Goober69

Jay,

Great project you have there!

When I was in high school my science teacher built a greenhouse using all sorts of technologies to reduce costs (they built - and very cheaply I might add - a solar panel to heat water to warm it, etc.)

One really cheap item they used to warm it was 2 liter soda bottles. They lined the north wall with bottles stacked on top of each other. The bottles were filled with water. During the day the sun would warm the entire greenhouse, including the water in the bottles. At night the bottles would give off heat into the greenhouse. I am sure this would help you a little if freezing is that much of a problem where you are.

They even tried using food dye to see if other color water would get warmer. I believe they said a shade of green worked best although I have always heard dark colors absorb and give off the most heat.

So maybe trying this technique would save you on the energy bills a little. It cant hurt right?

Just thought I would drop that little tidbit of information. I have always wanted to do a project like yours and was curious how well the soda bottles helped.

Good luck,

Tony