LED Plant Light at Alfred State College

Quick Fact- Straining Aquifers and Aquatic Systems: “Global freshwater use tripled during the second half of
the twentieth century as population more than doubled and as technological advances let farmers and other water
users pump groundwater from greater depths and harness river water with more and larger dams. As global demand
soars, pressures on the world’s water resources are straining aquatic systems worldwide. Rivers are running dry,
lakes are disappearing, and water tables are dropping. Nearly 70 percent of global water withdrawals from rivers,
lakes, and aquifers are used for irrigation, while industry and households account for 20 and 10 percent,
respectively.” www.earth-policy.org/Indicators/Water
“Preliminary indications are that hydroponics greenhouses in New Mexico, for example, could reduce the current
987,000 cubic meters of water used in agriculture to 13,500 cubic meters to produce an equivalent amount (dry
weight) of livestock forage.* This equivalent yield could be produced on less than 404 hectares instead of more
than 105,000 hectares - the current amount used for New Mexico production of alfalfa. Eighty percent of New
Mexico's water use is agricultural. More than half goes to grow forage, mostly alfalfa. Similar water-use conditions
exist in many countries. Conventional farming methods in arid regions lose huge amounts of water through
evaporation and over-absorption by soil. Over time, this can also cause soil salination and loss of agricultural
productivity. Neither occurs in hydroponics greenhouses, which do not require high quality arable land to function."
usinfo.state.gov/gi/Archive/2004/Sep/09-929384.html

Quick Fact- Water Pollution through Irrigation: “It is well known that agriculture is the single largest user of
freshwater resources, using a global average of 70% of all surface water supplies. Except for water lost through
evapotranspiration, agricultural water is recycled back to surface water and/or groundwater. However, agriculture is
both cause and victim of water pollution. It is a cause through its discharge of pollutants and sediment to surface
and/or groundwater, through net loss of soil by poor agricultural practices, and through salinization and water
logging of irrigated land. It is a victim through use of wastewater and polluted surface and groundwater which
contaminate crops and transmit disease to consumers and farm workers.” www.fao.org/docrep/W2598E/w2598e04.
htm

12-29-08

12-30-08

This ends 2008 with an empty greenhouse conveniently corresponding to student's
Holiday Vacation.

1-08-09

1-11-09

12-19-08

Quick Fact- Reducing Cooling Costs with LED Plant Lights: LEDs operate at less than 15 degrees above
ambient temperatures. In comparison to HID lighting which can reach temperatures of over fourteen hundred
degrees Fahrenheit. The low heat operation of LEDs greatly reduces cooling costs which become greatest in the
summer when electricity costs are at their peak.

Quick Fact- Safety in the Greenhouse: The high heat generated by a typical metal halide or high pressure
sodium lamp is more than enough to ignite nearby combustible objects such as paper or cloth. Their reflectors
often get very hot as well, and can cause severe burns if they are accidentally touched. Our LED-based grow
lights operate at just a few degrees above room temperature. This low voltage lighting greatly reduces the risk of
shock, fire, and burns, especially in a wet greenhouse environment. Unlike conventional lighting- LGM grow
lights contain no glass parts, lead, or mercury providing the safest option available for your greenhouse.

Quick Fact- Agriculture with Solar and Wind: As we strive to progress towards alternative energy sources-
LED Grow Master provides an LED plant light that is designed for compatibility to solar and wind power.

Quick Fact- Indoor Growing Environmental Control: Hydroponics allows
total control of growing environment and plant nutrition. Pest, weed, and
disease problems are more easily managed and growers have more control
over the plants rooting environment (you can easily manipulate the root zone's
temperature, humidity, darkness, etc). Hydroponics allows for greater reliability
and predictability of plant production.

Center for Organic and Sustainable Agriculture using LED greenhouse lighting at Alfred State College