What’s New: Hydronic Heating in the Greenhouse
April 1, 2025 Hotter summers, colder cold snaps, and polar vortexes mean growers could use a break on the energy bill. From new high-efficiency, gas-fired heaters to combined heat and power (CHP) systems, we recently reported on a few improvements worth considering. Now, here’s your chance to dig into the details on one of these solutions: hydronic heating. Greenhouse Grower reached out to some leading suppliers for their input on what you need to know about this emerging technology, and how they are focused on developing the next generation of innovation.
What’s the most important thing greenhouse growers need to know about hydronic heating?
Stuppy: Hydronic heating is a highly efficient solution for growers looking to target the most critical area of plant growth: the roots. By delivering heat directly to where it matters most, growers can promote healthier plants, achieve higher yields, and significantly reduce heating costs. Unlike traditional forced-air systems that require heating the entire greenhouse volume to maintain a desirable growing environment, hydronic heating focuses energy where it’s needed, resulting in greater efficiency and faster response times. This approach not only saves energy and costs but also provides growers with a more precise and sustainable way to create optimal growing conditions.
Prospiant: Hydronic (or radiant) heating isn’t just about keeping your greenhouse warm — it’s a powerful tool for improving plant health, saving energy, and boosting crop quality. The system provides consistent, efficient, and targeted heat, which creates the ideal environment for plants to thrive.
But here’s the catch: to get those benefits, you must design and install the system properly. System layout, pipe arrangement, and how you control the system can make or break its performance. Poor setup leads to complications that hurt efficiency and plant performance.
That’s why growers often turn to experts. A well-designed and properly installed hydronic heating system will not only function as it should but also deliver the results you’re looking for — healthier plants, better yields, and lower energy costs.
BioTherm: Unlike forced air, you can target different layers of the greenhouse because the heat can be more focused. Hydronic heating is future-proof because it is a universal medium. It is the most efficient and cost-effective way to transfer heat, adapt to various energy sources, and integrate with renewable technologies, ensuring long-term sustainability and savings. Hydronic heating can be an efficient way to stratify the heating within your facility. You can manipulate the media temperature, plant temperature, and overall space of the facility—all by using hot water.
How is your company focused on developing the next generation of hydronic heating?
Stuppy: Our goal is to educate and support growers who are new to or exploring hydronic heating by offering tailored solutions and comprehensive technical support. Since the inception of the Heat2O hydronic systems line, Stuppy has carefully selected high-efficiency boilers, high-efficiency pump motors, and state-of-the-art boiler controls, pairing them with a performance-engineered design approach to optimize system efficiency and reliability. Additionally, Stuppy has introduced innovative materials and advanced radiation profiles to enhance heat delivery methods in greenhouse hot water heating. By continually researching and integrating cutting-edge technologies, we are committed to helping growers reduce energy costs, improve operational efficiency, and adopt sustainable heating solutions that meet the evolving needs of agriculture.
BioTherm: With future decarbonization efforts, we are designing systems with lower supply water temperatures for newer resources like heat pumps, solar, and geothermal. It opens more avenues for lower grade hot water.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on GreenhouseGrower.com, our sister brand.