A greenhouse (also called a glasshouse) is a structure with walls and roof made mainly of transparent material, such as glass, in which plants requiring regulated climatic conditions are grown. A more scientific definition is “a covered structure that protects the plants from extensive external climate conditions and diseases, creates optimal growth microenvironment, and offers a flexible solution for sustainable and efficient year-round cultivation.” A modern greenhouse operates as a system, therefore it is also referred to as controlled environment agriculture (CEA), controlled environment plant production system (CEPPS), or phytomation system.
Many commercial glass greenhouses or hothouses are high tech production facilities for vegetables or flowers. The glass greenhouses are filled with equipment including screening installations, heating, cooling, lighting, and may be controlled by a computer to optimize conditions for plant growth. Different techniques are then used to evaluate optimality-degrees and comfort ratio of greenhouse micro- climate (i.e., air temperature, relative humidity and vapor pressure deficit) in order to reduce production risk prior to cultivation of a specific crop.
