ENERGY

• INTRODUCTION

*In northern latitudes (Canada, England, Holland, etc.) the cost for heating, especially, And cooling a greenhouse can amount to 70 – 85% of the total operating costs. In warmer areas (the Southwest United States, Mexico, Spain, Israel, etc.) the Costs can still be around 50% of the total operating costs. *Therefore, heating and cooling are obviously a significant part of the operating budget. *Any measures that reduce the need for heating and cooling will reduce the costs for These as well, and will therefore increase profit (the bottom line for a commercial Grower, schools and even home gardeners!). *This chapter presents methods to conserve energy in a greenhouse as well as alternatives To “traditional” methods of heating and cooling.

• ENERGY

Energy is defined as "the ability to do work." In this sense, examples of work include moving something, lifting something, warming something, or lighting something. The following is an example of the transformation of different types of energy into heat and power. Oil burns to make heat Heat boils water Water turns to steam Steam pressure turns a turbine Turbine turns an electric generator Generator produces electricity Electricity powers light bulbs Light bulbs give off light and heat

• LAW OF ENERGY

Energy is subject to the law of conservation of energy. According to this law, energy can neither be created (produced) nor destroyed itself. It can only be transformed This law is a fundamental principle of physics. It follows from the translational symmetry of time, a property of most phenomena below the cosmic scale that makes them independent of their locations on the time coordinate. Put differently, yesterday, today, and tomorrow are physically indistinguishable.

• TYPES OF ENERGY
  

+Mechanical Energy
Is the energy of motion that does the work like the wind turns a windmill

+ Heat Energy
Where motion or rise in temperature is caused by heat like a fire in your fireplace.

+ Chemical Energy
Is the chemical reaction causing changes food and fuel both storing chemical energy.

+ Electrical Energy
Is when motion, light or heat is produced by an electrical current like the electric coils on Your stove.

+ Gravitational Energy
Where motion, like water going over a dam, is caused by gravity's pull.