Blog

In late July, RII launched PowerScore key performance indicators (KPIs) for non-cannabis CEA facilities to support the USDA project. Producers now receive performance snapshots for energy and can benchmark performance year over year to analyze changes in facility-level and crop-specific KPIs. Get a performance snapshot for your greenhouse or indoor vertical farm by scheduling a…

From climbing wind turbines to consulting on passive house design, Carmen brings a passion for resource efficiency in the built environment As Project Engineer at RII, Carmen Azzaretti contributes to the RII team through project coordination, supporting activities related to PowerScore expansion and development, coordinating logistics associated with Technical Advisory Council activities, and supporting technical…

CEA Market Characterization Report will provide an overview of how greenhouse and vertical markets use energyStep one in the three-year, USDA-funded project titled Data-Driven Market Transformation for Sustainable Efficient Controlled Environment Agriculture is underway. RII and ACEEE have begun work on a CEA Market Characterization Report to study the various uses and sources of energy.…

RII subject matter expert members to be featured in summer Efficient Yields workshop seriesRII is partnering with San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) to train CEA operators in the utility’s service territory on the following topics and dates, as part of RII’s Efficient Yields workshop series:   April 28: HVAC + Dehumidification Systems in Greenhouses:…

The publication was peer-reviewed by RII’s Policy Working Group, leading researchers, and policy and equity advocatesOn April 21st, just ahead of Earth Day, RII released its Cannabis Energy & Environment Policy Primer: For Federal, State, and Local Policy Makers and Regulators. The purpose of the Primer is to provide objective guidance and assistance to jurisdictions…

Abstracts focused on Advancing the Field of Cannabis Through StandardizationRII is a member of ASTM and our Technical Director serves actively on subcommittees as well as the ASTM D37 Committee Global Workshop Workgroup. We are pleased to extend this invitation for you to present at the 2nd Global Workshop on Advancing the Field of Cannabis…

RII’s Executive Director Joins Other Subject Matter Experts in Center of Excellence for Coalition for Cannabis Policy, Education & Regulation (CPEAR)RII Executive Director Derek Smith was recently named to the Center of Excellence for the Coalition for Cannabis Policy, Education & Regulation (CPEAR). CPEAR works to advance comprehensive policy solutions for cannabis legalization and regulation.…

Quantifying Emissions Impacts of Cannabis and Commercial Agriculture with PowerScoreResource Innovation Institute (RII), a non-profit organization whose mission is to advance resource efficiency to cultivate a better agricultural future, provides best practices guidance on resource efficient cultivation technologies and techniques via peer-reviewed reports and curated events. RII’s resource benchmarking platform, PowerScore, enables cultivators to gain…

RII Demonstrates New “Harvesting Savings” Workshops In February, RII delivered a workshop series for the Lansing Board of Water and Light (LBWL), an electricity and water utility serving communities in Lansing, Michigan. LBWL’s Energy Waste Reduction (EWR) programs help customers operating cannabis production facilities receive technical assistance and financial incentives for efficient equipment. LBWL brought…

RII Celebrates Black History Month To honor Black History Month, the Interstate Renewable Energy Coalition (IREC) recently shared stories about Black leaders in the environmental sustainability landscape, highlighted organizations bringing about environmental justice and representation of people of color in the clean energy industry, and provided information about the progress needed to combat environmental racism.…

RII Technical Advisory Council Demonstrates How Data-Driven Collaboration Can Improve Policies and Practices The culmination of the nearly year-long efforts by RII’s Water Working Group to study water usage in the cannabis industry will take place March 10 during a New Frontier Data hosted industry briefing webinar. The webinar will focus on the policy and…

In the January 2021 issue of Greenhouse Grower magazine, Resource Innovation Institute Executive Director Derek Smith offered advice for business owners and facility staff navigating regulations and energy codes while achieving resource-efficient, productive, and profitable operations. "The future may be uncertain, but it is crucial that all crops grown in greenhouses are able to be…