For those of us who live in the blistering cold during the winter and want to eat local produce, it isn’t easy. Traditional greenhouses are one way to meet the demands for year-round local produce, but they are energy guzzlers and are heated with fossil fuels. In the Midwestern region of the U.S., greenhouses are changing thanks to a new system that uses the Earth’s own internal heat to warm and cool greenhouses. They dig the floor of the greenhouse four feet below the surface, and use the warm air taken from a perforated plastic tubing buried underground to cool and heat the greenhouses. As the air circulates in a loop from the underground to the greenhouse, it picks up heat from soil to keep the greenhouses warm enough at night to grow produce all year round. And by using geothermal energy, the energy costs at these greenhouses are about a $1 a day. If more of these kind of greenhouses can be placed around the world, then it will help reduce our need to transport produce and the emissions that come with it.
Citrus in the snow: Geothermal greenhouses grow local produce in the winter
More of Today's Solutions
NYC food pantries are now stocking pet food for struggling households
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM If you've ever moved a bit of food off your own plate just so your dog could eat, ...
Read MoreAge-by-age Halloween tips from a board-certified pediatrician
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Halloween might be the one night a year when the whole family ends up outside together, moving through ...
Read More3 lifestyle hacks to help you become a little happier
There is no one path to finding happiness, but there are some lifestyle changes you can make to become more receptive to happiness. Without ...
Read MoreNamibia High Court lifts ban on gay sex, a win for human rights
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Namibia's high court has overturned a statute that criminalized gay intercourse, a huge victory for LGBTQ+ campaigners. This ...
Read More
