Stacking Functions in the Greenhouse

Reader Contribution by Charlyn Ellis
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One of the principles of Permaculture is “Stacking Functions” or making every structure/addition to your plan serve at least two, if not more, functions in the landscape. So, a chicken tractor not only contains and protects my chickens but also adds to the tilth and fertility of my soil and provides an interesting visual component to the yard. When we added solar panels to the homestead, we wanted to honor this principle — and constructing a small greenhouse allowed us to install the panels, as the light was not great on the roof of the house. The number of functions we have stacked on this small structure became very clear to me as I prepared for an upcoming solar homes tour.

Function One: Solar Collector

There are eight panels on the roof, 13 feet in the air, with  airflow underneath (which will help keep them cool in the heat of summer, and, thus, more efficient). These panels should produce all of the energy we use over the course of the year.  We will adjust consumption so that this happens. The panels, even though they are on the roof, do not shade the interior. Because we are so far north, the winter light is very slanted and reaches to the back of the space nicely. The panels shade the wall of the garage next door instead, even in high summer.

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