MarsHydrofactory
Well-Known Member
A growing population needs more efficient indoor “growing” techniques. As more people recognize the importance of sustainability and local agriculture, there has been a significant demand for indoor cultivation. While the demand for indoor crops has never been higher, gardeners must figure out a way to keep their costs manageable while maintaining a robust supply.
One way indoor cultivators are meeting the year-round demand for their products is by relying on the latest LED grow light technology. Indeed, recent estimates suggest the international grow light market is already at $1.2 billion, primarily driven by LEDs. If market trends continue, the grow light industry could reach a market cap of almost $5 billion in 2026.
Why are so many indoor cultivators gravitating towards LEDs? Simple: They save gardeners money without sacrificing yearly yields. In fact, many indoor gardeners are impressed at how LED grow lights improve their ROI thanks to increased crop production. Below are a few key ways LED grow lights could cut an indoor grower’s costs.
The Top Ways LED Grow Lights Help Cut Costs
LED Grow Lights Reduce Total Energy Expenditure
The primary reason cultivators are drawn to LED grow lights is their reduced energy expenditure. LED grow lights will pull significantly less energy from a grow room versus traditional HPS bulbs. Since power is one of the leading costs for any indoor cultivator, this increased energy efficiency will have a noticeable impact on the bottom line.
In many instances, an LED grow light could give off the same light intensity while pulling 30% - 40% less than an HPS bulb. Plus, many LED grow lights come with dimmer switches, which allows cultivators to adjust their light intensity and energy costs with the flip of a finger.
If you’d like to learn more about the energy cost distinctions between LED grow lights and HPS grow lights, please read this previous Mars Hydro comparison post.
LED Grow Lights Don’t Cost As Much For Maintenance
Not only are LED grow lights more energy efficient than HPS bulbs, they cost cultivators less in long-term maintenance. For instance, Mars Hydro’s LED grow lights last for 50,000 hours. By contrast, most HPS grow lights only last about 2,500~5,000 hours before you need to switch them out.
In addition to their long operating time, LED grow lights don’t require indoor cultivators to constantly change breakable bulbs. This ease of maintenance can cut down on extra labor costs, costly mistakes, and precious growing time.
LED Grow Lights Give Off Less Heat
Another positive feature of LED grow lights is that they give off minimal ambient heat. This reduced heat helps growers better calculate and control their indoor set-up.
What does this reduced heat have to do with cost savings? Well, since your LEDs aren’t giving off heat, you don’t have to worry about ramping up air conditioning and ventilation. You can rest assured the LED grow lights are giving off all the light you need without contributing to a sweaty indoor grow space.
LED Grow Lights Can Give Off A Full Spectrum Of Wavelengths
A unique feature of LED grow lights over other models is that they can offer a full spectrum of lightwaves. On top of blues and reds, most of the LED grow lights could give off “invisible” waves like IR and UV. While this may not seem significant from a cost-savings perspective, it could dramatically boost the yields of your plants.
More research suggests that IR and UV rays significantly impact plant growth and photosynthesis. All crops naturally evolved under the sun’s rays, so it makes sense that grow lights that better mimic the sun would produce more flowers. The increased yields you may experience with full spectrum LED grow lights will positively impact your cultivation costs.
Some cultivators believe IR and UV are so significant that they may soon factor into light intensity readings. To learn more about this hot LED topic, please read Mars Hydro’s post on “PBAR vs. PAR.”
LEDs Provide An Efficient Use Of Space
LED grow lights are slim and compact. Compared with clunkier HPS bulbs, it’s easy to fit these LED grow lights in even the smallest grow room set-ups. Plus, since many LED grow light models come with a dimmer switch, it’s easier to hang these lights closer to plants without the risk of burning them.
Interestingly, many people in the vertical farming movement rely on LED grow lights to maximize the yield in their space without sacrificing quality. You could say that without LED grow lights, the vertical farming revolution might not be possible.
See How Mars Hydro’s LEDs Can Save You Money!
In general, LED grow lights offer the best ROI for indoor cultivators. However, not all brands in the LED grow light industry are equal. Mars Hydro has a proven track record of producing top-tier LED grow lights at reasonable costs. We also offer superior customer service to clients around the world. Although we manufacture our lights in China, we have offices in all Western nations, including the USA, Canada, and Australia.
If you’re considering using LED grow lights for your indoor cultivation, consider giving Mars Hydro a call. One of Mars Hydro's customer care reps can explain how our LEDs can help you cut costs.
www.mars-hydro.com (use code: rollitup to save more on www.mars-hydro.com)