Assessment of Infrared Heating Benefitsin a Production Greenhouse

Abstract. The advantages of Infra-Red (IR) heating is verified and demonstrated in a full-scale production greenhouse for vegetable seedlings, heated by gas-fired IR radiators. Temperature distributions data collected during a 62-day period during the winter showed that the seedlings could be kept at the optimum thermal conditions while the greenhouse air was maintained at a 2°C-3°C lower temperature, indicating a significant reduction in energy requirements. These results were also supported by Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) consumption data collected over a period of two consecutive years, in relation to climatic conditions.