The Yukon Research Center in northern Canada is investigating how to grow plants over winter in cold climates with minimal energy, a project that could revolutionize the availability of fresh food in the North. “Agridome” is the brainchild of project manager Glenn Scott, an experimental green dome for growing plants with minimal energy use.
The domes are intended to be highly efficient, with a highly insulated opaque structure lined with a plastic cover to improve the energy efficiency of interior lighting.
Vegetables and herbs grow in vertical rows, getting their nutrients from a spray. The system, called vertical aeroponics, can grow more than 600 plants in 3 square meters. This winter, Scott successfully experimented with conventional plants, including tomatoes, peppers, peas, and some herbs.
Some nights when we got to -35ºC, with only 1500W consumption, it was still able to maintain a temperature of 15ºC inside.
This structure is perfectly suitable for this type of extreme environment.
Scott hopes this prototype will be used in communities throughout the Yukon, providing cheap, fresh produce with minimal expenditure of money and energy.
Via cbc.ca
