iGrow article on HyPAR.farm
The Use Of Alternative Lighting Solutions To Lower Expenses.
One of the most significant challenges faced by CEA companies is lighting. Traditional lighting solutions often consume a significant amount of energy, resulting in higher energy costs and increased HVAC usage, which leads to higher operational expenses. The additional energy consumption also contributes to overheating, which can harm crops. Companies seek alternative solutions to decrease energy consumption and create a positive cash flow.
Fortunately, some companies like HyPAR have developed innovative solutions to address these issues. HyPAR's sun tubes offer an energy-efficient solution, consuming between 50-80% less energy than traditional lighting solutions, depending on the location and season. With HyPAR's solution, companies can reduce their energy costs and create a more sustainable environment, ultimately lowering operational expenses. By providing high-quality lighting at a reduced cost, companies can optimize their operations and increase profitability, making alternative lighting solutions a valuable investment for CEA companies.
Its CEO & founder, Chris Walker, commented, “ When the sun is shining, our technology uses that in lieu of artificial lighting. This is a geographical-specific question/answer as well. The closer the grower is to the equator, the more sun they have to work with, and the less artificial lighting they need to supplement. As an example, we are designing a grow in Phoenix, AZ, where they are aiming for a DLI of 35. We can expect to use the sun for 80% of that DLI.”
Chris also mentions that the sun tubes his company offers, pull the entire PAR range and sometimes offering a more intense blue and red light compared to other LED lighting solutions or natural greenhouse lighting. “To shoulder periods of low lights, we supplement our sun tubes with LEDs so that it does not affect the plant’s growth”
“The beauty of the sun tube technology is that it dramatically changes the heat load equation. A facility built correctly, with sufficient insulation values in the walls and roof, will also enjoy the low heat transfer of the sun tubes. We estimate that the tubes release approximately 5% of the heat that a greenhouse would experience. So less HVAC, less dehumidification, less A/C...” Commented Chris Walker, CEO & founder of HyPAR
“LED lighting has only recently become the preferred choice for growers, but some still opt for less expensive, lower-quality LEDs or HID/HPS lighting to save on capital expenditure (CapEX). However, as the former General Manager of Heliospectra, I always encouraged the company to see themselves as a lighting partner, offering additional services such as installation management and a dedicated grower liaison. At HyPAR, we adopt the same philosophy, designing our business with the grower in mind as the most important person in the customer's camp. One significant benefit of our technology is the extended lifespan of the LED lights used to supplement our sun tubes. While LEDs typically last 8-10 years, we expect our lamps to last at least 25-30 years, providing long-term savings to our customers. By prioritizing the grower and offering superior technology, we hope to become the go-to lighting partner for controlled environment agriculture.” added Chris
Nonetheless, on a side note, Chris regrets the lack of due diligence on behalf of growers when choosing equipment as most of the time, they realize their decision once its too late. “It is typically an after thought. It is only once the grower is not getting the results they need to make their economics work that they turn to the expertise that lighting companies can provide. The use of far red is a great example of this. Growers are supplementing with far red these days but their grows typically were not built with these spectrums.”
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