Migration of people from country side to the cities is a phenomenon associated with rapid urbanization. It has been predicted by researchers that more than 80% of the population, by 2050, will migrate to cities and will start dwelling there. The farms and country sides will be abandoned.
For agriculture and farm needs there will be very less land available in the cities. So the people will have to depend on greenhouses and kitchen garden to grow their vegetables etc. Green houses are thought to be good for growth of plants. This is because in the greenhouse the plants obtain sunlight and are also not exposed to the ruthless climatic conditions.
1. Solar powered greenhouse
Solar ReFeel, a company working in the renewable energy sector is starting its greenhouse project. For this project they have collaborated with Solyndra (leader in solar industry). Solar Refeel is planning to use photovoltaic system in the greenhouse and enhance crop productivity. The photovoltaic system of Solyndra are cylindrical in design and not flat like other photovoltaic systems. The cylinders allow more light to enter the greenhouse. This makes the crops to grow more capably. The company is aiming to combine the greenhouse with solar enabled sensor systems. This will lead the greenhouse to electricity also along with food.
2. Camarillo’s greenhouses
The aim of Camarillo’s greenhouses, developed by a farming company from Canada (Houweling Nurseries) is to provide sustainable farming. It is a complex made of $50 million. The whole complex had an ecosystem which is totally self dependent. Nothing is wasted in this ecosystem. There are photovoltaic solar cells (spread to five acres). These photovoltaic cells supply 2.1 MW electricity to the complex. This electricity is used to run systems which control the climate and water pumps. Rain water is harvested by collecting it in a 4 acre. This water is then filtered and then used for irrigation purposes. This green house, apart from harvesting water and generating electricity boasts of producing more fruit (20 times more) than other conventional farms. No pesticides and herbicides are used in this greenhouse for growing plants. Bare minimum fertilizers are used as there are no germs and dust in the greenhouse. The exhaust from warehouse refrigeration and solar heat is collected by the thermal system. The heat is then used to warm the greenhouse.
3. Hiroshi Iguchi’s greenhouse
The unique and most important aspect of Hiroshi Iguchi’s greenhouse is that it has been made from sustainable materials. Designer Hiroshi Iguchi proposes something beyond a greenhouse. He proposes for a greenhouse house. Hiroshi Iguchi’s Camouflage House is a house situated inside a greenhouse. The greenhouse house is a component of 5th World project. The Camouflage House aspires to encourage a sustainable architecture which is ecofriendly. Camouflage House uses natural materials for its construction. Apart from protecting trees and plants from harsh weather it also protects people. The design also incorporates some tress in the house. These trees are allowed to come out of the house roofs from the open spaces left in the ceiling.
4. Plantagon urban greenhouse
Around the world villages are the producers of food. Studies show that by the year 2050 cities will become over crowded as more than 80% of the population will migrate to the cities. Location and definition of farms will also change as more and more people will come to cities. Plantagon, a Swedish-American company, is using innovative technology and is trying to create new farms for today’s urbanities. They are solving the problem of less space for cultivation today in our cities, as our cities are already overcrowded and people leaving in vertical columns have no space to spread horizontally. Plantagon have created Plantagon urban greenhouse. This green house is made of large geodesic domes which have spiral ramps inside.
Plants are grown on the spiral ramp built inside the vertical farm. This new technique of food production will change the production style. The goods will be directly supplied to the consumers, helping in reducing the cost of transportation and also helping in sustaining the environment. The company is optimistic that the first vertical farm will be operational in the next 3 years.
5. Recycled windshield greenhouse
This is a sustainable greenhouse made by architect Sebastian Ramirez. Being an eco conscious designer he has windshield glass to build a fully functional greenhouse. The green house has been erected on the 8 eight logs of wood and they are connected to the glass by nails. The greenhouse is triangular in shape.
