It was clear that energy saving was the topic of the moment well before the effects of recent international events caused energy costs to skyrocket. Energy saving, in fact, also equates to environmental protection, cost reduction, and is the foundation of a virtuous process that triggers cascading economies of scale as well as benefits for quality of life and production quality.

Idromeccanica Lucchini has long implemented technological solutions and systems that promote energy saving even in its own greenhouses, ensuring an improved economic and environmental balance.

Good Design

At the core of a low-energy-impact greenhouse system is good design. Regardless of whether the crop in question is more or less energy-intensive, before setting up a greenhouse, it is necessary to design a system that reduces waste and operational costs. The design by Idromeccanica Lucchini always prioritizes plant health and productivity, and based on this, Lucchini’s technicians design an efficient system with the lowest possible energy consumption. The architecture of the volumes and the working environment are indeed fundamental to providing the greenhouse with the ideal climatic characteristics for plant health and productivity. Idromeccanica Lucchini meets these needs with passive systems and active installations.

Passive Systems

To ensure lower energy consumption, it is necessary to use systems that best stabilize the climate inside the greenhouse without resorting to heating or cooling tools. Idromeccanica Lucchini employs various cutting-edge measures that allow achieving the ideal temperature, lighting, and humidity levels depending on the type of plant.

• Double film coverings work on solar radiation and thermal management, significantly reducing the use of electric thermal components.
• A passive ventilation system composed of windows and strategic openings on the greenhouse surface, managed by intelligent software enriched with predictive models, reduces energy exchange with the outside of the greenhouse to conserve naturally accumulated energy inside, while also allowing proper aeration for crop well-being.
• Plastic materials resistant to snow, hail, and wind, and of very long duration, are also ecological and more advantageous compared to the iron-glass combination. They also better insulate the greenhouse and allow energy savings and thus energy consumption reduction.
• Thermal shading screens protect the plant and allow for better management of sunlight.
• The coating on the structure or the external envelopes of the greenhouse helps dissipate summer heat, reducing the need for mechanical cooling, and provides more light for the plant in winter, reducing the need for lighting and heating. With the same solar spectrum, it blocks the short light ray that creates excess heat but allows photosynthesis.

Active Climate Control or Energy Generation

To save energy, in addition to equipping it with passive systems, it is necessary to design a greenhouse that also includes active climate control and devices capable of energy production. Idromeccanica Lucchini is able to provide this type of equipment to best integrate the greenhouse and make it an eco-sustainable and highly productive tool.

• Active climate control (both heating and cooling) powered not by fossil energies but by renewable sources. Regeneration on biomass, biogas, and geothermal energy creates a circular economy where plant waste is reused for the greenhouse. The system is managed in a computerized manner through sensors and predictive systems that minimize energy consumption. With these tools, it is also possible to store both energy and water, making the greenhouse independent and autonomous even in times of crisis.
• Photovoltaic panels for energy production can be placed both on the warehouse and on the crop to create true photovoltaic greenhouses for vertical farming or hydroponics. The placement of the panels occurs after careful exposure calculation and transmittance degree study, strategically to optimize panel performance and to homogenize sunlight to avoid creating shadow cones or excessive heat. The energy produced is used for the greenhouse’s functionalities and for the plant’s well-being. In the near future, it will also be possible to sell the excess energy produced.