(Written by Anthony Domangue)
Best Practices for Sustainability
At its core, sustainable horticulture is more than just a dreamy idea of the hopeful; it’s a calculated philosophy that seeks to harmonize our cultivation practices with the natural world. It embodies a commitment to nurturing plant life in a way that sustains balance with our ecosystems and preserves resources. By tending to plants to minimize environmental harm and maximize long-term benefits, sustainable horticulture goes beyond the immediate scope of grow chambers, greenhouses, and farms – it becomes a pledge to the planet.
In this blog, we’ll explore why LEDs are the most environmentally friendly option for supplemental lighting, speaking to different sustainable practices, their benefits, and their profound impact on our world. The benefits of LED grow lights in sustainable horticulture are numerous, making them an ideal choice for eco-friendly cultivation. Additionally, the use of eco-friendly LED lights further supports our commitment to sustainable horticulture practices.
Why LEDs Reign Supreme
Until the early 2000s, HID or high-intensity discharge systems dominated the supplemental lighting market for growing plants. Growers can select CMH (ceramic metal halide) bulbs or HPS (high-pressure sodium) bulbs within these systems. This served gardeners for decades as the most reliable option for supplemental lighting, but time and innovation made way for better all-around lighting systems for plant growth.
Over the last decade, LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, have solidified themselves as the most environmentally friendly option for supplemental lighting in greenhouses and indoor grow chambers, promoting sustainable horticulture. According to a 2018 US Energy Information Administration survey, LED light bulbs have become the second-most common type of lightbulb in commercial buildings. LED bulbs were reported in 9% of commercial buildings in 2012, but they were reported in 44% of commercial buildings in 2018. The prevalence of all other bulb types decreased between 2012 and 2018.
There are a myriad of cost-related and environmentally friendly benefits to transitioning to eco-friendly LED lights in controlled and semi-controlled growing spaces. Let’s dive further into how LEDs are the most sustainable option for gardeners looking to meet their goals while minimizing their impact on the environment. The benefits of LED grow lights include reduced energy consumption, longer lifespan, and lower heat output compared to traditional lighting systems.
Long Lifetime
In stark contrast to traditional lighting systems, quality LED grow lights can retain 90% of their original luminous flux beyond 50,000 hours. This is a massive improvement from the need to replace bulbs as they lose intensity and efficiency constantly. Reducing the need for bulb replacement minimizes the environmental costs associated with manufacturing, transportation, and disposal, promoting sustainable horticulture.
In the context of sustainable cultivation, the extended lifespan of LEDs translates to reduced electronic waste, contributing to a more circular and eco-friendly production cycle. The benefits of LED grow lights include their durability and reliability, ensuring consistent lighting for years to come and aligning with resource efficiency and waste reduction principles. Utilizing eco-friendly LED lights in sustainable horticulture practices significantly enhances environmental sustainability.
Energy Efficiency
As we briefly touched on above, the energy efficiency of LED grow lights is one of the primary reasons gardeners worldwide have made the switch. LEDs convert a higher percentage of electrical energy into plant-usable light while minimizing their heat output on the ambient growing space. This gives cultivators the ability to meet their production goals for yield and quality while reducing energy consumption and reducing the need for additional climate control to mitigate heat given off by the fixture. This aligns with sustainable horticulture practices, making eco-friendly LED lights a smart choice for growers.
Control of Light Spectrum
LED technology allows for precise control over the light spectrum emitted, enabling growers to fine-tune that spectrum for each stage of growth. For example, the FOHSE flagship series gives growers the ability to tune the spectrum between three preset settings that can cater to different plant morphologies, yield, and quality results. By providing the best light spectrum to your plants for the given stage of growth, production is optimized, which reduces the potential energy wastage when using the improper light spectrum. The benefits of LED grow lights extend to enhancing sustainable horticulture by optimizing energy use and supporting eco-friendly growing practices.
Best Practices for Sustainability
Though this technology is inherently impressive due to its components and capabilities, all tools are best used by those who know a few tips and tricks on how to use them. Let’s cover a few tips on how to utilize your LEDs sustainably, promoting sustainable horticulture.
Utilize Ramping Capabilities
Older systems either have on -> off functionality or, at best, ramp in 25% increments. One excellent benefit of LEDs is their increased functionality when it comes to slowly increasing and decreasing light intensity. With technology like the FOHSE central control module, growers can ramp in 1% increments. Not only does this allow you to dial in the growing process, but it allows you to save money on wasted light. Utilizing eco-friendly LED lights can significantly reduce energy consumption and environmental impact.
Don’t Use Full Power
Though LED grow lights are rated at their performance at 100% power, it’s not advisable to utilize full power for long periods. The less power is used, the longer the lifespan of the diode. Additionally, utilizing 100% power over long periods can lead to increased heat production by the fixture. More often than not, a high-quality LED will produce more plant-usable light with lower electrical consumption. For the sake of saving on utility expenses, extending the lifespan of your fixture, and reducing your impact on the environment, it is not advisable to utilize full power. This is one of the many benefits of LED grow lights, making them an excellent choice for sustainable horticulture.
Get a Light Map Before Buying
One of the best moves that can be made ahead of purchasing and using this amazing technology is to map out your greenhouse or indoor space with the desired light intensity you’d like to achieve. With the help of technology, it can be determined how many fixtures would be needed to meet your goals without overspending on fixture count or power. This approach supports sustainable horticulture by ensuring efficient use of resources. Using eco-friendly LED lights not only benefits the environment but also enhances plant growth. The benefits of LED grow lights include energy efficiency and reduced operational costs.
If you want a free light map for your facility, click here now!
