Windset Farms is committed to responsible, sustainable greenhouse production. We actively manage lighting in our new sustainable ultra-lit facilities, and use light-abatement screens on both the sidewalls and ceilings in Delta, B.C., to minimize light escaping into surrounding communities.
Until last year, our production depended solely on natural sunlight, limiting year-round growth. Our new LED-lit greenhouses feature light-abatement screens on every sidewall and roof section, allowing us to mitigate as much excess light as possible. This is not a common practice for other greenhouse operations in B.C. We also collaborate closely with our counterparts in the Netherlands to learn from their experience in sustainable growing. Many Lower Mainland greenhouses lack modern lighting and abatement systems, as these were unavailable when they were built and are difficult, and sometimes impossible, to retrofit.
At Windset, we carefully manage the intensity and duration (photoperiod) of our lighting, making adjustments based on crop needs and the amount of sunlight received during the day. We’ve elected to install the latest and most advanced LED lights available because they are far more energy-efficient than the traditional high-pressure sodium (HPS) lighting systems used at other operations. The lights are also dimmable and spectrum adjustable, so we can tune the light recipe based on the specific cultivar and in conjunction with natural sunlight conditions. In addition, there is far less heat generated than with HPS lights, so we can add more light (photons) to the crops without overheating the plants or having to vent as much as with HPS lights. In addition, we have installed an innovative fan technology called ‘Ventilation Jets’ and ‘ClimaFlow’ fans, which allows us to keep the light abatement curtains fully drawn so that we can pull in cooler and drier air from above the curtains down into the crops. Not only do these fans keep the light contained within the greenhouses, but they also significantly reduce our thermal energy requirements from natural gas or wood boilers. Using these LED lights powered by renewable electricity from BC Hydro, in conjunction with our innovative light abatement equipment, allows us to produce healthy, sustainably grown local produce year-round, reducing food miles and improving freshness while having minimal impact on our surrounding communities.
As community members ourselves, we are continuously working to reduce our impact and operate as sustainably and responsibly as possible, while still supporting local food production year-round.
