Gaining your edge

Energy Edge is an initiative of Greenhouse Canada magazine aimed at turning what is a liability for most growers – fluctuating energy costs – into a competitive advantage. With energy accounting for as much as 40 per cent of the operating costs of many greenhouse operations, small and steady improvements on this front can move the needle in a big way on the bottom line. Energy Edge will look at new technologies, innovative projects, case studies of growers finding their own Energy Edge.

You can read about it in each issue of Greenhouse Canada, but we’ve also created this dedicated microsite. Here you can find regular news items on the subject, new technology and products, video, and in-depth archives on the subject.

We’ll also produce a bi-weekly enewsletter to keep you up to speed on what we’re covering. It is free to all Greenhouse Canada digital subscribers. You can sign up for it here.

If you want to add to the conversation, please drop us a line and let us know about your project, technology, services, or concerns at energyedge@annexweb.com.

An economic survey of the Netherlands' greenhouse industry has found that generating heat and electricity from solar energy rather than natural gas is not economically feasible at present.

Published in Renewables

Assiniboine Community College's sustainable greenhouse will officially open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 28, almost a year after the sod-turning ceremony that launched the project.

Published in Management

The U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) is spearheading a three-year, nationwide project to create unprecedented, 36-hour forecasts of incoming energy from the sun for solar energy.

Published in Renewables

In the last 30 years, the greenhouse industry has experienced significant changes. New technologies have not only brought an increase in production levels, but have also allowed more competitors to enter the industry, leading to smaller margins.

Published in Management

Iowa State University’s new greenhouse will feature an algal production facility capable of making 50 to 100 dried kilograms of biomass per year.

Published in Procurement
At the international horticultural fair Horti Fair soon to occur in The Netherlands, Van Dijk Heating is showcasing the changes it has made to its Active Ventilation System (AVS). 

Published in Management
The most recent report released by the Energy Information Administration indicates that growth in natural gas production will continue, says 360 Energy's Lisa Brodeur. "Despite a record number of rigs being pulled off-line, production increases are about to catapult the industry to new levels of storage."

Published in Procurement
The largest solar-roofed greenhouse project on the planet is now complete in Italy. The first crop is expected in October 2012. The 134 greenhouses are located on 66 acres near Cagliari in the region of Sardinia.

Published in Renewables
Read the complete Energy Edge feature on Rosa Flora's energy management approach, from renewables and efficient greenhouse design, to its growing natural gas combined heat and power business.
Published in Management
For those operatng in Union Gas territory, there are incentive programs available to help growers identify natural gas savings. 

According to the utility, energy efficiency studies and surveys can identify and prioritize energy saving opportunities for your greenhouse. They will also go a long way toward determining your energy priorities and identifying what actions will save you the most money, prioritizing your limited investment funds and project management time.

Successful programs have been instrumental in freeing up dollars and improving bottom line performance in the past, Union Gas says, adding that it provides funding for both process and energy efficiency studies and surveys. Options include:

  • Process studies 

  • Steam trap surveys

  • Energy efficiency feasibility studies

For more information on these programs or successful case studies, visit here.
Published in Incentives
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