Calculation of greenhouse heating energy requirements under Mersin (Turkey) climatic conditions with different technical approaches

During cold seasons, in order to ensure good plant growth, the internal temperature of greenhouses is kept within certain levels. However, this causes increased heating costs due to the increase in global energy price. Thus, greenhouse growers prefer unheated production in the Mediterranean Region with a mild climate. In order to have a high quality yield, greenhouses should be heated when average daily temperature drops below 12°C. Due to today's continuous increase of energy costs, greenhouse insulation and minimizing heating requirements are equally important as heating itself. Heating energy requirements in greenhouses are calculated based on the average daily temperature which leads to errors in determining the actual heat requirements. In order to calculate more accurate heating requirements, the calculation should be based on hourly climate data. The aim of this study is to calculate the heat energy requirements as well as the energy that can be saved. The technical approach utilized "long-period mean hourly temperatures, radiation and wind speed values". The study was carried out for greenhouses having different types of cladding material in Mersin (Turkey) in the Eastern Mediterranean Region where intensive greenhouse production exists. © 2017 ISHS