Supplemental Lighting
Supplemental lighting is required to optimize plant growth, plant quality and ultimately profits in low light conditions such as mornings/evenings, winter days with low light levels, and cloudy days. Ceres’ greenhouses are engineered with full-spectrum UV glazings, so that artificial lighting is always supplemental.
Greenhouse Lighting: How is Ceres Different?
Artificial Lighting or Natural Lighting?
Understanding PPFD (Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density), DLI (Daily Light Integral), and PAR (Photosynthetic Active Radiation) is necessary in order to understand that while “lighting” can be created, its source does generate a meaningful difference in plant growth. Knowing the specific amount of sunlight you have in your location and how much light your plants need, will determine both the type of glazing and supplemental lighting strategy.
Free the Sun
Ceres’ Greenhouses and SunChambers™ are sunlight focused growing structures. This means that our primary lighting source is the sun. It is the basis of our entire design, using the full spectrum of the sun to allow the highest lighting levels including UV, deeper light penetration. All of those benefits and, best of all, taking advantage of the sun is FREE. The glazing can be either clear or diffuse or have a different haze to ensure light penetration through the canopy.
Supplemental Lighting Design and Layout
To have the most optimal use of supplemental lighting there are a few things to consider:
- Your location dictates how much sunlight you can have on a daily basis and how many lights you need to purchase to have an optimal plant growth. For example, if your target is 40 DLI in Boulder, CO, the average in winter months you can have from the sun is around 10 mol/m²/d. Therefore you’ll need the supplemental lighting to provide the 30 missing mol/m²/d.
- Your goals in terms of yield and energy usage can impact the DLI you need. In a cloudy location with energy codes and regulation, you might need to reduce your DLI target to 35 and we’ll size the artificial lighting accordingly. Not only does it reduce upfront cost but also energy usage.
Reduced Energy Usage with Smart Controls
The most basic type of control is simply turning on and off your lights based on a timer schedule. We typically will recommend using LED fixtures that allow for dimming of the power and light intensity. Therefore, the intensity will be adjusted on an instantaneous base to compensate for the sunlight variability. The light sensors in the greenhouse take readings every 2 seconds which allows for accurate sensing and maximum yield. Using a light sensor (PAR sensor) can bring to some more complex sequence of operation to reduce energy usage but without impacting the yields. Please see our blog related to lighting controls for more information.
Other Greenhouse Technology
One centralized system for controlling the whole environment. Monitor temperature, relative humidity, and CO2, leaf/ canopy temp, PAR, lighting zones, and outdoor weather.
We offer Ceres designed EcoLoop™ or EcoPack™ HVAC options depending on growing goals, budget, site constraints, and greenhouse type. All Ceres environmental controls are custom integrated to suit your needs.
The GAHT® system is a ground to air heat exchanger, a system often referred to as a ‘Climate Battery’. Ceres leads the industry in climate battery technology, having designed and installed more systems in greenhouses than any other company in the world.
Different crops may demand specific lighting requirements. We offer a variety of lighting solutions designed to suit the needs of each individual operation.
A NetZero greenhouse will have zero net emissions. This goal is achieved through capturing and storing energy. This can be done using a various system options.
Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene is a durable, high light transmissive glazing option. It offers more than 95% light transmission, including the UV spectrum. More than other greenhouse companies, Ceres is implementing full spectrum glazings for maximum crop growth.
Access Greenhouse Technology Related Brochures
Calculate Your Energy Savings
Find out how much you can save with Ceres Greenhouses compared to standard greenhouses.
Related Webinars, Videos and Content
Tell Us About Your Project
One centralized system for controlling the whole environment. Monitor temperature, relative humidity, and CO2, leaf/ canopy temp, PAR, lighting zones, and outdoor weather.
We offer Ceres designed EcoLoop™ or EcoPack™ HVAC options depending on growing goals, budget, site constraints, and greenhouse type. All Ceres environmental controls are custom integrated to suit your needs.
The GAHT® system is a ground to air heat exchanger, a system often referred to as a ‘Climate Battery’. Ceres leads the industry in climate battery technology, having designed and installed more systems in greenhouses than any other company in the world.
Different crops may demand specific lighting requirements. We offer a variety of lighting solutions designed to suit the needs of each individual operation.
A NetZero greenhouse will have zero net emissions. This goal is achieved through capturing and storing energy. This can be done using a various system options.
Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene is a durable, high light transmissive glazing option. It offers more than 95% light transmission, including the UV spectrum. More than other greenhouse companies, Ceres is implementing full spectrum glazings for maximum crop growth.