Using the energy of
little Green Fingers
Diary of building a greenhouse
Day one
Preparing the base for the greenhouse
“I volunteered to help prepare the base for the trial greenhouse at a primary school down the road. It was hard work, but I enjoyed it. The school caretaker, Bob, told me what to do. We removed the grass and flattened the ground, checking with a spirit level. We then put down a mix of sand and cement (6 spadefuls of sand to 1 cement). Next we laid the paving slabs on top – getting them level was the hardest bit as they were heavy. Luckily Bob knew what he was doing! It took us 6 hours but it looks great!”
Adam Wood, npower HR Service Centre, Administrator
Note: All the materials – sand, cement, and paving slabs – were bought at B&Q and cost the school £170
Day two
Erecting the greenhouse
“My mate Adam and I helped put up a greenhouse. The caretaker Bob masterminded operations. It took the 3 of us 2 days to get our greenhouse erected. It was tricky, we had to follow the user instructions very carefully – I am so proud now that it is all up. I wish we had one when I was at school – imagine how cool lesson in it will be!”
Mark Russell, npower HR Service Centre, Administrator
“Have faith in the user instructions – they are correct (even though you may question them along the way!
Work off a photocopy of the instructions – these will get mucky – and you will be lost without them!
If time is short and you have help, on day 1 get one team to prepare the base for the greenhouse while the other team assembles the side frames. The next day you will be able to put the greenhouse up and put in the glass.”
Bob Carvey, Tregoze Primary School, Caretaker
Assembling the Heating System for your greenhouse
“Putting the heating system together was easier than I thought it would be. It is an amazingly simple idea. We filled the plastic box with pea gravel bought from the local builders merchant. We followed the guidance notes. When the solar panel faces the sun you can hear the fan whizz around. When you cover the panel it stops immediately – I think it will demonstrate beautifully how the sun’s energy can be used to make electricity.”
Clare McDougall, npower Eduation Programme, Director
Note: The pea gravel cost the school £20
