Conclusion (GH)

Recommendations and Conclusion

Research Question: How do we implement a greenhouse that will be carbon-neutral and would fulfill the current needs of LaFarm and the community?

Research Goal: Our goal is to integrate a carbon neutral power generation medium into the greenhouse that will be constructed on LaFarm and find a way to integrate LaFarm into the Lafayette/Forks/Easton Community.

After examining the social, technical, economic, and political phases of the energy and heating generation as well as the implementation of a greenhouse on Lafayette’s campus. We have come to a set of recommendations that must be taken in order to successfully incorporate this greenhouse into the Lafayette community.

After visiting the internationally known Rodale Institute, we understand the facets of greenhouse technology that are available. By discussing with experts in greenhouse technologies at the Rodale Institute, constructing a carbon neutral greenhouse that receives electricity from off the grid renewable energy sources is not a reasonable goal from not having a greenhouse at all. Our main recommendation is to conceptualize a plan that will include a series of steps beginning with the construction of a basic hoophouse and ending with the carbon neutral greenhouse that will rely on off grid electricity production. In terms of a timetable for this project, it could approximately range from five to ten years for completion as it is highly dependent upon funding for each phase of the project. As of December 2015, President of LaFFCo, Peter Todaro has stated that Student Government has awarded $5,000 to LaFFCo to spend on a hoophouse. These funds must be spent by the end of the Spring 2017 semester for the installation of the hoophouse on LaFarm, beginning the first phase of our greenhouse installation plan.

In terms of power generation, based on the four analyses that we have conducted, we recommend our fourth option in the Economic Analysis. In this option, LaFarm will utilize solar panels and/or a small 5 kilowatt wind turbine to fulfill the carbon neutral component of the greenhouse. We also recommend installing a geothermal heating system to provide heating in adverse weather conditions to the inner layer of the greenhouse. Our final component of this system consists of being on the grid for its electricity supply as it was far too unreasonable to rely solely on renewable energy since it is far too expensive for the structures and unreliable at the moment. This is the most feasible energy generation system that the greenhouse can utilize through calculated and thorough social, technical, economic, and political research.   

The Next Step

For the next phase of this project, we recommend that the next topic to be addressed should be supplying water to the greenhouse. After some discussion with Civil and Environmental Engineering professor, David Brandes, we are aware that there is a well at the LaFarm site to supply the greenhouse with water if properly installed. This is another necessary component of the greenhouse as water plays a vital role in farming practices and sustaining life. We also recommend that a future group outlines the steps to be taken to reach the goal of the Carbon Neutral Gothic Greenhouse. These steps must fill in the gap between the beginning with the installation of a hoophouse and ending with the carbon neutral gothic greenhouse. In order to fully integrate LaFarm with the Lafayette community this greenhouse project must be integrated with EXCEL Research and interdisciplinary projects to address specific components of this greenhouse that require specialized knowledge and experience. Examples of this include: an environmental science and chemistry project examining the soil and water at LaFarm or an electrical engineer determining the amount of energy required to heat the greenhouse. In order for this project to truly be successful, the students and faculty must work in unison for an excellent final product. With the expansion plan of the college in place, the potential that LaFarm has greatly increases with the admittance of new students interested in sustainable practices and the extension of LaFarm’s property.