Fuel-Saving Energy Shield Curtains from Agra Tech, Inc.

Research has documented energy savings of 60% in greenhouses equipped with energy curtains. With 70-80% of the average growers energy bill paying for heating and cooling the greenhouse, materials and installation cost to install an energy curtain can be recouped in one to three years.

Curtains save energy all year around by keeping plants warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. In the winter and cool days of spring and fall not only do curtains insulate against heat loss through the roof glazing, research has shown that curtains increase plant temperature. "Plants remain warm due to their emission of long wave radiation. Plants actually exchange energy with the thermal screen."

Most curtains use lightweight aluminized fabric that have both shading and heat retaining ability. In the summer, the aluminum fabrics reflect sunlight back up through the roof glazing to reduce heat buildup in the greenhouse due to solar gain during the day. At night, they reflect radiant heat back down to the plants.

Double curtain systems are available for maximum control of the growing environment. One curtain can be outfitted with a porous aluminized shade fabric to reflect harsh sunlight and still allow air to flow through to roof vents to take advantage of natural ventilation cooling. The other curtain can have closed-weave thermal fabric for maximum energy savings at night and during cold weather.

The Agra Tech Energy Shield Curtain can also be used as a black out system.

Energy shield in a solar light greenhouse

Agra Tech's Energy Shield curtain is driven with a rack & pinion system. This is the best method of driving a curtain. It uses strong steel racks, and low friction roller guides that require less maintenance than cable and drum curtains. The curtain moves from truss to truss so a complete greenhouse can be opened in less than 10 minutes. The Energy Shield can be installed slope-flat-slope as shown above to provide larger air mass and more room for equipment, or flat across the bottom chord.

The Energy Shield fabric is contained between layers of monofilament wires keeping the fabric in place. A "hybrid" system that is partially suspended from stainless steel wires for highly ventilated houses is available.

Call us for a consultation or quote to find out how the Agra Tech Energy Shield Curtain can save you money.

Article compliments
of Agra Tech, Inc.