Question by cityquestioner: Does any group collect data about how many city buildings have greenhouses on their roofs ?
Would the county agricultural agent (USDA) likely have this information ? Could this information be found out through some sort of building permit report. Who would know what was being grown in these greenhouses ? and if any, many use hydroponic systems ? Have any schools, universities become known for this practice ? If glass is no longer used, what is the material of the usual covering, or panels ? Are any of these greenhouses that might exist, producing in a commercial circumstance ?
Best answers:
Answer by Dustoff
cityquestioner
If the ghouses are not of a commercial nature and/or the owner/operator not contacted the County Agent, the CA would very likely NOT know of their existance.
Possibly building permits would be issued if the installation was registered as a permanent attachment to the building. Nonpermanent structures do not require building permits.
What is being grown is no doubt known only by those who operate them or have other knowledge of their existance.
Very possibly hydorponic systems are used, however hydroponic systems are touchy to maintain and are not the system for all users or products.
I grew various vegetables on the Horticulture/Plant Sciences building at Arizona State University in a test program with my professor. I have never seen or am aware of rooftop ghouses at institutions. For this type of use, rooftop ghouses are not practicle. For a hobby — go for it.
Glass is still used and is a very efficient light transmitter, but costly. Mostly the use of glass is in the private sector, northern latitudes, in relation to high end estates because glass looks nice. Plastic double wall and triple wall panels are more economical, less maintenance, not as prone to damage, and do not require the beefed up supporting structure that glass requires. Plastic film is very popular among commercial growers due to its lower cost, but is much more fragile and prone to damage and must be replaced at intervals depending upon its grade and thickness.
As to roof installed, commercial ghouses a practice . . . I would think not due to simply accessability and the roof would need be designed for this type of hard wear, including service passages to the roof. Commercial ghouse operations must have tons of stuff produced to satisfy profitability. Accessability must be easy to insure profitabillity. On the ground ranges make this easy, elevation increases costs.
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