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Resource Innovation Institute

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Better HVAC, Better Plants: 4 Takeaways

"Cannabis cultivation facilities are more machine than building, and require an understanding of plant physiology, engineering, and even data science." That’s how Resource Innovation Institute’s Resource Efficiency Horticulturist Rob Eddy kicked off the New York State Efficient Yields webinar on "HVAC with Plant Perspective." The event, held on December 12, 2023, showcased a panel of…
February 2, 2024
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Predictive Daily Light Integral: A Novel Approach to CEA Systems Optimization

Optimizing a greenhouse to maximize crop productivity and resource efficiency can be a tricky project to undertake. Dynamic production factors such as sunlight and outdoor climate (i.e. temperature and humidity) make these structures more difficult to control compared to their indoor farm counterparts. For example, greenhouse operators must design their facilities with the worst-case-scenario conditions…
December 22, 2023
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How to Size HVAC Systems for CEA Facilities

Building an optimal cultivation environment takes careful consideration of all heat and moisture sources.   Identifying the ideal Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system size is a critical stride toward resource-efficient Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). Cultivating crops in precisely regulated conditions demands a tailored approach, acknowledging factors like crop diversity, facility dimensions, and location…
December 18, 2023
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Airflow Design for Vertical Farms: 5 Tips

The pursuit of optimal crop yields and resource efficiency has led to groundbreaking innovations in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) facility design. The popularization of light-emitted diode (LED) fixtures in recent years has preceded a boom in vertical farming in both indoor and greenhouse environments. These tiered systems allow operators to maximize production by multiplying their…
November 22, 2023
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How CEA Can Connect With Utilities to Unlock Rebates & Incentives: 5 Tips

CEA operators (including cannabis growers) may or may not be aware that their facility upgrade projects might be eligible for various incentive and rebate projects that can offset costs for a variety of equipment, or even make those projects economically feasible. To help understand how these programs work and their requirements and opportunities, Cody Allen,…
October 30, 2023
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Minimum Liquid Discharge: An Attainable CEA Water Circularity Status

Sustainability is the bedrock upon which the future of food production rests. As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change, resource scarcity, and environmental degradation, the need for innovative solutions in agriculture has never been more pressing. To address these issues, CEA facilities are increasingly pursuing Minimum Liquid Discharge (MLD) or even Zero…
October 24, 2023
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How to evaluate energy use in agricultural operations

Productivity-based, rather than area-based, resource measurement is appropriate in our increasingly populated and climate-constrained world Greenhouse and indoor farming, otherwise known as Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), has emerged as a promising solution to meet the global demand for sustainable food production, especially in the face of climate change and urbanization. As the practice gains momentum,…
October 16, 2023
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5 Tips to Optimize Your HVAC’s Efficiency

Controlled Environment Agriculture presents specific challenges due to the need for precise temperature and humidity control throughout various growth stages. For facility operators, the goal is to create a consistent environment that maximizes plant health, yield, and potency, all while maintaining low production costs. In both indoor and sealed greenhouse environments, proper dehumidification is critical…
September 14, 2023
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Optimize Your CEA Lighting: 5 Tips

Whether cultivating leafy greens, succulent fruits, or vibrant cannabis flowers, understanding how to optimize a CEA lighting setup can make all the difference in achieving remarkable yields and superior crop quality. As we write in our Lighting Best Practices Guide, " is crucial to maximize your return on investment for horticultural lighting systems, as this…
September 8, 2023
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Wasted Water is Wasted Dollars

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is intimately connected to the responsible management of our most valuable resource: water. CEA enables us to cultivate crops efficiently regardless of external factors such as weather and location. However, this advancement comes at a cost, with water usage playing a pivotal role in the equation. Water scarcity often is a…
August 21, 2023
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CEA Water Savings Potential Now Validated

By Rob Eddy and Carmen Azzaretti With our latest USDA-sponsored Benchmarking Report, created in partnership with the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Resource Innovation Institute has brought forward validated energy and resource use data from active CEA facilities. The "CEA Energy & Water Benchmarking Report: Establishing Preliminary Benchmarks for Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA)…
August 15, 2023