I took this photo during a routine crop walk.
It was midday on a cloudless day, and thousands of lights were running overhead. It looked wasteful, so I asked the grower why they were on.
“The program says the lights should be on now.”
That explains the schedule, but it doesn’t explain whether the crop needed them. Every crop has light requirements, and the goal is to meet them without buying electricity for light the sun is already providing. Depending on the crop and electricity rates, supplementing in the early morning, late evening, or overnight may make more sense.
But someone has to check that the settings match the crop’s needs and available sunlight, with an eye on the utility bill. A setting entered months ago may no longer be appropriate, and a mouse click in the office can keep costing money until someone notices it in the greenhouse. Across thousands of fixtures, that oversight can become a substantial expense without producing a more valuable crop.
Before investing in your next energy-saving upgrade, walk the greenhouse and check how you’re using the equipment you already own. Your first savings may require nothing more than changing a setting.
Pay for the light your crop needs and stop paying for what the sun provides for free.