Interested in a Non-Cannabis Greenhouse?GAHT® GREENHOUSES FOR CANNABIS
Self Heating Greenhouses
GAHT® greenhouses for cannabis help supplement their own heating and cooling using the energy of the sun, and the soil underground. The result is a renewable climate control system that both offsets heating and cooling in the greenhouse, helping to save money on HVAC.
The GAHT® system works well with our vented greenhouses (in specific applications) as a supplemental heating, cooling and dehumidification option.
How It Works
GAHT® systems provide energy-efficient climate control to greenhouses by using the mass of soil underground. Often called a ground to air heat exchanger or climate battery, GAHT® greenhouses for cannabis serve four critical functions.
Self Heating & Cooling Greenhouses For Cannabis
At night or on cold days, the GAHT® system circulates air through the soil again. The warmer soil now heats the air. Warmer air is exhausted back into the greenhouse, providing low-cost, sustainable heating. When the greenhouse heats up during the day, the GAHT® system draws the hot air from the greenhouse underground to create a fully self heating greenhouse. The cooler soil absorbs thermal energy from the air. The air is then exhausted back into the greenhouse cooler and drier.
Air Circulation
A GAHT® system provides air circulation when outside temperatures are either too warm or too cold for standard ventilation by recirculating air (and heat) through the soil.
De-Humidification
As hot humid air is circulated underground during the day, it cools and reaches the dew point. Water vapor condenses and percolates into the soil through perforated pipes. The exhausted air is cooler and drier, helping reduce the risk of cannabis greenhouse pests and diseases.
Renewable Climate Control
Because the source of heating is the sun, a GAHT® greenhouse for cannabis allows for the system to harness a natural ‘greenhouse effect’, storing heat in the soil for heating as it is needed. This creates a fully self heating greenhouse system.
Access Cannabis Greenhouse, Materials & Systems, and Environmental Controls Brochures
Purchase Commercial GAHT® System Plans For Your Greenhouse
For commercial cannabis greenhouses, Ceres provides in-depth evaluation and engineering for your high-performance GAHT® system.
Our Commercial GAHT® System Services Include:
- 1 hour initial design consultation to learn growing goals and greenhouse design
- 2-3 Layouts of possible GAHT® system configurations plus a rough estimated price for each. The final layout depends on the greenhouse configuration and floor plan.
- Customized design and layout of best possible configuration
- Customized electrical layout and wiring diagrams, considering electric requirements, greenhouse design, and electric supply.
Plus:
- Finalized GAHT® greenhouse for cannabis plans for showing the design and pipe layout
- Materials list for the final design
- Installation instructions
- Unlimited phone support during installation
Price: Depends on greenhouse project size and complexity.
Calculate Your Energy Savings
Find out how much you can save with Ceres Greenhouses compared to standard cannabis greenhouses.
Frequently Asked Questions
“Geothermal” is a broad term, meaning using heat from the earth. GAHT® systems do use the stable temperatures of the soil, however they are very different systems than geothermal heat pumps, often called “geothermal systems” for short. A geothermal heat pump incorporates a refrigeration cycle and circulates a fluid underground. They are much more complicated and expensive systems than GAHT® systems. GAHT® systems, in contrast, simply circulate air and bury pipes relatively shallow, up to 4’ underground.
Ceres Ground to Air Heat Transfer (GAHT®) self-heating greenhouse system for cannabis is a type of ground to air heat exchanger. Over the years, these have gone by many names including Climate Batteries, coined by Jerome Osentowski and Michael Thompson of the Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute (CRMPI). Greenhouse GAHT® systems and Climate Batteries use the same concepts, with some slight differences in design and air flow rates. Another similar concept is earth tubes. These use one-way air flow: they draw air in run it underground and pump it into the structure. GAHT® systems, in contrast, are a closed loop.
The pipes of a GAHT® system have small perforations so as water condenses underground, it drains out into the soil. This also helps reduce mold issues, which have not been reported in years of testing.
Typically, pipes are buried up to 4’ underground. This can vary by area; the goal is to bury pipes deep enough to reach stable soil temperatures. We additionally insulate around the perimeter of the greenhouse to create an insulated pocket of soil beneath the structure.
In locations where the water table is higher than 4’, it is challenging to integrate a standard GAHT® system. Please contact us about your options.
The cost of a GAHT® system depends on the size of your greenhouse. They typically cost between $5,000-$15,000 depending on the size of the greenhouse.
To date we have never installed a house GAHT® system. This does not mean it is not possible. We just have not installed one. Before considering this option there are two concerns you should be aware of:
- Radon
- Mold
Radon can be tested. And even if there is radon, it is more significant to watch the rate at which it accumulates. In the worst case scenario, if radon is detected the GAHT® system can always be shut off.
According to studies that were performed by the University of Minnesota on several GAHT® systems where mold was tested no elevated spores were detected. It is important to keep in mind this is one study, and they were conducted on greenhouses and not homes.
When trying to mitigate mold in the home you could use a filtration system with a UV lamp. It is important to look at ducting system- how to get air through the system. We can help with the design of a new system, but it is harder to work with existing ones.
Understanding these precautions is necessary if you decide to try this system on a house. Please consult us if you are thinking of a house GAHT®.
The average peak cooling load is about 10 times more than the average heating load for a Ceres greenhouse. A GAHT® system can cool between 2-10F degrees compared with outside temperatures (depending on the season). Therefore, a GAHT® system can provide cooling, but will probably need additional cooling for the hottest days.
Sealed greenhouses cannot solely use the GAHT® system for summer cooling.
The GAHT® system can, however, supply heating in winter for a Ceres Greenhouse in most climates, depending on the specifics for your greenhouse.
Environmental Controls
Supplemental Lighting
Growing cannabis requires very specific lighting requirements. We offer a variety of lighting solutions designed to suit the needs of each individual operation.
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Environmental Controls
Light Deprivation
Ceres automated light deprivation systems allow for total control of photoperiod.
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Environmental Controls
Water Treatment/
Reclamation
Water systems are designed to help conserve water, reduce costs, optimize nutrient use, and eliminate wastewater disposal requirements.
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Environmental Controls
Air Circulation/Filtration
Whether it’s bio filters, or air purification fans, our systems for moving and filtering air are designed to maintain a healthy and flourishing environment.
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Environmental Controls
EcoLoop™ HVAC
A modified geothermal / ground source based heat pump system designed primarily for greenhouses. A complete cooling, heating, and dehumidification solution.
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Environmental Controls
GAHT® HVAC
A ground to air heat exchanger, a system often referred to as a ‘Climate Battery’. A good source of supplemental heating and cooling for a vented greenhouse.
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Environmental Controls
SunSenseTM Controller
Ceres SunSenseTM controller is a holistic management tool for monitoring and controlling the environment.
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