Using waste oil to heat a greenhouse

Abstract

During the winter of 1990, Northwoods Nursery (Elk River, ID) purchased a wood-burning system to heat the current greenhouses. This system burned slabs of wood to heat water that was then pumped into the greenhouses. The winter of 1990 was extremely harsh, requiring non-stop operation of the heating system. In order to keep seedlings in the greenhouse from freezing, the burner required stoking every 30 minutes for 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. If the system was allowed to go out, there was no method available to restart the burner, and all water pipes would freeze very quickly. The point learned during that period was to research options before buying a heating system for greenhouses.

Parent Publication

• National Proceedings: Forest and Conservation Nursery Associations-2008

Citation

Schwartz, Marla. 2009. Using waste oil to heat a greenhouse. In: Dumroese, R. K.; Riley, L. E., tech. coords. National Proceedings: Forest and Conservation Nursery Associations-2008. Proc. RMRS-P-58. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 20-21