According to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service, the average Palmer,Alaska family spends $1,300 a year more on groceries then the average Portland, Oregon family. Alaska imports more then 98% of it's produce from out of state, driving up prices due to increased fuel costs.
Green Winter Farms of Palmer, Alaska is hoping to narrow that gap by growing basil, strawberries, peppers, rosemary and cilantro under energy-efficient LED lights. The lights being used by Green Winter Farms are specially designed by LumiGrow, Inc. of Novato, California, to emit only those portions of the color spectrum that produce healthy plant growth. Conventional indoor greenhouses use HID (high intensity discharge) light fixtures to grow plants. However, HID lights are expensive to operate due to high energy demands. They also produce a lot of heat making it necessary for farmers to regulate the greenhouses temperature with outside air or air conditioning and they emit broad spectrum's of light colors that are not used by the plants. With Alaskans paying among the highest electricity rates in the US (50 percent higher, according to the US Department of Energy), HID lighting was an unacceptable choice for Green Winter Farms.
The LED lighting solutions provided by LumiGrow, Inc. will allow Green Winter Farms to lower operating costs by reducing energy consumption and improving crop yield. This will allow them to pass the savings on to local consumers helping to reduce there grocery bills. These are some of the same attributes that make LED lights a great choice for many challenging lighting applications. From streetlights that shine all night, to interior lighting in that shines all night and day, to underwater boat lights that can illuminate the water all night without draining your battery, LED lighting is an excellent choice.
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