Cannabis farmers who want to save energy should take a broad view of their facilities, or look beyond one specific aspect, like lighting.
Yes, spending money on a brand-new line of cost-effective LED lights might significantly lower the energy bill.
Although that is a component of the equation, it is only one component.
Additionally, automated systems, HVAC, and building layout all have an impact.
Cannabis companies can learn from other high-energy consuming industries, according to Michelle Bodian, who counsels clients on environmental consequences and health and safety issues in Vicente Sederberg’s Boston and New York offices.
She stated, “We need to understand that, in terms of energy use, cannabis is not a unique snowflake.
Decide on the ideal structure.
Cannabis growers are advised by Bodian to pick their locations extremely carefully and think about how a structure may be modified and insulated, among other things, to promote efficient energy consumption.
A excellent place to start is to commission a facility design that will save the most energy, often from an environmental engineer.
Consider the neighborhood electricity provider as a partner as an alternative strategy.
Cannabis businesses are frequently encouraged by power suppliers to use the energy at off-peak hours, which could result in significant cost savings.
According to Bodian, if you cooperate with your energy provider, they will be motivated to do so and may even pay you to shut down your operations during peak times.
The HVAC system should be able to adapt for heat and humidity before moving on.
Doig suggests a responsive system, especially when the lights are off and the weather is changing.
His team is also researching “free cooling” as a means of energy conservation.
This means that greenhouse producers would filter in cool nighttime air rather than utilize air conditioning in a region like Colorado’s, where the temperature typically decreases at night.
automation techniques
Many of the lighting-related concerns were supported by Corinne Wilder, vice president of worldwide commercial operations for Austin, Texas-based Fluence Bioengineering.
She noted that while energy efficiency is a crucial component of reducing the carbon footprint of the cannabis sector, more focus should be placed on sustainability in all of its manifestations.
Additionally, Wilder recommended that growers concentrate more on automating steps in the process that can result in energy waste.
She said, “This product is grown in very tiny quarters with an enormous amount of energy.”
Applications and software for smartphones can be connected to sensors placed throughout the grow to track things like water levels, humidity, and temperature.
Humor mistakes like leaving the lights on for too long can be avoided by automating the supervision of these locations.
According to Wilder, an automated control platform might reduce energy use by 15% to 20%.
