Catoctin Mountain Growers (CMG), an ornamental flowers and young plant grower in Keymar, Maryland, recently upgraded their lighting system to boost plant growth and reduce energy consumption. The change, implemented with the help of JumpLights, has resulted in better light coverage for the plants, lower energy costs, and quicker plant turnaround times.
© JumpLights
Tyler Van Wingerden of Catoctin Mountain Growers (CMG) and Matteo Del Ninno of JumpLights at the CMG greenhouse in Maryland.
A shift to energy-efficient lighting
This 23 acres nursery, owned and operated by Bob and Denise Van Wingerden since 1985, grows a variety of ornamental flowers and young plants, many of which need consistent but not too intense lighting. The company uses supplemental lighting for young plants, such as annual plugs, particularly in the colder months when daylength is shorter and inconsistent. These plants rely on steady light to thrive, but the previous HPS lights used in the greenhouse were prone to burnouts and inconsistent light distribution, explains Tyler Van Wingerden, Vice President at Catoctin Mountain Growers. When they were initially looking for lights, they talked to a range of vendors, most of whom suggested lights that had power that was too high for their ornamental production. JumpLights, however, had a tailored solution that was both efficient and provided the right amount of light for their products.
In the video below Matteo del Ninno, Chief Technology Officer at JumpLights, explains how they worked closely with CMG to develop a more efficient lighting system. ""We worked directly with CMG, and part of the benefits we were able to bring to the greenhouse is what we call 'rebat engineering.' What I mean by that is we assessed the total amount of power used in the room and replaced it with a lower total amount of power. We went from 20 lights to 16 lights and reduced the wattage per light from 600 watts to 400 watts. But that's not just a simple swap," del Ninno explained. "Our 400-watt lights feature two lighting locations, so instead of having 20 lighting locations, we now have 32. This not only reduces the number of lights but maximizes efficiency and energy savings."
The new lights provide better coverage across the greenhouse, which translates to more uniform plant growth. Del Ninno emphasized, "Where the light falls, that's where the plants are going to grow. So, if you have uniform light, you get uniform plants, and that's exactly what you want."
Improved results for young plants
For CMG's young plants, mostly annuals, which require steady and consistent lighting, the transition to JumpLights' system has been a success. "We used to have HPS lighting, and it was very inconsistent. We had burnouts, and the lights were frequently switching," said Van Wingerden. "Now, with the new lights, we have 100% coverage, and the plants are doing really well."
However, it wasn't without its challenges. "The first year, we had some issues with overgrowing our plugs. We needed to get used to how much light we had. Now, the plants look great due to even light distribution, customized light intensity, and applying the right spectrum for our plant types."
Energy savings and faster turnaround
The new lights improved CMG's yields and reduced energy costs by 41% and decreased their turn times by 3 weeks. As a further help to costs, half of the lights were paid for by rebates secured by JumpLights. CMG can now turn plants more quickly to generate revenue earlier in the season.
Van Wingerden is not only pleased with the energy savings but also the effort JumpLights made to find incentives that helped offset the cost of the new lights. "The new lighting saves us energy, and the JumpLights team works hard to find incentives, which makes this a very cost-effective solution," he said.
Catoctin Mountain Growers is a family-owned greenhouse operation that spans 23 acres in Keymar, Maryland. Since 1985, the company has been providing ornamental flowers and young plants to customers throughout the eastern U.S. CMG is recognized for its innovation, quality products, and commitment to customer service. Under the leadership of Bob and Denise Van Wingerden, and with the support of their children and dedicated employees, CMG continues to thrive and adapt to the changing needs of the horticultural industry.
For more information:
JumpLights
Aaron Lichtig
Email: [email protected]
www.jumplights.com
