In our greenhouses, we strive for the best and most sustainable cultivation. Light plays a crucial role during cultivation, influencing the growth of our orchids. To optimally stimulate the growth process, the orchids need more light during the winter months than nature provides in the winter season. Based on a lighting plan, we determine when the lights go on and off and how long we illuminate.
To make our light usage more sustainable and effective, we have switched to LED lighting. But what is LED lighting and what effect does it have in our greenhouse? We’ll tell you all about it in this blog.
Traditional lighting
Until recently, we illuminated the greenhouse with SON-T lighting, because sunlight isn’t always available and this sufficiently supplements the light shortage. Lighting with SON-T consumes a lot of energy, and a lot of heat is released from the lamps during this process, which isn’t always desirable.
What is LED?
LED stands for Light Emitting Diode: an energy-efficient lamp that uses electricity to produce light. You can recognize LED lighting by a purple or red color. In the greenhouse, an LED lamp is also known as a grow light, because the light is used to stimulate growth. We are seeing this method of lighting more and more in the horticulture sector; it has a 40% better efficiency compared to SON-T lighting and contributes to a more sustainable future.
What effect does LED lighting have in the greenhouse?
As a company, we are committed to eco-friendly and sustainable solutions, and we installed LED lamps in our greenhouses in 2022. This allows us to reduce energy consumption and ensure efficient light output, and thanks to LED lighting, hardly any heat is released. This is a major advantage because orchids love coolness during their flowering phase, meaning we don’t have to cool the greenhouse as much.
Sustainable effects of LED lighting at a glance:
- 40% better efficiency compared to SON-T lighting
- Better temperature control because LED produces less heat
- Unlike SON-T lighting, LED lighting can be dimmed
How much LED light do we give the plants?
Sensors in the greenhouse determine how long the lighting should stay on, so that the plants receive the same amount of light every day. Thanks to these sensors, we can see how the light is distributed across the plants.
Generating energy with CHP
We don’t just ensure sustainability in our greenhouse through LED lighting. We generate the electricity we use ourselves with CHP (Combined Heat and Power). Electricity that isn’t used in the greenhouse goes back into the grid for households, and the heat released during that process is used in the greenhouse to heat warmer departments. This ensures the generated energy is used optimally, both in our greenhouse and for households. Every day, we supply electricity to the grid at times of high demand, providing enough energy to power 850 households.
Besides LED lighting, would you like to know more about our sustainable solutions in the orchid nursery? We tell you more about it in this blog.