How One Company is Spearheading Sustainability in Cannabis Lighting
Cannabis may be known as the green industry, but what many consumers may not realize is that cannabis business practices aren’t always so green.
The rapid commercialization of cannabis has presented numerous challenges when it comes to sustainability. Unfortunately, many commercial growers have turned to harmful cultivation practices in order to increase crop yields, stay competitive, and boost sales. This includes the use of artificial pesticides and chemical fertilizers, energy-intensive production methods, and wasteful modes of distribution.
GrowGeneration is one company making strides to break these industry norms, implement more sustainable business practices, and encourage our partners to do the same. One of the ways we are doing this is investing in the development of energy-efficient LED lighting technology.
The Impact of LED Lighting on Sustainability in Cannabis
As more consumers have access to legal cannabis and the demand for product increases, so do the industry’s energy demands. Lighting is one of the most energy-intensive aspects of the cannabis cultivation process. In fact, the 2018 Cannabis Energy Report found that legal cannabis cultivation in the U.S. alone consumes 1.1 million megawatt-hours (MWh) annually, the equivalent of 92,500 homes. As more states continue to legalize both medical and recreational cannabis, projections show this number will increase by 162% by 2022.
This means existing industry leaders and emerging players alike must start finding innovative ways to conserve energy throughout all aspects of the growing process. This could be the key to future industry success. As the National Cannabis Industry Association notes, “Cannabis businesses that incorporate environmentally sustainable practices will reduce impacts on the environment, while simultaneously increasing profit margins and saving their consumers money.”
GrowGeneration’s Advancements in LED Lighting Technology
At GrowGeneration, we’ve been busy working to incorporate more environmentally sustainable practices into all aspects of our business. One way we’ve done so is by developing a line of house brand product lines, including proprietary products that cover all stages of growing. One of these products is the ION 720W LED Grow Light. The ION suite of light systems utilizes GrowGeneration’s balanced spectrum and 3K Horticultural Full Phase Spectrum. The 720W LED light can deliver nearly the same light output as a 1,000W High Intensity Discharge Lamp, while reducing electrical usage and HVAC costs by about 40%. This means growers can optimize yields while saving on utility costs and reducing their ecological footprint.
The Future of LED Lighting in Cannabis
For the cannabis industry to see true improvements, regulations and policies must be created to help drive environmental sustainability. Recently, the California Energy Commission submitted a proposal that would require all indoor cultivation operators in the state to use only LED lights by 2023. This is an attempt to get growers to transition away from lower-efficiency grow lights, such as metal halide or high-pressure sodium (HPS), in favor of more energy-efficient LEDs. Seeing as California is one of the largest producers of cannabis in the world, this could have a large effect on the industry. While LED lights typically cost about $60-$90 more per square foot of canopy than traditional HPS lighting systems, these systems use much less energy long-term and need to be replaced less frequently. A cheaper upfront investment can leave growers dealing with high utility bills and the need to constantly pay for replacement lights.
For more information, go to GrowGeneration.com, and check out our video here.
GrowGeneration is a founding member of the Sustainable Cannabis Coalition.
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