How can LED grow lights help you save on energy consumption?

It is important to research the manufacturer of your grow lights to ensure you’re getting the best LED technology has to offer. We MEIJIU Lighting South Africa   leading brand amongst horticulture lighting.  

1. LEDs Consume Less Energy Overall

The first and simplest truth about saving energy with LEDs is that LED grow lights just use less energy than traditional HPS’s. While the actual stats vary depending on the model and manufacturer, you can generally assume that the LED-to-HPS wattage ratio is about 1:2.

As an example, the Meijiu A8 MAX is 600Watts with highly efficient reaching 3.0 umol/j is equivalent to 1200watt HPS (Min).

LED lights don’t only consume less energy than HPS grow lights; they are also designed to preserve that energy more carefully and use it more efficiently.

• No Ballasts
• Direct Beam of Light
• More Efficient Light Spectrum

The inferior light recipe of an HPS lighting system gets far less attention in the discussion about energy efficiency, perhaps because HPS lights do have a strong record for cultivating healthy crops.

Some growers are inclined to trust HPS lights over LED lights because the bulbs themselves appear much brighter. The assumption, then, is that HPS lighting offers greater intensity to ensure high yields during flowering. This could not be farther from the truth.

The truth is that HPS bulbs appear brighter because they have a higher percentage of green and yellow light—the wavelengths that are most easily perceived by the human eye. The problem is that plants use very little green and yellow light for photosynthesis and other biological functions.

LED grow lights are different in that they are either spectrum variable—meaning the grower has the option to adjust intensity levels for each colour of the spectrum—or they are specifically engineered to radiate a more usable spectrum. In other words, while LED lights may contain a bit of the yellow and green light spectrum, they don’t waste valuable energy blasting your plants with more yellow and green than they’ll use. 

2. LED Grow Lights Help You Save on Ventilation and Cooling Costs

HPS grow lights have a habit of turning a significant portion of their consumed energy into heat radiation, also known as infrared radiation, the photons your plants will not use for photosynthesis. (However, they can use far red light.) 

Not only does heat radiation represent wasted energy, but it also warms up a room fast can burn the leaves of your plant if your HPS lights are not hung correctly. You then have to maintain a carefully designed system of ventilation and cooling, which in turn mean using more electricity on ventilation and cooling. Dramatically increasing your overall cost.

LEDs do not emit heat radiation at all. That doesn’t mean they’re completely cool to the touch. But their operating temperatures are much lower than the traditional HPS lights and you need very little supplemental cooling to keep your plants happy when you choose LED grow lights. In fact, you may not have to mess with your room temperature at all.

3. In Conclusion

If you choose high-quality LEDs like MEIJIU Lighting South Africa   made with premium SAMSUNG LEDs,  you’re looking to reduce your electricity usage and energy costs for your grow operation—or if you’re concerned about limiting energy consumption for the sake of the environment—switching to LED lighting is a great option.