Rob's Geodesic Dome Greenhouse

[Rob Torcellini]

Hi Everyone! We're Expanding! We are pleased to announce that we have just received the necessary permits to build a new greenhouse. This 1200 square foot, state-of-the-art building will utilize some of our latest technology to enhance the building’s energy conservation, as well as monitor and control an aquaponics growing system. The greenhouse will be used for our research and development, and it will become the focal point of the farm as a visitor center. Construction is scheduled to start this spring and we are eagerly waiting for the ground to thaw.

This video is the first part of a series I'll produce over the next year or so. I hope you enjoy the adventure!

 

[Rob Torcellini]

Having a little problem with snow.

 

[Rob Torcellini]

Latest teaser video... 

 

[Meg Stout]

Sweet - looking forward to more videos as the project comes along!

[Nate Storey]

Rob, what're your BTU requirements?  I just saw this discussion as I was posting a discussion on my greenhouse build in progress.  Have you gotten the boiler yet?  I'm considering just building one of my own after seeing the welds on most of those things.

[Rob Torcellini]

Hi Nate,  I will have to try and find my calculations.  There were a lot of variables (unknowns and guesses) that I had to deal with with.  My goal for heating is that in the spring and fall, I should be able to take the waste heat during the day and pump it  under the floor's thermal mass.  It probably won't radiate up fast enough to heat it during the night, so I will probably need to run a slow fan to extract the heat.

 

During the dead of winter we go well below zero also  (I did see your other post about your new greenhouse project).  I'm going to take a chance and install a rocket mass heater and bury most of it under the floor in the shed area.  (see my video on the prototype rocket mass heater )    Initially, I'm going to burn the wood from all the trees I removed, then I am going to start experimenting with pellets.  My goal is to take the hay and corn from our fields and run it through a pellet mill.

I'm going to insulate the building and northern side of the dome with closed cell spay foam.  This will help keep the building air tight and has a fairly good R-value - I think it was around 15-18, whereas the polycarbonate is 1.7.

[Nate Storey]

Sounds good.  I've got a supplemental rocket mass heater in my design as well.  It looks like a really cheap way to add supplemental heat.  I'm going to try a kind of tricky heat return system.  I'm working on some mockups to study with a smoke machine to see how they work.  I'll post what I find.  I think you've got the right idea about day waste heat.  I'll have to check back on this thread pretty often!

Rob Torcellini said:

Hi Nate,  I will have to try and find my calculations.  There were a lot of variables (unknowns and guesses) that I had to deal with with.  My goal for heating is that in the spring and fall, I should be able to take the waste heat during the day and pump it  under the floor's thermal mass.  It probably won't radiate up fast enough to heat it during the night, so I will probably need to run a slow fan to extract the heat.

 

During the dead of winter we go well below zero also  (I did see your other post about your new greenhouse project).  I'm going to take a chance and install a rocket mass heater and bury most of it under the floor in the shed area.  (see my video on the prototype rocket mass heater )    Initially, I'm going to burn the wood from all the trees I removed, then I am going to start experimenting with pellets.  My goal is to take the hay and corn from our fields and run it through a pellet mill.

I'm going to insulate the building and northern side of the dome with closed cell spay foam.  This will help keep the building air tight and has a fairly good R-value - I think it was around 15-18, whereas the polycarbonate is 1.7.

[Rob Torcellini]

Hooray!  The next video is done!

 

[Nate Storey]

Nice job Rob. I like your assistant. What's the pay rate Steve? I have a case of PBR that says you want to help with our greenhouse build. . . :)

No, I'm just kidding. We'd share our homebrew with ya.

[Rob Torcellini]

I told Steve that he should be paying ME for the experience!     Steve was a good sport and was a great asset to the project.  Pl...

[Rob Torcellini]

Google has updated their maps in our area and it has the dome foundation in it!  It looks like I was in the middle of building the wall since there are still a couple of pallets of blocks in the center.  Photo taken on 9/15.

 

Link to google maps:  google maps

[Steve Perreault]

Nate - Rob is doing an awesome job with the professional and entertaining videos he produces isn't he? It blows my mind to think of all the hours he puts in to create the videos in addition to the time of doing the GH itself and.... a full time job. It must be all the Snapple he drinks or whatever he puts in it .

Are you doing a "Cord and Penn Parmenter" style greenhouse? Please share your design. I don't know if I can get out to Laramie to help you. But now that Rob is going to charge me for helping hi... Please let me know.

[Rob Torcellini]

This is the rear entrance to the dome and a stitched image looking from the inside.