered the same thing...
@@michaelbonacasa4242 yes he took 2 reading 80 & 90 deg, at end where leaves are, I would assume it would be close to that all over as he mentioned the north wall was insulated... BRILLIANT idea
@@janinasimons8533 Those were the temps inside the compost; I think the original question (and what I also wondered) is what is the ambient temperature in the greenhouse (and what the temp was outside; that may have been mentioned, I don't recall). In any event, it is a really cool consideration and makes me wonder how it could be implemented practically (i.e. in a home) and in a way that wouldn't look/feel like living under a compost heap?
@@michaelbonacasa4242 TU, I thought I saw , but I guess I didnt see him put the thermostat into the compost... hope he answers the question? would be interesting.
thanks for correcting me :)
@@janinasimons8533 No worries; as I mentioned, the video had me thinking how one could do this practically and attractively as a built-in composting heater and what the particulars of benefit-to-cost might be (i.e. how could I stop the heat exchange in summer but continue to compost?). Another video showed a couple coiling tubing inside a compost pile to heat water for their home, which is also clever, and could add a 2nd purpose and benefit to the solution. In another video about "rapid" composting, the videographer said they could achieve internal temps of 170-190˚F by creating the right conditions! All very interesting stuff, thanks for the great discussion :)
I could watch you all day 💛
Tell you what I think? I think you're a genius! and when I finally am able to move to a place where I can have a greenhouse, I'm going to do as you suggest: put leaf compost on the outside walls and let that heat the greenhouse. Thank you so much for this great, practical and effective and cheap plan!
Nice.. but my quick thought.. instead of chicken wire, if you use heavy duty aluminium sheet, greenhouse interiors would get lot of heat from compost pile and also keeps cleaner.
When you should your invention... I said to myself, use the north wall and you would have plenty of room to make heat. Well done! Well done.
this is a great idea, I've also seen where you can coils a water hose in a leave pile to heat water
Great idea. My only concern would be air quality. I have mold allergies. I’m thinking, maybe put some kind of air filter in between?
Tkx!!!!! And hay we r livin we r learnin...enjoy
Two words ! THANK YOU !
This is great information, useful too, good use of leaves .
Very nice experiment! Thanks for sharing.
In old victorian kitchen gardens I think they installed semi sunk compost beds next to green houses just for this purpose. They served a dual function as you could grow pineapples in them.
.... watta great video !!... Thanks for teaching an old dog ( 72 ) a few new tricks.... better late than never ; )
great idea! 4 months should get you through a winter...
I will definitely take a leaf out of your book 🌱👍
Brilliant idea. Thanks for sharing
Impressive concept and applications.
Great idea! Thanks for sharing 👍🏻
Most excellent! Well done, my friend!
Wow! Thanks, do you know how a gas furnace heat exchanger works? I wonder if you could make one with leaves to even heat work or living spaces.. here you go..tubes with leaves with small air space between them.. tin trash cans with leaves in them...make a plywood box the size or lager than you already did for your design. The top needs round circles for the cans to fit in ,deep enough only the tops are above the box and use sealant so no air can pass from outside through any cracks around the cans.. from inside the greenhouse to the box cut two holes..one will pull air into the box from one side and another for a fan.. it can be a small 12 volt just enough to draw air across the cans and into the greenhouse or shop should be safe for people to breath and stay for any length of time i have heard of geothermal heating but i like your discovery i think I'm going to explore experimentation..the only thing would to make sure the leaves are still generating heat while in the cans..............thanks !
Thoughts on something like composting barrels with duct work and fans? Instead of having to cut holes out of the greenhouse walls?
What a great tip thank you for your time
Great information! Thank you for transferring it
Very informative. Thank you!
Doubtless someone else probably already said this, but you'll get more heat if you add more green to the leaves. I'd say as much grass clippings as leaves would probably do it, but it would also collapse a bit quicker, being hotter, and the grass rotting more down than the leaves will.
Brilliant! Thanks for sharing.
I would make one change to the heat intake for the leaves. I would do a second lining with window screen to block out insects that can get in and munch on the plants. Also I would add a panel to close off the heat when it gets too hot in there. It's a sweet set up.
I worked on a dairy farm in the 8o's. The green chop we fed to the cows in the winter would get so hot it would have live embers below the surface. Use nature. It has everything you need.
Great video and thank you for your insight.
Really good idea. Taking your advice. Thanks
Great idea McGyver
You could put some pipes in that pile and a slow moving fan running off a small solar panel which would transfer the heat into the space better
Put a coiled corrugated drain pipe in the bottom of the compost pile and blow air through it with a small fan, it'll heat even better.
Really good tip, thanks for sharing it
Amazing!!!
hmmm very interesting... extra co2 as well.. good idea... got me thinking.
"got me thinking" My job here is done.
I think i just subscribed! Excited for more knowledge
I have seen my backyard compost pile get so hot inside that when I bust into it with a pitchfork that the inside is charred like burnt charcoal. Also, you should be aware that compost piles off gas both methane, and ammonia, which can be a pretty foul environment to breath.
ever tought of burroughing a drainage hose into the pile of leaves? top in bottom out the greenhouse off course and the extra air/oxygen running trough the pile should accelerate the composting process allowing a bigger heap of leaves....should be easy to get in the autumn right? best of luck interesting vid!
grass cutoffs work great to, bit smelly when it starts to rot off course
Very interesting experiment and I thank you for making the effort to do it and to share. What growing zone are you in?
what was the temperature of the greenhouse?
Sounds like a good idea. How is it working now?
warm enough to grow greens like spinach lettuce and kale and some herbs with out supplemental heat. on 95% of the time. We have more inside (compost)and out now and that works much better
awesome video thank you for the information sir
run some pipe of some kind through the compost with a slow fan, what was the temp in the green house away from the compost pile
This is awesome well done
I wonder if you put that black 6 inch drain line, the solid kind of course, through it with a little fan it it would move the heat better.
Just a thought 🤔
I was wondering if you had an air vent low down going into your black pipe I nto the compost and as you wind it thru the compost continue to elevate it to the return vent into the greenhouse that as the warm air rises it will cause a natural airflow and you would not need to use electric at all.
It's clever but what about the gazes you get in the greenhouse?
Where are you? How long have you been doing this and has it worked well in your winter?
Here's another idea bag the leaves in black bags and have them inside the greenhouse put holes in the tops of the bags to release heat.
It makes great sense
The stove could be the standby for blizzards etc, and the ashes added to the composted leaves in the springtime.
Brilliant.
excellent! give yourself credit tho, very few people would have thought of that!
Use a metal barrier to assist with thermal conduction. A coil of large diameter flexi-tube like you see in suction pump systems and have one low end one high end and it coils through the leaf matter and uses that thermal intake to set up thermal circulation of air to keep the air moving.
The CO2 myth... plants get all the CO2 they need out of the air, it is a myth that increasing CO2 will help, you have to have the heat and light to go with it to get the desired results.
you can also get even more heat build up if you mixed in bark chippings and pin needles.
There was a freight forwarding company that had large metal bins filled with pine needles, bark chips and leaf matter and it had a lid on it to help guard against ignition as heat got up so high that there was a risk of ignition and the staff had to turn these bins contents over to release a lot of the heat.
The company was using the bins as complementary heating to heat the loading and dispatch bays rather than having to pay for heating then let it all go when you had a delivery or was loading a lorry, the company saved thousands in heating bills.
So it is possible to heat large buildings..!
You have helped me.
Does spontanious combustion happen in the leaves?
This is a real good video
What is the temp of the greenhouse?
Thank you for sharing your information! Do you think compost could make hot water?
I am sure of it, many many videos on it.
WOW Man! That was fast! LOL! Thanks again;)
Right on man! Thank you for this video
awesome!
Any update on the green house passive heating?
If you can still turn your greenhouse to a precise winter solstice and have your windows spaced double thick 2 in apart with the Peace of mylar in between then tell me how to exhaust the heat out of there without fans. You can shade the whole system weather traditionally called awnings or overhangs over the glass you don't have to have it on a real steep angle just standard up and down horizontal..... Save the heat overnight in water containers they don't have to be big
your are super , thank you
Have you experimented with this any more? We’re you able to get through you winter with this approach?
unlearn what's enclosed in a book because the best lessons are free
"I don't know how many BTUs that is, but I know its free."
FREE T U's!
Brilliant! Thanks for sharing that.
Sometimes we find a pot of gold while digging in a dung pile... You my friend have found such a pot of gold! Please keep thinking outside the box and keep us in your loop!!!
@Richard Frazee. You are absolutely correct.
Ingenious he is. 👍🏿
Maybe go back and edit in the ambient temp in the greenhouse. I found my self wanting to know that. Nice vid otherwise.
Same question, 2 years later any answer ?
Don't beat yourself up, your work here not only has expanded your knowledge when I build my greenhouse your knowledge will help me build a better greenhouse, and I imagine there are others that will share your lesson learned. So you have influenced more than you know Sir.
do all the sides
@@jeweleratlarge Its a green house need light coming in
Bio mass is the principal concept behind earthships heating off grid. Got so hot it melted the place down early on. Great video thank you!
I knew that when leaves are composting that heat is generated. By adding grass clippings to the leaves helps speed up the process. It is a great use for that to heat a small greenhouse and I'll keep that in mind.Thanks for the info
Even in a depression or collapsed economy, I can always find free leaves in the fall/winter
" I don't know how many BTU's it is. But, I know it's free"
Well said
Yes true, it may be $free, but there is a investment of time to gather, transport, pile and pack the leaves etc. So the question is then, was their enough heat gain and compost made to equal or excess the value of the time invested. That would depend on each person's situation. It might be free heat or not.
Man....
@@CaptainYohan compared to cutting and transporting firewood? the leaves are just on the ground waiting to be raked.
@@CaptainYohan I'd have to say that's well worth it I've racked leaves and brought fire wood in all my life I'm 37-38 I can't remember but racking up leaves is MUCH easier of a chore, so the question still remains is it free heat, I'd have to say, "YES".
@@CaptainYohan No gardener can ever have too much compost. It's what we're already doing. Might as well use the heat also.
Hi, I would love to know what your temps in the greenhouse were during the time you were using this method. Especially at night after sun goes down. And if you are still doing this? A followup would be great. GREAT info. Thanks so much
I wonder in close proximity like that, if it would be possible to run a closed loop water radiant heat system with coiled copper in the leaves and radiators in the greenhouse.
+Todd Weller Yes sir it has been done successfully . search you tube for compost hot water
+Van Powell or even circulate air threw the coils to pussh heat into the green house
take heat out, slow compost
It does! A system like that was build in the 70ties by Jean Pain in southern France. He used waste biomass such as wood chips, manure and others. He made a compost pile, heating pipes (one you can use to build underfloor heating) and he got for about 3 month free heat, plenty of warm water and ! methane gas for cooking!
4 in 1 => Compost, free heat + warm water + gas. And it is absolutely inexpensive. DIY.
Please google for compost pile or compost heater.
Check out Paul Wheaton here on youtube or at permies.com as I think his group is using compost piles to generate hot water for domestic use like hot showers. seem to be an easy step to take that further to a water to air heat exchanger and fan
Shoot man a lifetime of learning is a gift. no reason to feel a way about always learning. Thanks for teaching me something
Yes, compost if mixed properly, 50% carbon items, 50% Nitrogen items, H2o and turned on a regular basis can reach extreme burn temperatures. My hottest compost pile reached over 185 degrees Fahrenheit. I placed a chuck roast in a dutch oven, wrapped the dutch oven in 4 layers of foil. Buried it in the compost pile for 12 hours. Best pot roast ever.
like the way your thinking... back when engines were big and ran hot we used to make barbecue on long trips!
I ran a 4" drainpipe thew the pile with both ends ending in the green house and then attached a small solar fan to one end and it increased the heat into the green house...
Brilliant
Reheating the already heated air!!
I was thinking that a fan would really help circulate the warm air
I wish I could see this idea being created. Does the drain pipe have holes or is it just the air exchange passing through? *I think I just answered my own question* 😂
Yes, geothermal realities are very smart realities. The ground should be used too. Down about 3 feet in the soil is an ambient temperature of about 57 degrees Fahrenheit! Year round. Solar energy capabilities may be very limited if the EMPs that i believe are to come! Research the 1859 Solar Storm and what Hydrogen Bombs can produce. One seeing all the possibilities is the one that can only prepare MOST! ONLY!
I've done this somewhat as you have done, but my end wall has hardware cloth which is a little stronger than chicken wire, and then I coiled 25 foot of 4" black plastic drain pipe in the leaves and compost pile. Started one end at the bottom and the other end higher. As the heat is generated and transferred to the pipe coil, it starts an ever so slight flow of warmer air out and into the room. Like your video!
I have a dream of building a giant greenhouse I can live in and grow tropical fruit trees. I'm looking into using compost as a supplementary heat source. your vid was helpful. thanks
I find that interesting and have had the same thought . I have 10 acers in ky with a 89% done strawbale house. I have the room for one that will be part in ground and part starwbale that will have limited animal access including dog doors and indoor or ingreen house enclosure caged access for other animals that wont be able to access growing area but have small fenced accessable area ingreenhouse. a wood stove and a mini frig , a good couch and a compost toilet and your in...
Van Powell nice! It's always a blessing to meet other sustainability minded folks!
I live in Ontario, Canada, near Toronto.
There is only one farm in Ontario that grows tropical fruit and they are Canada Banana Farms. They use big hoop houses but I haven't visited and I don't know the logistics yet.
I want to buy some land and build a geodesic dome greenhouse and try to be as offgrid as possible.
Ideally, I would have a few acres with a forest to chip up and use as mulch inside the greenhouse (giving off steam and heat). I am an arborist so the investment for a chipper would help me professionally as well.
Keeping tropical plants warm sustainably is a huge challenge and I have considered wood chip furnaces, compost heaters, solar, geothermal, natural gas, biogas, thermal mass heaters, and of course passive solar itself.
I believe a combination of a few of these methods coupled with a keen understanding of tropical horticulture would yield a successful project, a unique business venture, and a fruitful life.
Van Powell subscribed just now so hopefully I'll get notified when that bale house is complete
hey Trevor then check out geodome greenhouses...i had same idea...would live in the northern section of the dome and upper level...grow food with fish tank in the rest...solar power for hydro pumping needs...solar heated water stored under a raise floor deck to release heat at night
i live down the road from Toronto ...stratford ont...
sounds awesome.
This was one of the most innovative things I have seen in a long time! You're a genius. Thanks for the video.
Just when I thought I've learned all the science of efficiently heating a greenhouse then this incredible concept comes along. Just as you said, you never stop learning about anything. The older I get the more I realize how much I don't know. Thank you for your contributions!