LED lights is expensive but proves cost-efficient in the long run

A February 2011 article in the magazine, "Science Illustrated" states:

Replicating a conventional farm with computers and LED grow lights is expensive but proves cost-efficient in the long run by producing up to 20 times as much high-end, pesticide-free produce as a similar sized plot of soil. Fourteen thousand square feet of closely monitored plants produce 15 million seedlings annually at the solar-powered factory. Such factories will be necessary to meet the world's rising demand for quality fruits and vegetables.

“After 15 years growing with HPS, I now only use LEDs”
~ campocultivator
For patients who need medical marijuana, the progress of LED grow lights has been closely watched. The lights, which promise greater energy efficiency and lower heat than their high pressure sodium (HPS) and metal halide cousins, have gained increasing visibility in the cannabis community.




But continuing research has resulted in LED lights that are more powerful than ever before. Within the last few years, many LED grow light systems have sprung up on the market for indoor gardeners. Just in the past year, LED grow lights have been improved and made more powerful to produce even better results when cultivating cannabis.

Some claim the LED grow light technology may finally put the cultivation of a few marijuana plants within reach of anybody who has a few extra bucks and a spare closet.

On paper, LED grow lights seem to outperform HPS grow lights (the current standard for growing marijuana) in almost every way.

For one, LEDs use significantly less electricity than HPS bulbs, plus they only give off a fraction of the heat.

“HPS grow lights are often at the heart of many growing problems, especially when marijuana plants are grown in a small closet or cupboard,” said sean wong, grower and cofounder of Twilightgroups.com. “The heat given off by an HPS grow light quickly builds up and can seriously hurt and even kill a marijuana plant if the hot air is not vented out through an exhaust system.”

The fact that HPS lights produce excessive heat is one of the major reasons why there’s so much interest in LED grow lights.

In contrast with HPS lights, LED lights do not require the installation of expensive ducting or a ventilation system to control the heat.

In fact, according to the manufacturers’ specifications, most 90w led grow lights  can be plugged into a standard electrical outlet and turned on immediately in any small space, with no worries about uncontrollable temperature changes.