AgriMotion Engineering
    Explainer · Protected Farming

    Naturally ventilated vs fan-pad polyhouse: full comparison

    8 min readPolyhouse & net house By Updated

    In short.

    A naturally ventilated polyhouse (NVPH) uses roof and side vents for passive air exchange — lower capex and opex, suited to vegetables and floriculture in moderate climates. A fan-pad greenhouse cools actively with exhaust fans and wet pads, holding tight temperatures for high-value crops even in hot climates, but needs reliable power and water. Crop, market price, climate, water and electricity decide which fits.

    On this page5 sections
    1. 01Naturally ventilated polyhouse (NVPH)
    2. 02Fan-pad cooled greenhouse
    3. 03Decision factors
    4. 04Project checklist
    5. 05Frequently asked

    Both structures are called polyhouses, but they target very different climate, crops and operating economics. Picking the wrong one is one of the most common — and expensive — mistakes in protected farming.

    Naturally ventilated polyhouse (NVPH)

    Roof and side vents drive passive air exchange. Lower capex, lower opex, suitable for vegetables and floriculture in moderate climates.

    Fan-pad cooled greenhouse

    Active cooling via exhaust fans + wet pads. Allows tight temperature control for high-value crops, exotic veg, hi-tech floriculture even in hot climates.

    Decision factors

    Crop type, market price, ambient climate, water availability for pads, and electricity reliability decide which structure fits.

    Before you commit

    Project checklist.

    • 01Crop & market planned
    • 02Site climate (peak temperature, humidity) mapped
    • 03Water & power reliability checked
    • 04Capex vs opex compared
    • 05Subsidy scheme alignment confirmed
    Questions

    Frequently asked.

    Short answers from the engineering team. Ask us anything the article does not cover.

    Is fan-pad always better?

    No. Fan-pad needs reliable power and water. For moderate climates with the right crop, naturally ventilated polyhouses give better return on capital.

    Related guides

    Keep reading.

    All explainers
    Protected FarmingNet house, shade net & polyhouse — which suits your crop?Protected farming is not one structure — it is a spectrum from simple shade nets to climate-controlled polyhouses. Matching the structure to the crop is the first decision.7 min read
    DPR & SubsidyNHB, MIDH, PMEGP, AIF — which subsidy fits your projectMultiple central and state schemes can fund agri-infrastructure — but each has its own eligibility, project type, subsidy quantum and process. Matching the project to the right scheme is half the battle.12 min read
    Cold ChainHow to size a cold room for fruits & vegetablesSizing a cold room correctly is the single biggest factor in capex, opex and produce quality. Under-sized refrigeration leads to temperature swings and shelf-life loss; over-sized systems burn capital and energy. This guide walks through the inputs our engineering team uses to size cold rooms for fruits & vegetables in Indian conditions.8 min read
    Polyhouse & net house

    Everything we’ve published on this

    Polyhouse & net house overview
    Resource centres
    Share your brief

    Planning a protected-farming project?

    Share your brief — our engineering team will respond within 24 hours with an indicative estimate and next steps.

    • An engineer calls backUsually the same working day — someone who can talk loads, layouts and schemes.
    • An indicative estimateCapex range, scheme fit and next steps, before any paid DPR work.
    • No obligationYour details are used only to reply to this enquiry.
    Your details
    Your project

    No spam. Indicative estimate only — final quotation depends on site condition, specifications and current material rates.

    CallWhatsAppGet quote