Rise and shine

Karen E. Varga
Editor

For my birthday last January, I decided to treat myself to something I had had my eye on for quite a while — one of those alarm clocks that simulates the sun rising and plays soothing sounds to wake me up in the morning. As usual, I did extensive research online to determine which one would be the best fit for what I was looking for.

Did I want to be awoken by birds or crashing waves, or was piano music more my style? Was I looking for a futuristic design or something to blend into my current décor? Did I want a battery operated or plug-in version? While having those options available was nice, I was the most interested in the “sunrise” light feature that gradually brightens the room, as it had become increasingly difficult to wake up on the right side of the bed when it was still dark outside.

I considered different clocks with traditional light bulbs and others that utilized LEDs to gradually light the room. My knowledge of LEDs was limited at the time, but as I read more on the topic, I found that there were several aspects that made this type of light an attractive option: They’re more energy efficient, run cooler and last much longer than other types of bulbs.

And LEDs aren’t just being used in home applications, as you can imagine. Some greenhouse growers are switching to this type of lighting for these reasons and others. For this month’s cover story, we spoke with growers, suppliers and university researchers to get the skinny on how LED lighting is changing the greenhouse industry. Check it out.

This month we’re also bringing you profiles of 10 successful growers from across the U.S. and Canada. These growers have made a name for themselves in their respective markets and share some of their insights, starting on page 27. If you’re also doing great things in your greenhouse, we want to hear from you. Drop me a line at kvarga@gie.net and tell me what helps you stand out from the crowd.
 

Karen E. Varga, Editor
kvarga@gie.net
216-393-0290  |  Twitter: @GC_Editor