LED lighting controls are a 'game changer' for the next generation of growers

Heliospectra AB, a world leader in intelligent lighting technology for greenhouse and controlled plant growth environments, has partnered with Carleton College, a private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States, to upgrade the campus greenhouse facilities.

Carleton College installed Heliospectra's ELIXIA adjustable spectrum horticulture lighting and the helioCORE light control system to expand the school's plant research capabilities with a focus on vegetable and herb transplants and native plant propagation. The project is led by Randall Hagen, Staff Biologist at Carleton College with support from Martha Larson, Manager of Campus Energy and Sustainability.

Carleton College's recent retrofit of the Integrated Science Center included tying all three science buildings into the campus geothermal system, aligning with Carleton's initiative for the entire campus to become carbon neutral by 2050. Applying funds from the college's energy and sustainability budget, the Carleton team was also able to refurbish the greenhouse cooling system and replace old, antiquated 1000W HPS lights with the more efficient, safer Heliospectra LEDs and helioCORE controls after conducting an extensive lighting search and evaluation. The project generated over $17,000 in rebates from the local utility and is expected to lower annual greenhouse lighting electricity consumption by over 100,000 kWh, a 65% reduction.