LEDs are helping nurseries gain all kinds of new efficiencies A mid-January morning in Hillsboro, Oregon: It’s gray, it’s drizzly and, most depressingly, it’s dark. Dark enough that 10:30 in the morning feels like dusk, which at this time of year comes far too early for most; dark enough that the region would be lucky to […]
September Digger arrives in mailboxes
By — Posted
The September issue of Digger has been mailed to subscribers, and the cover story this month is on plants that thrive in wet sites (PDF). Due to the prevalence of bioswales and other urban water features, many nurseries — native plant growers in particular — have been trying hard to keep up with demand. Other […]
Putting greenhouses in a new light
By — Posted
We already mentioned LED lighting in nursery environments last December (PDF). But if you’re looking to operate your greenhouse with more efficiency and less cost, rapidly-developing LED technology is getting to where it’s worth more than a cursory glance. Researchers at Penn State University have studied the idea extensively, using grant funds secured in 2010. […]
Incentive available for thermal greenhouse curtains
By — Posted
Ulrike Mengelberg at the Energy Trust of Oregon dropped us a note to let us know they’re offering an incentive for growers who install energy-saving thermal curtains in their greenhouses. Qualifying growers can receive 9 cents per square foot of heated greenhouse (or square feet of curtain, but the former number in most cases will […]
Energy incentives available for nursery, greenhouse owners
By — Posted
New business energy tax credits (often known as BETC) are available for nursery and greenhouse owners based in Oregon. The incentives are part of the Oregon Department of Energy’s new Simple Premium Projects program, which has $1.7 million in funding. According to officials, the paperwork is much simpler than past BETC programs. Business owners may […]
OAN Energy Pilot wins $80,000 USDA grant
By — Posted
Less than a year ago, the Oregon Association of Nurseries announced an ambitious goal to reduce industry energy usage by 25 percent in 10 years as part of its Energy Pilot program (PDF). Last week, the program scored a major victory when USDA Rural Development awarded the OAN an $80,000 grant (see press release): Oregon […]
Greenhouse growers can save money, energy with cash incentives
By — Posted
Greenhouse controllers are a great way to save both money and energy, but as with any improvement, there’s the upfront cost to consider. The Energy Trust of Oregon, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people be energy efficient, announced last week that it is rolling out an incentive for greenhouse growers. This could go a long […]
Energy Trust of Oregon steps in with efficiency incentives
By — Posted
Many nurseries looking to cut their operating costs have found that energy efficiency projects pay strong dividends — particularly when incentives are available to help pay for them. Since 1979, the state of Oregon has offered the Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC) program, which proved to be very popular. Not only did it save businesses […]
OAN energy conservation summit yields first steps
By — Posted
Members of OAN and several partner groups took part in the nursery industry energy conservation summit Dec. 7 at the Oregon Garden Resort. They came away with notable progress toward the industrywide goal of becoming 25 percent more energy efficient over the next decade. The OAN Board of Directors officially adopted this goal back in […]
OAN board sets industry-wide goal for energy efficiency
By — Posted
Oregon’s nursery industry will work together over the next 10 years to improve energy efficiency by 25 percent, according to a goal adopted recently by the Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN) Board of Directors. The energy savings will be realized through OAN members’ participation in a voluntary energy efficiency program. The program will be organized […]