Why Upgrade Your Plant Growth Chamber to LED Lighting?

May 21, 2024

Plant gr ow th chambers can only deliver optimal outcomes for your research when they’re equipped with the right hardware and software - whether that be control systems, airflow, refrigeration systems, humidification systems, among others. Lighting is one of the most important of these systems, acting as the primary source of energy and information for plant growth and development.

LEDs custom integrated with Conviron BDW plant growth room | Image courtesy of CIAT-FLAR.

Traditionally, plant growth chambers and rooms have used fluorescent lighting, with tens of thousands of units in widespread circulation and use to this day. But in recent times, LED technology has come a long way, driving many manufacturers and users alike to make the transition to LED lighting systems for their plant growth chambers and growth rooms.

LED lighting for plant growth chambers offers significant benefits over fluorescent systems, including greater longevity, greater control over light spectra, and higher energy efficiency (among others). In this article, we’ll explore the reasons to consider upgrading to LED systems for your chambers, and how Conviron’s cost-effective LED retrofit solution for two of our models can help you make the transition smoothly.

Quick Takeaways:

LED lighting for plant growth chambers enhances plant research by providing greater control over light intensity and spectra.

LED lights significantly reduce energy consumption offering substantial cost savings and supporting sustainability goals.

With a longer lifespan than fluorescent, LED lighting decreases the need for frequent replacements and simplifies chamber maintenance.

As an example, the LED retrofit kit for model PGR15 and E15 chambers integrates smoothly with existing Conviron control systems and can be self-installed using step-by-step instructions.

Using OEM approved lighting systems that have been tested by the chamber manufacturer lowers the risk of voiding your warranty and enables better technical support should it ever be needed.

Why Upgrade Your Plant Growth Chamber to LED Lighting?

The shift toward LED lighting for plant growth chambers is driven by two forces. First, many fluorescent lighting components are being phased out by manufacturers, making them difficult to replace. At the same time, advancements in LED lighting technology are offering researchers benefits that make their experiments more flexible, accurate and reliable.

Let’s dive deeper into the specific reasons researchers are choosing to upgrade their chamber and room lighting systems to LEDs.

Fluorescent Lighting Obsolescence

Important components of fluorescent lighting for plant growth chambers, such as T12, T8, and T5 lamps (as well as their ballasts) are becoming increasingly difficult to source when replacement parts are needed. Some may become completely unavailable in the not-so-distant future. By relying on these systems, researchers risk experiments being compromised when delays occur replacing parts.

Greater Light Spectra Manipulation

LED technology allows for more precise control over the light spectra, including the addition of far-red and other wavelengths useful for plant science research. This flexibility enables researchers to fully experiment with and explore the effects of different light spectra on plant physiology, thus enhancing the scope of their research.

Researcher inspects rice plant after a lighting retrofit from fluorescent to LED is performed on a plant growth chamber. The plant responded well to the higher intensity (approx. 1,400 umol) and flowered within weeks - something the university was not previously able to achieve with the old lighting.

Improved Energy Efficiency

LED lighting dramatically reduces energy consumption compared to older fluorescent systems. This level of efficiency contributes to lower electricity bills and supports organizational goals of reducing environmental impact, making it a more financially and ecologically beneficial choice.

Cost-Effectiveness & Greater Longevity

LED lights also have a longer lifespan compared to fluorescent bulbs. This reduces the need for frequent replacements, decreasing the long-term maintenance and operating costs of your chamber. Conviron’s LED retrofit kit for its PGR15/E15 model plant growth chamber for example, comes with a Q90 rating over 50,000 hours, meaning it will maintain 90% output over the span of 7+ years.

Proactive Maintenance Opportunity

Many plant growth chambers have been known to be in use for 15, 20 or more years. However, plant growth chamber maintenance is critical to achieving reliable and reproducible research outcomes over the lifespan of your equipment. Annual “re-lamping” is recommended for growth chamber lighting, but this schedule is often not maintained as researchers are primarily focused on running experiments.

Adding a new LED lighting system is an opportunity to proactively get ahead of lighting maintenance that could otherwise turn urgent should it fail in the middle of an experiment. Re-lamping also offers the added benefit of renewed uniformity, as the entire lighting system will be installed at the same time vs. having different bulbs at different output strengths and phases of their lifecycle.

Energy Savings & Potential Rebates

The energy savings delivered by LED lighting translate into considerable cost savings over the lifespan of the LEDs. Institutions may also be eligible for energy rebate programs, which vary by location. If you are unsure contact your plant growth chamber manufacturer who may know of available rebates or be able to put you in touch with a third party to assist with finding these opportunities. Your chamber manufacturer should also provide an energy savings calculator that can help you determine your current energy usage and estimate what you’ll save by installing an LED lighting system.