Energy screens have the added appeal of quick payback through energy saving: Single screen layers often payback in less than three years and in some cases, less than two. It's the most efficient way to save energy.

Proper use of energy screens will come with time and experience. Open them too quickly; the risk is to cold shock the crop. The benefit of morning sunlight can be lost when opening them too late in the morning, but at the same time, if there isn't enough sunlight in the afternoon, they should be closed to reduce heating costs. By using the screens more and more, growers gain experience and learn how to use them as a tool for best climate management. 

Double screening

More growers have been installing not one but two screens in their glasshouses in the last five years to maximize their energy savings. 

Colder geographic areas are going to two screens for maximum light and minimum heat loss, and some growers are even triple screening. 

The first screen is usually an energy screen with about 25 to 35 percent energy savings in heat. In contrast, the second is usually a partial energy curtain that acts as more of a shade curtain, saving an additional 15 to 20 percent in energy use. In thee or four years, it generally pays for itself.

A trial shows that 15% extra energy was saved with double screens compared to the single screen solution.

Double screening helps maximizing energy saving in colder geographic ares.

So which climate screen to use?

To help save energy while still transmitting precious daylight, screens within the Luxous family are useful for slowing down radiated heat loss at the end of the day and night – reducing the risk of condensation on plants. Luxous is typically found in greenhouses with heating systems. Screens within the Harmony family provides a diffused light penetrating the crop evenly, and at the same time saves a lot of energy.

The Svensson consultancy team has all the knowledge you need for crops, greenhouses, and climates worldwide. They will provide you with the right advice for the best climate and screen solution to achieve your desired result.

5 simple ways to greenhouse energy saving

1. Double-check the heater. 

Whether you’re using hot air, oil or gas, if you don’t do the proper maintenance, you’re definitely using more fuel than you should be. Calibrate once a year, and you’ll see a huge difference in your energy bill. 

2. Check your computer settings. 

Computers don’t know when it’s winter. You likely have your systems set for maximum light exposure, which is great. But forget to check or change your control settings with the season, and on a cold winter day, you could be caught with your windows or roofs open. 

3. Seal it up.

Put seals on your screens. The heat will find every little crack to make its way out of your greenhouse. You lose a surprising amount of hot air between screens, walls, and coverings. You likely have a vent that won’t seal tightly. And the smaller the greenhouse, the more heat you’re going to lose. It’s one of our biggest recommendations and one with the most impact.

4. Research roofing.

Roofs are one of those things that are easy to set and forget. But unless you’ve recently retrofitted or built new construction, technology has likely come a long way since yours was installed. It used to be glass or poly, period. Now there are new glass types with lower emissivity and even double poly gives you options for different thicknesses of layers to impact emissivity.

5. Pull the screens. 

One of the biggest ways to decrease your energy bill comes with energy curtains. Colder geographic areas are going to two screens for maximum light and minimum heat loss, and some growers are even triple screening. Plus, they have the added appeal of quick payback: Single curtain layers often payback in less than three years and, in some cases, less than two. It’s the most efficient way to save energy.