Greenhouse Energy Saving Tips

According to Michigan State University, energy bills are one of the biggest operational expenses for greenhouses. The less energy wasted in your greenhouse = the less money wasted for your business. So why not try to cut down as much energy waste as possible?

Here are some easy ways to make your greenhouse more energy efficient:

Ensure that there are no gaps or leaks

Your climate control system (and your wallet!) work very hard to maintain the perfect climate for your plants—why let all that hard work seep out of the cracks? Keep a close eye on the walls of your greenhouse and fill in any holes/cracks that might be letting air in or out. Additionally, be sure that there is adequate weather stripping on all doors and windows to prevent air leakage.

To calculate how much heat is being lost through gaps and cracks, you can use this formula, featured in Greenhouse Management. The answer might surprise you, so get your caulk gun out and search for holes!

Maximize HVAC efficiency

One mis-calibrated sensor can really throw off your energy usage—that's why it’s so important to have your system regularly checked by experts. Ensuring that all your wires, thermometers, and sensors are working properly will reduce the amount of wasted energy and could save you a significant amount of money. Have a TC Control Group expert tune up your system to make sure that all operations are optimized, and that nothing is going to waste. Our technicians will ensure that everything is running properly and you’re not wasting a dime.

Utilize efficient lighting

We’ve all heard about the benefits of using LED lights in our homes. The same benefits apply to greenhouses, too! LEDs use up to 55% less energy than HPS bulbs and have a longer lifespan.

Another way you can utilize lighting efficiently is by implementing predictive lighting. Predictive lighting uses weather forecasts to predict how much light will be required in the near future, and adjusts to give the plants an optimized amount of light. Studies show that predictive lighting can reduce costs up to 33%.

Plant a windbreak

Windbreaks are a great way to minimize heating costs. A windbreak is something that shelters a structure from wind, such as a fence or a line of trees. Installing a windbreak on the north/northwest side of a greenhouse will reduce the amount of wind that the structure is exposed to, therefore reducing the amount of energy needed to heat it.

Contact us

TC Control Group is dedicated to helping growers succeed. Your success is our success, so we want to see your operation be as energy and cost efficient as possible. Contact our experts to discuss how you can optimize your greenhouse’s systems to save energy and money.