This greenhouse was built to collect necessary data required to design a full-length prototype. Specific reasons for its construction were to:

• Test tensile membrane design concepts in an attempt to solve some of the problems associated with using polyethylene films in desert climates.

   

• Generate climatic data in order to better understand the nature of greenhouse microclimates and how they compare to the outside climate.

   

• Generate agricultural data to compare crop yields with those of both open field and standard commercial greenhouse systems.

   

• Determine to what extent the greenhouse will satisfy year-round food production.

   

• Determine if there will be a need for auxiliary heating or cooling.

   

• Test the effectiveness of heating and cooling adhacent structures.

   

• Evaluate the effectiveness of biological pest control and organic growing techniques in a solar greenhouse environment.

   

• Test the effectiveness and economic viability of built-in solar dehydrators for food preservation.

   

• Provide seedlings for outside summer gardens.