THESIS QUESTION

THESIS QUESTION.................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Can a Net-Zero food production be accomplished by creating an indoor growing environment and maximizing productivity within the site for a location in Kamloops?

3/31/2011

SECTION OF KITCHEN/ GREENHOUSE

MAIN FLOOR PLAN

MAIN FLOOR PLAN LAYOUT & MEZZANINE

design layout

ISO OF HOUSE. YES THERE IS A HOUSE BEHIND IT ALL.
Ok, so I've been working on some design layouts for this project. This one is my second attempt. Obviously space is a concern. This layout is just over 3000 sq ft with the majority of my green space indoor. I've manage to figure out most of my mechanical concerns. I think that hydro-phonics is the way to go to pull off this idea. Originally I thought that PV panel could produce the heat I needed, but it seems that using water barrels as a massing unit is more effective. The area in which the produce will be growing needs it's own sealed envelope. Moisture and heat need to be controlled for ideal growing parameters. I would appreciate any comments or suggestions on the design.

3/28/2011

Good research

Thanks to everyone for posting research for me, I got some great leads. I been able to determine the mechanical needs of intergrating the system into a house desgin. It would seem that if I want my kitchen and greenhouse as one, I will have to provide a seperate envelope for the area to control climate. It is possible to keep continously growing food with just heat, but the yields are lessened by lack of U.V. I will be implementing a massing element using water which will help reatain some heat, as well; it will provide the moisture content need for the vegitation. I'm not sure at this point how much power I will require during the winter month to keep things growing, I guess that's next on the research to do list. Many thanks to Rob, your link provided me with all the stats I needed for food consumption.

Good research

3/22/2011

Research, Research, Research

So I don't know if anyone else in is in the same boat as me, but I'm having a hard time finding time for my own research, let alone yours.  So if you want to be helpful, I'm looking for info. on agriculture. I need to determine how much space is required to have 3 or 4 cycles of vegetation growing throughout a year for individual fruits and vegis. Stats on average family consumptions with break downs to diet and food eaten. What foods will grow in winter months, and what is required as far as needs for U.V. light and heat. Many thanks.

2/06/2011

Welcome to the future

The idea is to have our homes provide more than just shelter and a place to store our things. Most of us will spend nearly a third of our life paying an exraneous amount of money for a house. For this kind of commitment I would like to think we would get more than a warm box. New solar technology has shown us that our boxes can produce energy. What if we expanded on this idea and turned our box into a machine to provide our essential needs as humans: gather and store water, produce food all year round, charge an electric vehicle for transportation use, a place to conduct proffesionsal business, energy/heat.