Reduced Labor and Improved Efficiencies in the Greenhouse Among the Lesser Known Benefits of LEDs
August 18, 2022 
It’s not uncommon to hear growers say LEDs are too expensive. If you’re not looking at anything more than the price, this may appear to be true. However, LEDs offer more than just a pretty plant. For example, LED lighting allows growers to deliver higher light levels, with great consistency throughout the growing season, without having to bring in more power.
During Cultivate’22, a panel of growers and researchers offered a closer look at the big-picture benefits (and the challenges) of LED lighting. Moderated by John Burns, Business Development Manager, Horticulture LEDs at Signify, the panel included:
- Roberto Lopez, Associate Professor at Michigan State University
- Marc van Iersel, Professor of Horticulture at the University of Georgia and co-founder of Candidus
- Ron Sant, Operator at George Sant & Sons Greenhouses in Ontario, Canada
- Aren Phillips, Greenhouse Systems Manager at Walters Gardens in Zeeland, MI
Here’s a closer look at the highlights of their conversation.
What was the transition to LEDs like from your perspective? Was there any apprehension?
- Phillips: “We first looked into it in 2017, and our apprehension was mostly due to the unknown effects of using LED lights. However, the trials we did performed well, and the return-on-investment tools we use helped us figure out the costs pretty quickly.”
- Lopez: “The early trials we did showed great promise in young plants.”
- Sant: “We started using LEDs in 2016 and have seen great results so far. Other than the upfront costs, we did not experience any detrimental effects.”
- Van Iersel: “Some growers we worked with experienced early failures due to the drivers they were using. They quickly learned that it’s important to work with a reputable company.”
What did you see when you compared HPS systems to LEDs?
- Phillips: “We let our R&D team work through the tunable spectrum. They can give you the best advice on using LEDs, and they also learned that tunable spectrums are not always needed.”
- Van Iersel: “LEDs are not always the best choice over LEDs. You need to consider the cost of electricity and how much you’ll be using the lights over the years. Rebate programs can also help you with LED costs.” (note: Van Iersel and a team of researchers has developed an online electricity cost calculator for supplemental lighting that is based on real greenhouse conditions.)
- Lopez: “Your location is going to be the biggest factor, and you also need to think about your employees. It can be tough to work under LED lights.”
What benefits have you seen with young plants?
- Sant: “The quality has increased, and the seedlings are more uniform. Especially in our begonias, we’ve seen small improvements in crop time.”
- Phillips: “When we first started using LEDs, we considered ROI to be the biggest factor. But then we started seeing additional benefits, including a huge increase in uniformity and less stretching. One thing we did learn was, if you apply for rebates, make sure you can prove you’re replacing HPS with LEDs. Otherwise, it’s not considered a new installation.”
How are you truly capturing cost savings or quality improvements?
- Phillips: “We added a new TTA flex sorter for our 72-count trays, and the compactness has helped cut down from three grades to two. When coloration is important, this is helpful.”
- Sant: “We saw uniformity and compactness in root development. Our percentage of lost plants is definitely lower.”
What are the direct benefits of LEDs you’ve seen?
- Sant: “We are starting to add more space that we can light. The cost of conduit and wire is rising, but we’ve seen cost savings in this area.”
- Phillips: “Thanks to rebate opportunities, we’ve saved thousands of dollars in energy costs, which lowers your ROI time frame. You need to start with the ROI on energy and other costs, then look at the other benefits.”
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