The SGP GEF project ‘The modernisation of the greenhouse of the Samarkand State University as a model of an energy-efficient social object’

History The greenhouse was built in 1969, under the higher plant taxonomy department, on the initiative and under the guidance of Academician Turakulov, the rector of the Samarkand State University. As a result of scrupulous work, which continued for many years, a unique collection of various plants was gathered in the greenhouse of the State Samarkand University.

Why the project was necessary In the cold winter of 2008, more than half of the unique plants of the greenhouse died, which was caused primarily by the outdated equipment.

Description of technical problems Outdated, ineffective heating system; Cracked and broken glass; Leaky water supply system; Absence of conditioning system; Outdated ventilation system; Absence of artificial illumination.

Many plants were not calculated and registered; Not all of the plants were labelled; Most of the Samarkanders and guests of the city were not aware of the greenhouse. Administrative mistakes

Project measures and results achieved I. Modernisation of the greenhouse power supply system Installation of gas equipment for the heating system of the greenhouse Heat insulation Light protection and temperature regulation systems Solution of the power supply problem A new boiler house was built, where a new boiler was installed; the heating system was repaired; polycarbonate glass and light protection systems were made; the illumination system was installed.

Working process

Так выполнялась работа

Working process

Heating system Before the project Gas boilers with gas burners НР16 After the project New automatic floor gas boiler «Kiturami» KSOG-200 R Advantages The new boiler consumes 270 cubic metres of gas per day; the old gas boilers used 700 cubic metres of gas (at a temperature of –20º С; thus, the consummation of gas is reduced, which resulted in the reduction of carbon dioxide emission – 1.8 tonnes (in comparison with the 5 tonnes before).

Heating system Before the project Three- phase electric pump (1,500 Wt) After the project One phase circulation pump (1,500 Wt) Advantages The one-phase circulation pump consumes 2.5 times less electricity in comparison with the three- phase one of the same power. The boiler house is also equipped with accumulator inverter power supply system (two accumulators 24Wt /190 Ам), which will secure the regular work of the boiler and pumps.

Heating system Before the project Six metal heating pipes 100 mm in diameter which functioned and 12 pipes which did not. Total length – 1,350 m. All the pipes were a part of the supporting construction. After the project The system of heating plastic pipes called ‘Spider Web’ with the total leangth of 1,280 m, 20 and 50 mm in diameter. Advantages The new ‘Spider web’ system runs under the inner surface of the greenhouse, which results in an equal distribution of heat in the whole greenhouse. The pipes are not subject to corrosion, are easily installed, with the warrant of yearrs.

Glass Before the project Old standard glass, 4-5 mm thick After the project Crystalline iodic polycarbonate, 1,500 square metres, 10 mm thick, with the size of the sheet 2,100 mm by 6,000 mm Advantage The light transmissibility of the crystalline polycarbonate is 30,000 lux, of the iodic one – 6,000, which means that the new glass transmits 30% less ultraviolet than the former glass. The heat transfer is 6 times as little as that of the old glass. The polycarbonate is 200 times as strong as the ordinary glass; it is also fire-resistant, wrinkling at high temperatures, but not burning (melting temperature – 250 degrees, burning temperature – 5,400 degrees).

Water supply and watering systems Before the project Watering with the help of a hose After the project Sprinkling system Advantages The sprinkling system: water is evenly sprinkled upon the plants, thus helping to save water in comparison with the old system.

Water supply and watering systems Reconstructed pool Old leaky pool Before the projectAfter the project The old pool lost 2 cubic metres of water daily. The reconstruction of the pool made it possible to avoid these water losses Advantages

Conditioning and ventilation systems Before the project The conditioning system did not exist After the project New air conditioners installed Advantages The new air conditioning systems help to maintain normal temperature within the greenhouse in summer and winter and are very effective.

Illumination system Before the project The illumination system did not function After the project The illumination is restored completely Advantages 38 energy efficient lamps were installed, 36 Wt each, and 2 lamps 30 and 10 Wt accordingly. The old electric wiring was replaced by new one. The life time of such lamps is 10, ,000 hours and energy consummation is 2.5 times less.

Illumination system Before the project After the project There was no photoelectric system Solar panels Advantages The photoelectric system uses solar energy and will provide electricity to illuminate the greenhouse in case of emergency

Project measures and results achieved II. Improvement of the greenhouse activity Labelling of plants and creation of electronic catalogue available in Internet. Working out of a series of excursions for various target groups Guide training for the workers of biological faculty Informative and visual electronic catalogue (available on the web-pages of the university and SGP GEF). Interesting excursion programme for a wide circle of visitors (in three languages). All the plants of the greenhouse are identified and ccatalogued

Perspectives Planting of rare and local species in the territory at the side of the greenhouse (sea-buckthorn, oleaster, tamarisk, saltwort, tulips etc.) in 2012 New excursion route ‘Landscapes of Uzbekistan’ and relevant plants (mountains, adyrs, tugais, desert)

Thanks

Thank you for your attention! Greenhouse web-site – GEF SGP web-site -