In 2020 , orchid crop coach Johan Langelaan of Maarel Orchids explore his option for reduce the number of hours extra lighting would have to be used in his glasshouse without compromising the amount of light his crop would get . Lumiforte advisor Paul van Gils narrate him he could judge combining ReduFuse IR and ReduHeat . ‘ Well - dosed use of multiple layers keep on estrus out and let more daylight to enter than ReduSol would , ’ the handler said , having used the combination for three years now . ‘ As a consequence , we do n’t have to have the lights on for as long as we used to , and we maintain a lot of energy . ’
In the past , Langelaan would use one unmarried stratum of ReduSol to the greenhouse roof . This temporary finish does a good job of retain out heat but also allows less light to get through the greenhouse . “ So you would always have to keep the light on for several hours to verify that the plants receive enough light to grow , ” the craw manager told us . “ We were wondering if there might be a smarter solution because while energy toll were gloomy in 2020 , but for how much tenacious ? ”
Keeping heating plant out while maintaining mellow light levelsLangelaan put his question to Lumiforte advisor Paul van Gils . In addition to ReduSol , Lumiforte ’s chain offers several other type of finish , each with specific effects . Paul suggested change to two unlike types of coating , which are apply to the glass on top of each other at different times , ’ he said . “ By using ReduFuse IR and ReduHeat , we ’d keep out as much heat as with ReduSol while losing far less light . As a answer , we ’d need less additional kindling , and we ’d reduce our energy consumption . As a bonus , we ’d be able-bodied to apply two separate layering strategies for ardent and nerveless sections . ”
One layer of ReduFuse IR , follow by some ReduHeatThe raw layering strategy take applying a sparse initial layer of ReduFuse IR software to the entire glasshouse in the first half of February . This case of coating reserve less infrared light ( i.e. , hotness ) to pass through and circulate the PAR light source that gets transmit . The dispersion [ AKS1 ] ensures an even grade of visible light when the movable screens are partly closed . ‘ You do n’t see the typical lighter and darker incision under the screenland , which is exactly what you want for uniform growth . We do n’t have diffuse looking glass in our nursery , so ReduFuse IR is a sound alternative . ’
In or around Week 17 or 18 ( calculate on the weather conditions ) , an extra , thick stratum of ReduHeat is apply to the coolheaded sections . This merchandise , too , reduces the amount of heat that come in the glasshouse but does facilitate a mellow level of wanton contagion . In or around Week 22 or 23 , a 2d level of ReduHeat is applied .
The three consecutive layer of covering protect the cool sections from excessive heat radiation sickness while reserve much more PAR light to enter the greenhouse than ReduSol would . “ Between May and September , we trim back our need for extra lighting by a few hundred hours , ” said the orchid grower .
No minus effect on the quality of the plantsAccording to Langelaan , the plants scarcely notice this unexampled method of using superimposed coatings . “ The greenhouse climate is virtually the same , ” he said . When using ReduHeat , the temperature of the plant life is slightly lower than when using ReduSol , but since extra cooling in the form of air handling is needed in both lawsuit , that gist is cancel out . We have not notice any difference in the amount of time it assume for crops to grow or in the quality of the products . ’
Profitable investmentDo raiser preserve enough get-up-and-go to break even , given the high-pitched costs associated with this layering strategy ? After all , when this method is used , more layer must be applied , which take more finishing and more man - hours . Needless to say , we performed all the calculations beforehand , and the orchid cultivation specialist replied , “ We generate most of our power ourselves , using combined heat and big businessman . In 2020 , we were control on the premise that gas would cost 15 cents per cubic meter . Assuming prices would continue at that level , we would take in back the higher cost 1.5 times in a sunny summer and as much as three sentence in a dark summer . So it was a no - brainer . And at the current gasoline prices , the step-down in vigor economic consumption we are realizing is having an even enceinte financial impact . So we ’re thrilled that we can keep our lights off for longer while the crops do n’t abide in the svelte . ”
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