Numerical Evaluation of the Benefits Provided by the Ground Thermal Inertia to Urban Greenhouses

TRNSYS numerical study comparing heating-load reduction from partially burying an urban Montreal community greenhouse versus ASHE/GCHP and insulation strategies; explicitly references Walipini/earth-sheltered configuration as a passive burying strategy. Models a small urban greenhouse in Montreal with TRNSYS 18; compares partial wall insulation, burying below grade, lower setpoint, air–soil heat exchanger (ASHE), and ground-coupled heat pump (GCHP). Results (abstract/conclusions): reducing setpoint by 10°C and burying greenhouse 2 m below surface have large fuel-consumption impacts (−33% to −53% for those strategies as reported); ASHE and GCHP with limited footprint reduce fuel 21–35% and 18–27% respectively depending on soil conductivity and summer heat injection. Introduction frames partially burying greenhouses as 'Walipini greenhouse' / earth-sheltered configuration among passive measures. Buried scenarios use 0.2 m concrete walls; depths of 1 m and 2 m studied among eight configurations.

Simulation-only for one Montreal urban gothic-arch style greenhouse shape; not a Bolivia-style excavated pit with plastic roof.

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