Strategies for PVC use and reducing energy consumption
PVC pipe is one of the most widely used types of pipe on the market. While it’s most commonly used in the plumbing and HVAC industries, there’s certainly a place for PVC in greenhouses. When used properly, PVC can make your greenhouse more energy efficient. This is important because it will make your greenhouse more cost-effective and even improve your growing environment.
There are many potential uses for PVC, from the greenhouse-grade poly that covers your greenhouse to the plumbing system that feeds your plants and even potholders for the plants themselves. However, it’s important that you use PVC in greenhouses properly, as it can react to certain chemicals and isn’t immune to UV damage.
If you’re curious about how using PVC in your greenhouse can improve its overall efficiency and reduce energy consumption, you’ve come to the right place. This article will explain when and how to use PVC to your advantage, as well as where its shortcomings lie.
The Importance of Proper Layout and Design for Greenhouses
Before we dive into explaining how PVC can improve plant growth and energy efficiency in your greenhouse, let’s go over the importance of how your greenhouse should be designed and laid out.
Proper Orientation
First, your greenhouse should be set up in a north-to-south direction. This will allow for optimal light distribution, which is essential for healthy plant growth. A north-to-south orientation can also help your greenhouse retain heat during winter, which will reduce energy costs.
Plant Orientation
Proper plant positioning is just as important as the positioning of the greenhouse itself. You want your plants to be oriented so that they will get as much sunlight as possible. In most cases, that will mean orienting them along the longest walls in your greenhouse and facing south.
Reflective Surfaces
Lastly, it’s essential to choose the right materials for your greenhouse. Typically, this means using UV-stabilized greenhouse poly or IR poly for the roof and sides of your greenhouse. As these are both plastic reflective surfaces, they will also enhance light intensity and distribution.
Strategies for Using PVC in Greenhouses
Now that we’ve examined how your greenhouse should be set up let’s consider how to use PVC in its design and layout.
As IR Poly
One of the best ways to use PVC in your greenhouse is as IR poly. IR poly, also known as infrared poly, is a special type of plastic coating that helps block some of the sun’s infrared radiation. It’s best used as the inside film layer of a double-layer poly system, as this maximizes heat retention. IR poly can be made from several different types of plastic, but PVC is one of the best.
To Improve Carbon Dioxide Distribution
In addition to sunlight and water, your plants need as much carbon dioxide as possible. If they aren’t getting enough of this natural gas on their own, you will need to supplement their supply to ensure photosynthesis.
One of the best ways to do that is to use a system of compressed CO2 tanks to deliver carbon dioxide directly to the plants. This system consists of CO2 tanks and a vaporizer that vaporizes liquid CO2 directly onto the plants. To deliver this vaporized CO2, it’s best to use PVC pipe with tiny holes that run throughout your greenhouse to ensure even distribution to your plants.
Where You Need Bent Pipe
Another way to utilize PVC is in areas where you require a bent pipe. If you have a low-clearance greenhouse, for example, and want your irrigation system to run even with the roof, you will need bent pipes. PVC is much easier to bend than metal pipes, and it’s much cheaper as well!
Your Irrigation System
The most common way to use PVC in a greenhouse is as an irrigation system. Whether you have a drip irrigation system, an overhead watering system that releases water vapor, or a manual hose fed by plumbing pipes, PVC pipe is an excellent option.
Pot and Plant Holders
While it’s not the most common use of PVC pipe, repurposing PVC into pot and plant holders is an excellent option. PVC is very easy to cut and it’s also malleable, making it perfect for irregularly shaped plants.
Beneath Plants
PVC pipe is also great for waste management systems. You can run a series of pipes beneath your plants where they can collect water runoff. You can then reroute these pipes into the irrigation system so that it can reuse the water and reduce waste.
Benefits of Using PVC in Greenhouses
Overall, the most important use of PVC in greenhouses is for the greenhouse-grade poly that covers your plants and building. While PVC isn’t the only type of plastic you can use for this, here are some advantages it offers:
Durability
PVC is extremely durable and can last for up to 20 years as your greenhouse poly. It’s also one of the strongest options and can withstand high winds, temperatures, humidity, and other elements. In addition, PVC is resistant to most chemicals, rot, corrosion, pesticides, and more. It also has excellent shock-resistance, which is important in regard to hail, rain, ice, and snow.
Part of the reason that PVC is so durable is because of it’s dense and robust composition. As such, PVC is also a good insulator and provides heat retention for your greenhouse.
Cost Effectiveness
While PVC is more expensive upfront, it lasts significantly longer than other plastics. As such, it’s a very cost-effective material when you consider the cost of replacing your greenhouse poly and installing something new. With PVC, you won’t have to replace your poly nearly as often.
Another reason that PVC is a cost-effective solution is because it’s easy to install. Therefore, you can save money and perform the installation yourself. Even if you choose to have a professional do the job for you, they can install PVC quicker than other plastics, which means it will still save you money.
Lightweight and Versatile
In spite of its durability, PVC is extremely lightweight and won’t put excess strain on your greenhouse supports. Additionally, as we’ve explained above, PVC is one of the most versatile products you can use in your greenhouse, as it serves many different functions and purposes.
Cons of Using PVC in Greenhouses
However, PVC isn’t perfect, and here are some of its shortcomings to consider:
Eco-Friendliness
PVC is a type of plastic. As such, it’s not the most eco-friendly material in the world, and you need to decide if the energy efficiency and waste reduction it offers are worth the cost to produce it.
PVC is also considered non eco-freindly, because of it contains chlorine in its composition. Throughout its lifespan, PVC will release tiny amounts of chlorine into the air. These chlorinated particles eventually find their way into the local water supply or may even get inhaled by humans and animals alike.
Finally, PVC is considered non-biodegradeable, which means it will never fully degrade and get reabsorbed into the earth. Therefore, the only way to safely get rid of PVC is to recycle it, which can be difficult and expensive.
UV Sensitivity
Another downside of PVC is that it isn’t entirely resistant to UV radiation. While it can hold up to UV rays for some time, it will eventually show signs of UV damage. In most cases, this includes minor degradation and some surface damage, but the effects are often minor. Additionally, PVC will often hold up just as well or better than PE greenhouse poly, as both are prone to UV damage.
Chemical Sensitivity
Finally, while PVC is resistant to most chemicals and pesticides, it isn’t immune to all of them. Specifically, PVC can react negatively when exposed to certain harmful chemicals, such as esters, ketones, ethers, and chlorinated hydrocarbons. Therefore, it’s important to know if your greenhouse will be exposed to these chemicals or not.
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