In these days of exploding energy prices, any innovation that leads to savings is more than welcome. One such innovation is ErfGoed's patented AirBlow system. Managing director Hugo Paans explains exactly how it works.
"We heat or cool the floor with a special heat pump. On the pipework in the floor, we put a blower, a kind of fan. That blows air into the floor - when you cool or heat the floor, you make sure the air comes out of the floor. An underfloor heating system can normally give off about 30 watts per square meter, but with a blower, its output goes up tremendously without the floor itself getting much warmer."
In addition, blowing also gives a positive effect on the plants: "With a little airflow underneath, you already have much fewer blemishes, so you don't have to heat as much against mold. Stagnant air is not good for plants, and ventilation helps against that."
For Phalaenopsis growers, for instance, who are used to heating and ventilating a lot, this is a positive development. "Without having to turn the heating up a lot, you still get that air circulation effect. The airflow causes the 'warm blanket' to rise, so to speak, so that the lower part of the greenhouse becomes a lot cooler. But the opposite is also possible if you want to heat it at the bottom."
They are now convinced at ErfGoed that the new system works. "We have already used it successfully in our own test garden, where we grew several crops on it for long periods, with surprisingly good results. Now we are going to do a few more tests in our newly built Experience-centre, and after that, we will also roll it out in practice - and given the current energy and gas prices, we expect that to happen quickly."
For more information: 
ErfGoed
Bredeweg 59
2751 GH Moerkapelle
www.erfgoed.com