Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

A major barrier for local food production in northern boreal climates is markedly short growing seasons. Attempts to prolonggrowing seasons using standard green housing techniques and technologies, while somewhat effective, are not sustainabledue to cool spring and fall overnight temperatures and overall cooler temperatures compared to more temperate southernclimates. Furthermore, attempts to solve this problem by heating greenhouses have proven too costly to be feasible. Theinnovation we a proposing herein is to develop an energy efficient greenhouse system using known sustainable energy technologies, such as solar thermal wall construction, in ground heat batteries and heat loss preventative insulation. Thegoal is to build and test 1 working prototype and develop construction methodology for Helios developments to manufactureand sell energy efficient greenhouse installations in northern Ontario. This will provide Helios Developments with anotherproduct and service to offer its existing client base and new clients in the region. They currently have some strong linkagesbuilt with their solar installation business and this new innovation will fit well within their existing sustainable energy productline.