For a long time, indoor growers have used the standard light bulb – T5 fluorescent bulbs – in their grow rooms. They’ve faced challenges caused by the bulbs, including high cooling costs, frequent replacement and repair costs due to fragility and short lifespan, and burned vegetation. If you’re an indoor farmer, you’re reading this and nodding your head. You’re probably thinking, “Well of course! LED bulbs are so expensive!” And in a way, you’re right: they do cost more to purchase. But that’s only a small piece of a much larger puzzle.
Just the Facts
Let’s set aside the fact that they’re cool to the touch, they don’t break as easily and they last years instead of months. Let’s just look at the energy usage factor. I made you a handy dandy table to make the reality clear. Be sure to read to the bottom for the real kicker.
*It takes twice the number of T5 fluorescent bulbs to do the work of LEDs, so an 8-bulb T5 fixture can be replaced with a 4-bulb LED fixture.
LED bulbs have made great strides since their inception. Continued developments are emerging, including new smart lighting systems. As indoor farmers and horticulturists gain greater awareness into the benefits of this rapidly evolving option, LED lights will soon dominate the market.
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