   The short daylight periods of winter in Alfred, New York necessitate supplemental plant 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 ing- 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.

http://www.climate-charts.com/USA-Stations/NY/NY300085.html

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.