A natural gas-powered heater kicks in if conditions become too cold in the greenhouse, while a wet wall cooling system is used along with fans to cool things down and keep air moving through the space. Plants do not thrive in stagnant air, she says.
The greenhouse is special in that it is hydroponic.聽Instead of soil, it grows plants inside Rockwool, a sponge-like material that allows nutrient-rich water to reach the plants. Water is constantly recirculated for two weeks, after which all new water is pumped in, she says.
Special grow lamps emit only red and blue light because only light from that end of color spectrum is absorbed by plants. The lighting is eco-friendly in that it only costs a few cents a day to run and lasts for 10 to 12 years, Ward says.
Mason environmental science major Maryam Sedaghatpour was one of the first to tour the greenhouse on Tuesday and says she鈥檚 excited that it uses a soiless medium to grow plants.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great way to grow food locally,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 love the idea of having food grown at [Mason] for students to eat.鈥