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!