3000 sq.ft (30′ x 100′) Grow Area
Savings (x1000 kWh/yr)
Compared to Indoor Grow
Consumption (x1000 kWh/yr)
Energy savings is based on a facility located in Denver Colorado with a designed temperature inside the facility about 75°. Standard GH : HVAC ‘kWh/ft² calculated from Powerscore 92 kWh/ft² ; Breakdown: Heating and cooling calculated by CERES. Standard greenhouses includes a thermal screen providing a 35% energy savings. Supplemental lighting density: 18 W/ft² (LED with dimming). Calculation is made to reach a 40 Daily Light Integral (DLI), which is standard for cannabis. Natural lighting: difference between glazing: ETFE 91% transmission, Acrylic 84%, Polycarbonate 76%. Assuming standard greenhouses use a “mix” of acrylite and polycarbonate while CERES uses ETFE. As a result standard greenhouse needs 38% supplemental lighting more than CERES! CERES HVAC Consumption is calculated on eQuest software (HVAC modelling software). Indoor grow rooms numbers come from an average of 80 facilities. Source: Resource Innovation Institute (RII).
Consumption Breakdown
Detailed for a 3000 sq.ft area
Ceres Design
Most efficient design: the building itself is a thermal battery, therefore reducing heat in the winter months.
Savings (x1000 kWh/yr)
Compared to Indoor Grow
-457
+141
Consumption (x1000 kWh/yr)
Total consumption for running a CERES Greenhouse: 140,679 kWh/yr
Traditional Design
Usually semi-sealed greenhouses. Requires a lot of heating because of poor insulation and high air exchange. Also requires a lot of cooling due to limitation of active ventilation. Dehumidification is part of this cooling load (latent load).
Savings (x1000 kWh/yr)
Compared to Indoor Grow
-222
+376
Consumption (x1000 kWh/yr)
Total consumption for running a Standard Greenhouse : 375,977 kWh/yr (+37%)
Indoor Room
Totally sealed facility. Expensive to run. The supplemental lighting is the highest expense in this type of building where there is no sun.
No Savings - Full Consumption
Consumption (x1000 kWh/yr)
Total consumption for running an Indoor Grow Room: 590,038 kWh/yr (+76%)
Energy Consumption Detailed For Each Design
Measured in kWh/yr (x1000)
CO2 Emission
For a 3000 sq.ft grow area
Calculated from electricity consumption needed to run your facility with average US CO2 Footprint = 987 lb CO2/MWh (https://emissionsindex.org/).
