LRC Releases Free, Open Access Horticulture Luminaire Calculator

LDS LRC Hort 400

May 11, 2020

The Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has developed a free, easy-to-use online tool that will assist growers to evaluate the performance, efficiency, and economics of a wide variety of horticultural luminaires, typically used in greenhouses and other controlled agricultural environments. This online tool, called the horticulture luminaire calculator allows growers to accurately compare several luminaires and select the one that will be most effective for their particular application. 

Electric lighting is essential to providing supplemental light in many greenhouses and is the only source of light for indoor agricultural environments. These lighting systems are extremely expensive to purchase and install, so it is important for growers to select a lighting system that will provide the most effective lighting for their application at the lowest overall operating cost.

The horticulture luminaire calculator developed by the LRC, is based on a metric called photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). PPFD is analogous to photopic illuminance on a work surface in an architectural application. Just as it is only valid to compare the power densities of alternate lighting systems at equal illuminance levels on the work plane, the power densities of alternate horticultural luminaires should only be compared when they provide the same PPFD on the plant canopy.  

Growers can easily be misled by considering luminaire efficacy alone, when selecting lighting products for horticultural applications. Luminaire efficacy does not take into account important factors such as the luminaire intensity distribution, optimal luminaire layout, and the number of luminaires that will be required to reach a criterion PPFD. All of these factors are significant when evaluating the overall cost-effectiveness of various horticulture luminaire options.

The horticulture luminaire calculator allows a grower to determine the best arrangement and mounting height of each luminaire they are considering. Using the calculator, growers can determine the number of each type of luminaire that will be needed to light their space to their desired light level, and select the product that will provide the optimum lighting, at the lowest cost.  It would take several days to make these calculations using traditional methods. The horticulture luminaire calculator does it in a manner of minutes.

“Energy use and lifecycle costs vary widely among LED lighting systems used in controlled environment horticulture,” said LRC Professor Dr. Mark Rea. “It has been the standard approach for many years in the field of architectural lighting, and is becoming readily apparent in horticultural lighting, that we must conduct complete system energy and lifecycle cost analyses to generate an accurate picture of which technology would work best for each particular application. The horticulture luminaire calculator provides an easy way for growers to make this determination.”  

This project was funded by Natural Resources Canada and other members of the Lighting Energy Alliance, including Efficiency Vermont, Energize Connecticut, National Grid, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, and ComEd.

You can access the calculator HERE

Source

Related Articles


Changing Scene

  • Contact Delage Announces New Partnership with Zilux

    Contact Delage: New Representation Agreement – Zilux

    Contact Delage is pleased to announce a new partnership with Zilux for the representation of their products in the regions of Montreal, Laval, Estrie, Lanaudière, Laurentides, and Montérégie. Specializing in the design of aluminum lighting and urban furniture, Zilux, a Quebec-based manufacturer, combines innovation and durability to enhance your outdoor design projects. Their expertise in… Read More…

  • Mac’s II Agencies Announces Jamie Capell as the New Sales Manager for Lighting Specification

    Expanding Expertise: Mac’s II Agencies Strengthens Lighting Division

    Mac’s II Agencies is pleased to announce the expansion of its lighting division with the addition of Jamie Capell as the Sales Manager for Lighting Specification. Jamie brings 25 years of experience in the lighting and electrical industry, most notably serving as the Director of Sales for a local lighting agency in British Columbia. With… Read More…


Design

  • Light ARchitect Is Revolutionizing Lighting Design for Architects & Designers

    Light ARchitect Is Revolutionizing Lighting Design for Architects & Designers

    Traditionally, lighting design could be a tedious process, often involving physical mockups, time-consuming calculations, and static renderings using multiple software tools. With advancing technology, these traditional methods are giving way to more sophisticated tools that enhance precision, speed, and visualization. On the downside, many of the new tools are not particularly intuitive and the learning… Read More…

  • Project Story: Sainte-Thérèse High School Outdoor Lighting Upgrade

    Project Story: Sainte-Thérèse High School Outdoor Lighting Upgrade

    August 6, 2024 Built in 1980, the building that houses Sainte-Thérèse high school, in Quebec Canada, was looking a little worse for the wear. Renovation work began with two major projects: introducing a multidisciplinary sports centre, as well as redesigning the parking lots.  The employee and visitor parking lots were completely reconfigured during phase 1… Read More…


New Products

  • Magic Lite: New 5-Channel High-Performance LED Amplifier

    Magic Lite: New 5-Channel High-Performance LED Amplifier

    Designed for professional-grade LED systems, the 5-Channel High-Performance Amplifier delivers precision, scalability, and reliability. Using advanced MOSFET technology and high-speed 10Mbps optical couplers, this amplifier ensures robust power output and flawless signal transmission across large-scale, synchronized LED applications. Whether expanding capacity for PWM controllers or enhancing system stability, this amplifier simplifies complex lighting designs while… Read More…

  • Eureka: Lattice – 3D Printed Ceiling Suspended Fixture

    Eureka: Lattice – 3D Printed Ceiling Suspended Fixture

    Lattice is a one-of-a-kind 3D metal printed fixture. Layer upon layer of intricately braided aluminum branches meld into one of three comprehensive shapes. The result is a stunning glowing light fixture that will add a luxurious feel to ambient environments. EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE ON DEMAND. Read More…