Wasted heat in protected agriculture

Greenhouses and indoor agriculture facilities vent warm, humid air to control temperature and CO2, especially in cold weather. That vented air carries substantial energy; recovering it preheats the incoming fresh air, reducing heating cost and avoiding cold drafts that stress plants.

Suitable exchanger types and how they work

Plate air-to-air exchangers recover heat between exhaust and supply with no mixing, protecting crop air quality. An enthalpy core can also move moisture, useful in dry-climate greenhouses. Our greenhouse heat-recovery guide covers crop-specific points.

Design considerations for agriculture

Greenhouse air is humid and can carry pesticides or salt from irrigation; choose washable, corrosion-resistant plates and provide condensate drainage. Size to the ventilation rate, add a summer bypass, and keep pressure drop within the existing fan capacity so the recovery does not fight the climate system.