Maximum Yield Cannabis USA August / September 2017 | Page 34

grow
K EEPI NG
YOU R
I N DOO R
GARDEN
S U STA I N A B L E
by Stephen Keen
With 29 states allowing some level of legal marijuana
access, millions of Americans are now in a position to
grow their own. Of course, indoor gardens require a
significant amount of resources. Surna’s Stephen Keen
offers some tips on how to reduce operational costs
and your environmental footprint at the same time.
T
his is an exciting time for cannabis. An estimated 84
million Americans were affected by new cannabis
legislation on November 8. This is significant for the
industry, marking a turning point in our country’s
relationship with the plant. However, as more and more
states come on board, it is inevitable that cultivation
operations will begin multiplying at incredible rates. It
is important that this innovative industry approach these
new opportunities responsibly and in a way that shows
the world that we understand and respect the resource
constraints we are facing. The good news is that,
because the industry is so young, we have the chance to
set standards on how we will utilize resources.
In the spirit of getting things off the ground in an en-
vironmentally responsible way, I’ve put together some
ideas on energy and resource saving options for running
a successful indoor garden.
HYDRONIC COOLING
Considering a hydronic cooling option for your indoor
garden is a no-brainer for cultivation because it is
usually about 15 to 20 per cent more efficient than other,
more traditional HVAC options. Hydronic cooling works
by circulating a chilled water-glycol mixture through a
series of pipes to individual air handlers, where cool air
is produced. Using water to remove heat is important
because water has 20 times the heat absorption rate and
four times the heat capacity of air. This means that water
can hold four times as much heat as air and can absorb
it 20 times faster, allowing a chiller to remove the same
amount of heat with much less energy.
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grow. heal. learn. enjoy.
myhydrolife.com