Protptype Nov 2103
IKEA Greenhouse
Innovators: Kelly Kayser, Sarah Murphy, Nathan Little, Matthew Stumpf
Our project aims to make fresh and healthy produce more accessible to the masses and reduce the distance from garden to table. Our team is working to develop a tool that gives the user the convenience of in-home technology with the addition of sustainability. With an easily available source of fresh vegetables right in the home, this greenhouse helps to reduce the amount of food being transported and packaged around the world, which means less oil and gasoline is being used in the vehicles used to transport the food and less packaged waste. This indoor greenhouse will make it easy and efficient for the average homeowner to grow produce in one’s own kitchen throughout the year.
overall goals
- To build a simple and energy efficient indoor greenhouse that is easy to use and effective at producing large yields of produce in a small space
- To make the greenhouse affordable and easy to set up
- To develop a control system that allows the user to set a timer to turn on and off the light, program automatic watering, and control the heat that the plants are being kept in
- To create a simple and sleek design that is easily incorporated to the common home
- To develop a series of plant pallets, with a selection of plants which are known to grow well together, in a similar environment. These pallets would be used to ensure that the highest yield to energy cost ratio would be ensured
- The product should be self-sufficient with little maintenance required
project timeline & milestones (report and presentation, etc)
September 29 - October 5 · Decided upon greenhouse location – inside or outside· Decide upon greenhouse shape· Decide upon materials used to build house· Draw layout of greenhouse 2-Dimentionally. MILESTONE : 2-D layouts
October 6 - October 12 · Use 2-D greenhouse layout to create a 3 dimensional rendering· Calculate out exact amount of materials being used.· Calculate material cost. MILESTONES: Cost sheet and 3-D rendering
October 13 - October 26 · Purchase materials needed for greenhouse.· Build frame· Install water piping.· Learn about and begin control system and wiring. MILESTONE: Framing completed
October 27 - November 9 · Install paneling and heat lamps.· Continue work on control system.
November 10 – December 7 · Finish and install control system.· Finish prototype. Begin error testing and problem solving. MILESTONE: Finished Prototype
December 8 - December 14 · Present finished project. MILESTONE: Presentation
summary of sources
Not applicable for our current state.
resources needed
- Appropriate materials for structure and support.
- Control system to oversee water, temperature, lights, and drainage.
- Light systems including grow lamps, UV lights, possible LEDs.
- Plants that benefit from each other and can be grown in small areas.