Measures to reduce energy consumption: a simulation study for mushroom houses.

The purpose of this study is to provide a model to facilitate the simulated evaluation of theenergy consumption for different mushroom house and climate set point configurations.Climate management in this application is complex, including control of: oxygen, carbondioxide, and water vapour, temperature, evaporation rate, air cleanliness, and indoor-outdoorpressure differential. Climate set points vary according to the stage of crop growth and need tobe maintained regardless of weather conditions. Energy saving by set point alteration is part ofthe study as its effect on energy saving is currently indeterminate. Traditional solutions tosatisfy the climate requirements have a number of drawbacks. Data is currently unavailable toquantify the effect of these drawbacks, hence the need for a simulation model. Use of a modelfacilitates comparative analysis of different house configurations that overcome thesedrawbacks and help determine minimum overall energy cost.