Canada: B.C. grower replaces HID lamps with LEDs
According to LumiGrow, the LED lights will support Dutch Heritage Greenhouse’s chrysanthemums throughout the vegetative growth and flowering stages. Spectral output will be adjusted as appropriate for photoperiod control including day length extension and night interruption.
Dutch Heritage Greenhouse faces Winter season electricity costs that are ten times higher than their Summer costs. These exponentially higher costs are entirely due to the high cost of operating HID fixtures to supplement lower light levels in Winter. LumiGrow LED lights reduce electrical consumption by 60 percent versus the 750-Watt HID lights they are replacing at Dutch Heritage Greenhouse.
According to Lumigrow, Dutch Heritage Greenhouse will achieve additional savings because the LED lights reduce maintenance costs. An estimated two percent of Dutch Heritage Greenhouse’s 2,500 HID lights fail annually due to faulty starters. HID lights also require routine ballast replacement. By contrast, the LED lights are warranted to provide zero-maintenance operation.
“The LumiGrow lights are a no-compromise solution for us,” stated Art Breugem, co-owner of the father-and-son operated Dutch Heritage Greenhouse. Mr. Breugem continued, “We’ll improve our yields while we get our Winter operating costs under control.”
LumiGrow CEO Kevin Wells said, “The Dutch Heritage Greenhouse team rigorously researches, evaluates and implements techniques to improve crop performance and increase greenhouse efficiencies.” Mr. Wells added, “We’re pleased that LumiGrow LED lights are part of their well-managed and highly efficient operation.”
In addition to implementing LumiGrow LED lighting, the Dutch Heritage Greenhouse team employs a variety of other techniques and technologies to improve greenhouse production and plant breeding performance. For example, the facility is heated with biofuel. Natural gas is used sparingly to spur plant growth.
For more information:
Lumigrow
Caroline Nordan Wells (e-mail)
www.lumigrow.com