Big Grower January 2023 - 17

BUSINESS
" It's more efficient to operate the lights than
the HVAC system to cool down the greenhouses.
The greenhouses can't be cooled down quickly.
It's better to maintain the proper temperature and
then operate the lights if necessary. "
IT PAYS TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK
Before making a decision on which LED lights to
Tim Vogelzang poses in the Revolution Farms
greenhouse, which recently had new LED lighting
installed in 2020. Photo courtesy of Revolution Farms.
When Revolution Farms expanded its facilities
with two additional acres of greenhouses in 2020,
LED lights were a key component of the expansion.
" In 2020 we not only equipped the new
greenhouses with LEDs, but we also phased out
the LED lights that had been installed in our first
greenhouse in 2018, " says Tim Vogelzang, chief
financial officer at Revolution Farms. " The LEDs
we installed in 2020 were much better grow lights
in regard to intensity, efficiency and the full light
spectrum than the lights installed in 2018.
" The first greenhouse with the original LEDs felt
like an old facility even though it was only a couple
years old due to how much the LED technology
had changed in that short time. Another reason for
replacing the old LEDs was we were able to receive
a rebate on all the new lights for both the old and
new greenhouses. "
The grow lights are also used during the summer
when the greenhouses can heat up from the
natural light.
" During the middle of August when the
greenhouses heat up, lettuce doesn't do well
under 80 to 90º F temperatures and that can
affect our yields, " Vogelzang says. " It may sound
counter intuitive, but sometimes we close the
shade curtains to keep the sunlight out during
the heat of the day. If the light sensors indicate
that the shade cloth has been closed too long,
the lights may come on and provide the plants
with additional light.
install, Revolution Farms contacted three different
lighting manufacturers.
" We worked with Consumers Energy, which
is our local energy provider, to source the new
lights, " Vogelzang says. " We purchased the lights
through Fluence. Fluence representatives were
instrumental in determining what lights would
best work for us and would qualify for the rebate
program with our electricity provider. "
The rebate process for the lights was timeconsuming,
but well worth the effort.
" We had a good experience working with Fluence
and our utility company on the rebate program, "
Vogelzang says. " Consumers Energy was very intune
with what we were doing. It has specialists
that work with commercial growers. Already having
a production facility up and operating was helpful
in processing the administrative paperwork that
had to be completed for the rebate program. "
In addition to the rebate for the LEDs, Revolution
Farms also received a $15,000 grant from
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes
and Energy for the grow lights and the energy
curtains it installed in its new greenhouses.
Other rebates that Revolution Farms received for
equipment it installed included:
* A daylight sensor control system that
automatically operates the grow lights based
on the amount of sunlight.
* Gas water heaters from DTE Energy for
cleaning equipment.
* Variable speed-drive air compressors for
automating machinery.
The total amount for rebates added up to
$633,200.
Vogelzang says growers need to plan ahead when
doing a retrofit or new construction to ensure they
qualify for potential grants and rebates.
" Talk with the vendors you are interested
in working with to determine if any of the
construction you are doing qualifies for any of
these programs, " he says. " Check in with the local
economic development council, utility companies
JANUARY 2023 17
Big Grower January 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Big Grower January 2023
