F.lo.r.ener. a model focuses on energy management for greenhouses

The reduction of energy consumption is among the main goals of modern cultivation technique under greenhouse conditions. Most of the protective structures used in the European Union are aged of more than 15 years and do not always conform to current standards of low energy consumption. In most cases, the cost of investment to rebuild greenhouse plant is much more expensive for possible interventions to save energy. In many cases the old greenhouses have a high rate of air infiltration and large dispersions of heat mainly from the roof and the ventilation system. In many cases heat shields are not used and ventilation is poorly managed. To evaluate alternatives in case of new structures or to implement old structures, a decision support system (DSS) was developed to help the users in taking decisions on different possibilities both concerning the structures or the management regime. Expected results includes strategies on general maintenance to reduce energy consumption and/or to increase crop yield or energy efficiency. The software analyzes the main choices the user can take on construction, cover material, inside climate, energy sources, location. The calculations consider a stationary condition, thus the inertia is not considered. The program aims to quantify the energy demand and the relevant costs in structures defined by the user. After the elaboration - based on flowcharts - the model gives outputs as graphs with external temperature, evaporation rate, ventilation, conduction, re-irradiation, minimum temperature required. Diffuse radiation, power required, and set temperature are also showed