Well, today was our first rainy cold overcast day of the year. It really
looks like November today. At 2:30 PM the patio was 50F, the GH was 62F I
turned off the overhead misters so the water doesn't make damp down
everything, making them cold and clammy, and I turned on the little electric
space heater. HA! Talk about useless! So I guess I will go to Grainger, get
the gas valve assembly and fire up the Southern Burner. Drat. Why does this
sort of thing always happen on a holiday weekend when everything's closed?
K Barrett

"alpickrel" wrote in message
oups.com...
You were smart.

My old hoophouse frame is still standing right next to the
greenhouse. It is 15 x 30 (or so). Just the metal frame right now.
It has grapes growing on it. I have had the idea in the back of my
head to cover it with insualtion and black plastic water circulating
tubes and turn it into a giant solar hot water collector/storage unit
of some kind that I can then use at night to pump the heat into the
greenhouse next to it. The heat sink can't be IN the greenhouse
because to be of any real use, whatever goes in there...a pool or
whatever..., it has to be able to get hot enough to be of use long
after the sun gets off it, so plants won't be able to be grown in
there with it. (now I get K Barrett's joke about lying to herself
about her barrel of water.)

I was staring at my electrical subpanel for the greenhouse this
afternoon and wondering what it would take to run a line large enough
to power an electric heater that would make me feel like I was not
lying to myself when I plugged it in.

I still think a good option is to find a way to drag a big warm
blanket over the greenhouse every night.

I also wondered when somebody with the know how will get the bright
idea of turning clear 6 mil greenhouse plastic film into a giant solar
electric collector sheet. I mean I spend all summer trying to REMOVE
light and heat. It would be nice to be doing something useful with
it. There is talk of a spray-on solar panel.

On Nov 9, 8:05 pm, "Pat Brennan" wrote:
When I put up my last greenhouse I needed a new power service. I had the
power company run an extra 200 amps of service and used it for my backup
heating system. The thought that oil now costs the same as that backup
system is as you said scary stuff.

This greenhouse is one third the size of my others. As we started to get
into heating season I was able to empty it and turn it off. As oil
continues to rise I am wondering if between the store (which closes at
the
end of the month) and the little greenhouse if I can close a big
greenhouse.
And if I do not need the greenhouse, I am also wondering how I turn it
into
a solar collector. I think I need to do some reading on heat pump and
transfer systems and swimming pools.

Pat