Commercial Architecture July 2017 - 26

PROJECT

hvac

temperature levels inside the grow operation at target-

varieties of vegetables. When all fish tanks are filled,

ed parameters.

they hold approximately 2,300 fish.

"We are essentially trying to create the longest summer day of the season year round in the greenhouse,"

RESULTS HOLD WATER

explained Tim. "The vents, lights, and shade cloth are

According to Tim, the installation of the boilers went

all computerized and move automatically to maintain

smoothly, and the family's Floating Gardens LLC

conditions."

aquaponics farm operation is already a success. The

With the heating system in place, the nursery was

four Evergreen boilers accurately maintain proper

filled in early December with 130 tilapia and several

temperatures in the building, while providing supple-

New ThermaLift System
™

from Varco Pruden

A master boiler controls the modulation and sequencing of boilers on
the network to achieve the desired system supply temperature.

mental heat for the fish tanks and nurseries.
"The boilers are very energy efficient and will cycle
on and off as needed," said Tim. "They typically shut
off when the temperature outside is 65 degrees and
above."
Alleviating a major concern, the boilers also allowed the greenhouse to stay snow free all winter. "We
had some major snowfalls this past season, but it always melted and never accumulated on the roof of the
greenhouse," Tim reported.
Today, the Goodenoughs are producing approximately 250 heads of lettuce a day with varieties of romaine, butterhead, and summer crisp. The family also
is growing other produce such as Swiss chard, peapods, string beans, kale, tomatoes, and radishes.

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CIRCLE 211

"We harvested our first gourmet lettuce crop in
April, and we will begin selling freshly harvested tilapia mid-year, when the fish have reached market
weight of about 1 1/2 pounds," said Bonny.
The Goodenoughs sell their products at their onsite market, and to farmers markets, local restaurants,
schools, and grocery stores.
"We believe aquaponics is the new face of farming
as it is sustainable, healthier, and can supply more
food per acre than traditional methods," said Tim.
"We are very happy with the system we have in place,
and the Weil-McLain boilers are a key component in
making this efficient growing method a success." CA

Want more information?
To download the information listed below,
visit commercialarchitecturemagazine.com/
1707weilmclain

Circle 6 on the Reader Service Card.
Learn about Evergreen boilers.
See the farm in operation.

http://www.commercialarchitecturemagazine.com/1707weilmclain http://www.VP.com/ad/COMARC http://www.VP.com/ad/COMARC https://www.cdsreportnow.com/bgs/search?CBP0211201707

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture July 2017