Can I build a greenhouse on an above ground climate battery?

I may not be able to dig down to install a climate battery.  My other option is to build it above ground, and build the greenhouse on top of that.  I like the greenhouse to be above ground level, and there's a question of a granite shelf under the ground. I'll be talking to an excavation company about this tomorrow.

The building will be 30' wide from south to north.  The south 20' will be the greenhouse, with the north 10' an enclosed insulated, heated space for other purposes.  The climate battery will be under the greenhouse section only.  I'm not sure yet if I'm putting a second level under the north side, or if it will be filled with dirt.  I'm also planning on chicken coups on the south side.  So I'm hoping I won't lose too much heat from the battery if I do this.  I will, of course insulate well on all four sides.

Any thoughts?  Has anyone done this before?

Hi Diane,
I like to say that just about anything is possible with enough time and money, but do you want to put those into it? I'm not sure which style "climate battery" you are thinking of, but with enough insulation you could probably build it above ground. It just takes away from the usual purpose of a climate battery, which is to use the underground temperatures to store or modify the temperature above ground. You would need a huge amount of insulation and possible berming up the dirt to accomplish it.

A 30x20 structure is not huge. Perhaps there are other options that could accomplish the same results with less work and money. You don't say what climate you are in. I'm mostly familiar with cold climates, and the need for heat during the spring, fall, and winter seasons. Chickens produce heat, and can certainly help all by themselves. I saw a post (though I cannot find it currently, maybe someone else can?) about building a rocket mass heater that would stand up to the moisture in a greenhouse. I believe it was working fairly well. Perhaps you could insulate the North, east, and west sides and part of the roof to contain more of the heat without having to go to a second level.

Please give us a little more info about what you are hoping to accomplish with this greenhouse and where your climate is, and maybe we can come up with more ideas.

**Edit I found it. https://permies.com/t/60923/Wet-Tolerant-Rocket-Mass-Heater

Thank you Matt

I'm in southern Vermont, zip code 05355.  I've pretty much talked myself out of a second level.  I'm thinking now of putting RMHs under the office rooms.

My understanding is the climate battery isn't deep enough to make use of the underground temperatures.  The idea is to use the underground mass to hold the heat and to take advantage of the water's phase change.  

I tried to not go into too much detail, but I'm actually putting in a 20'x30' orangery with an entrance from the house.  Beyond the orangery will be a 103'x30' building.  The southern 20' will be the green house, and it will be divided by walls into three sections.  The orangery and the three greenhouse sections will each have a climate battery.  The north 10' will be divided into rooms.  The fill under this section, I'm hoping, should insulate the climate batteries on the north side.  The batteries will help prevent heat loss for each other, except for the far section, which is where I'll be growing the most cold hardy crops.  If the chickens can help on the south side, I'm hoping that would be ok?

There is a question of a granite shelf under where the greenhouse is to go.  If there is one, there's nothing I can do about it, except build above it.  Even if there isn't, I'm trying to avoid steps.  The only place to attach to the house to is 4-5 feet above the ground.  I have knee problems now and I'm not getting any younger.  

I keep going back and forth between building on the surface I have and raising the greenhouse.  So if you still think this isn't a good idea, tell me.

Really using a greenhouse requires hauling heavy soil amendments, soil, sometimes wood for raised beds, wheelbarrows, tools, and then the harvested produce in and out.  Something the size you're talking about would have a lot of produce.  So if that requires stairs, that's not the easiest way to want to use a greenhouse.   A lot of these garden projects need to be easy to use, not just good looking, otherwise we will be reluctant to spend enough time in them.  None of us are getting any younger, it might be easier to keep it at ground level.

Are you sure you are actually going to use a big greenhouse most of the months of the year?  Or just a few months in the summer?  You've used one in the past and know you need something bigger?  I know I've fallen prey to dreams and fantasies, and overdone a few projects that end up doing nothing.

Insulating a greenhouse is not too difficult, and might be easier.

Have you seen the types that use composting bin heat to heat them?  I wouldn't recommend composting inside a greenhouse because of the gnats, but compost bins on the coldest side exterior, with pipes coming out the bottom and into the greenhouse, is a way to warm it if you are an active composter.

Look up New Alchemy Composting Greenhouse for a picture.  (For some reason this site isn't letting me upload pictures.)

There's also a way to fill large plastic water barrels with water, to make a "heated" water wall that helps keep temps up.



 

Why cant you dig the ground?
Lack of equipment or ground too hard?

I've thought a lot about above ground climate batteries and I think they might be the better choice.
They avoid the need to move huge amounts of earth, and reduce or eliminate the need for insulation.
As noted, to make use of the earth's natural heat differential, you have to go even deeper.

Using a raised bed as the battery should put the heat exactly where it needs to be, at the root of the plants.
Insulation needs are eased as the sides not need to be resistant to direct burial.
Ideally the entire floor of the greenhouse will be insulated, but you could just insulate under the beds themselves and do quite well.

The objection to an above ground climate battery is it not large enough to store enough seasonal heat to last all winter, but I don't think most designs do.
Keeping tempatures up overnight is the crucial factor, and an above ground mass should be enough to do that, especially with the help of a rocket mass heater.