| LED Grow Lights at the Center for Organic and Sustainable Agriculture Alfred State, SUNY College of Technology |
The short daylight periods of winter in Alfred, New York
necessitate supplemental lighting for year round production in
the greenhouse. Working closely with the program director,
Dr. Matthew Harbur, we have created a model pairing a high
efficiency plant growth system- the Nutrient Film Technique
(NFT), with the most electrically efficient plant light source-
LED Grow Master lighting (LGM5).
Using one third of the space, a fraction of the minerals, and
little waste to contaminate the environment. Herbs and lettuce
are grown for use in the Alfred State cafeteria as well as their
culinary program. The greenhouse has provided a learning
center for students to incorporate LED grow lights to
efficiently produce year round in their hydroponics lab and
organic greenhouse.
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants using mineral
nutrient solutions instead of soil. Benefits, when compared to
traditional farming, include: increased growth rates, less water
use, less space, and increased nutrient content of produce
making hydroponics a promising method for Sustainable
Agriculture.
LEDs provide the solution to the problems associated with
traditional greenhouse lighting. Conventional grow lights use
up to 1,000 watts of power to operate and must be replaced
every year. Each LED Grow Master grow light uses less than
9 watts of power and is rated for 100,000 hours of life (12+
years). Over the lifetime of the LED Grow Master bars
significant savings occur in electricity and replacement costs
alone. This energy savings becomes more and more
important as energy costs continue to rise.
In an effort to reach peak efficiency, Dr Harbur began the LED
section of the greenhouse with only 4 LGM5 grow bars for
each 5' x 10' NFT bench (this is half the LEDs that are
generally recommended for 50 sq ft. in greenhouses.)
According to the results thus far- Dr. Harbur may well prove
this is sufficient for year round lettuce/herb production. His
current electrical draw for the LEDs is a total of 180 watts.
| National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
| The yellow section shows when the sun is up, and how this changes over the year. |
| The Center for Organic and Sustainable Agriculture at Alfred State SUNY College of Technology is devoted to training and educating students for independently operated, sustainable farms to provide New Yorkers with affordable, healthy foods that in turn put money back into local communities. New techniques, products, and experience have created a period of rapid advancement in our knowledge of the optimal environment for sustainable food production. |
| Initial Greenhouse Set-Up |
| Both NFT Channels and LED grow lights are able to be raised and lowered using the Griplock system. |
| NFT Channels raised to allow for reservoirs beneath and a second crop below the channels. |
| Level used to ensure NFT channels are hung straight. |
| LED Grow Lights in March Click Here (see what happens next) |
First batch of hydroponic lettuce of February 16th, using supplemental lighting from LED Grow Master.
| Snow covers much of the roof in the winter greenhouse. LED Grow Lights compensate. |