Just referring to horticultural glass in no longer correct. Nowadays, growers can choose between standard glass, hardened glass, white glass, diffuse glass and AR-glass. Recently, a Latvian company presented a very promising new type of coated glass for use in greenhouses, called GroGlass. Nanotechnology can bring a revolution to the greenhouse industry by providing advanced coatings for application on glass. New anti-reflection coatings are now being developed for special use on greenhouse glass. Anultra thin layer on the surface of the glass changes the characteristics and gives the covering a new dimension. The coatings can improve the light transmission and reduce the heating of the greenhouse. Hence, the coated glass can play an important rolein optimising light and energy management in the greenhouse. "Coatings on greenhouse glass will contribute to increasing crop yields and to reducing energy use," says Alexander Kelberg from the Latvian company GroGlass. "If the right coatings are used,the temperature inside the greenhouse can be lower and more PAR light will come into the greenhouse. A lower temperature will result in less venting time and as a result, more CO2 will remain in the greenhouse. More CO2, in combination with more PAR light, means higher photosynthesis and thus a higher productivity of the crop. Also, less ventilation means less m3 gas to be burned to make additional CO2. Using coated glass can result in lower energy bills and in better production. The profits of the nursery will increase," explains Kelberg.
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