Natural Sunlight Indoor

Hello,

I want to build a mini Grow House, about 2m x 2.5m
I live in a very hot region (Southern arizona). Temperature can go up to 50c on summer
The grow house would be built with blocks and well isolated.
I would like to save some electricity, so I would like to use Natural Sunlight as much as I can, so, I have the following questions:

1. For the roof, does a skylight provides enough light? I know there are millions of types, which one is better for this scenario? I also though about putting a roof of glass instead skylight, so the light is not reduced, but maybe a clear/translucent skylight will do the same job. I would complement remaining hours with CFL in the night.
2. The only side it will get light from is from south (it will be near another construction, so no windows on north neither east). Would you recommend putting a window on South wall?
3. I want to have an air exhaust on the northern wall to pull fresh air from my house, it would be a common wall with my house, so it pulls fresh air. My concern here is the Aroma inside the house. I dont mind about neighbors because I dont have any (rural area). Should I put another exhaust to pull air from the grow house to the outside? or just a small escape (window).

Thanks in advance

wow outdoor grow room in Arizona. harsh environment. ok so I have been to Airzona a few times, seen the monsoons, seen snow covering the desert. these temp extremes are going to be your biggest challenge. google pit greenhouse. not saying it will fit what you have but would be very effective for Arizona.

1.commercial skylights often leak (have two in my house) and are pricey. I would go with plastic sheeting (aka real thick drop cloth) or the corrugated/wavey plastic. these options are what most greenhouses use.

depending on how far south cfl/led/hid, aka extra hours of light maybe required, unless you run autos. lived on the Alabama coast for a time and grew outside the darn plants went to flower mode no matter time of year.

2.general thought is more light more bud, if you don't add "windows" you may leave plants always shaded. but more light more heat.

3.ventilation is going to be very important for you. if trying to save electric I would not pull the (I assume) cool air from your home. your ac will be worked to max. fans would be great. smell can be controlled with carbon filters, but if not moving air thru the house and not worried about outside then...why bother.

may I suggest looking into shade screen(google), it will limit (not block it all) the sun on hottest part of the day. also for cold nights solar batteries(google), aka black barrel filled with water. it collects heat from sun then slowly releases it when temp drops.
solar panels could be used to power cfls, leds for extra hours of light. lots of options and I would start with how are people managing greenhouses near you ( regardless of what they're growing)

Hey, I never took the time to thank you for the great tips you gave me.
Im taking some pieces to design my green house.

Thanks!

stoned-monkey said:

wow outdoor grow room in Arizona. harsh environment. ok so I have been to Airzona a few times, seen the monsoons, seen snow covering the desert. these temp extremes are going to be your biggest challenge. google pit greenhouse. not saying it will fit what you have but would be very effective for Arizona.

1.commercial skylights often leak (have two in my house) and are pricey. I would go with plastic sheeting (aka real thick drop cloth) or the corrugated/wavey plastic. these options are what most greenhouses use.
View attachment 4006986 View attachment 4006987
depending on how far south cfl/led/hid, aka extra hours of light maybe required, unless you run autos. lived on the Alabama coast for a time and grew outside the darn plants went to flower mode no matter time of year.

2.general thought is more light more bud, if you don't add "windows" you may leave plants always shaded. but more light more heat.

3.ventilation is going to be very important for you. if trying to save electric I would not pull the (I assume) cool air from your home. your ac will be worked to max. fans would be great. smell can be controlled with carbon filters, but if not moving air thru the house and not worried about outside then...why bother.

may I suggest looking into shade screen(google), it will limit (not block it all) the sun on hottest part of the day. also for cold nights solar batteries(google), aka black barrel filled with water. it collects heat from sun then slowly releases it when temp drops.
solar panels could be used to power cfls, leds for extra hours of light. lots of options and I would start with how are people managing greenhouses near you ( regardless of what they're growing)

Click to expand...

ned monkey

hope it works out

I kept three 1300 gallon tanks of water all summer and winter in my greenhouses. I can say it does very little to keep it warm or cool but is awesome to maintain a near 100% relative humidity jungle type environment fraught with molds and disease. If you pull ac air from your home to cool and refresh your greenhouse your home will then pull fresh hot air into your home living space..does that sound like an electricity saver?
a carbon can with its fan pulling stinky air in and pushing clean scrubbed air out is what you want.
leave it run inside of the structure full time in/out if you need odor control. your greenhouse will get so hot you will not be able to enter.
consider burying it or running a swamp cooler or installing an ac to save plants and electricity.
I been here....done this, it sucked.