Fluorescent No More: LEDs Are the Future of Horticulture Lighting

For decades, fluorescent tubes have been the backbone of indoor growing, illuminating countless greenhouses with their distinctive glow. But flicking fluorescent tubes can also be buzzing overhead, casting a blue glow on your indoor spaces. They also contain toxic mercury. Therefore, the age of fluorescent lighting has officially come to an end. LEDs emerge as the perfect alternative solution for horticulture lighting. As growers adapt to LED fixtures, they will uncover benefits like lower operating costs, targeted receipt per crop, and automation through lighting controls.  

Ban on fluorescent lights

The relatively affordable fluorescent lights have offered consistent and predictable output that made them well-suited for supplementing natural sunlight in commercial growing. T5 and T8 tubes have been widely used in indoor farming.

But Fluorescent tubes contain mercury, a toxic heavy metal that poses significant disposal challenges and environmental hazards. When broken, they release mercury vapor, which can be harmful to both human health and the ecosystem.

The increased focus on energy efficiency and a sustainable environment has led to policies phasing out traditional fluorescent options. Regulations like the EU's RoHS Directive and California's AB 2208 are phasing out their production and sale.

Here is a table that shows the fluorescent light bans.

Downside of fluorescent lights for plants

Except for the toxic mercury, fluorescent lights come with several downsides for plants.

A major downside of fluorescent tubes is their overall energy inefficiency. Traditional T5 and T8 tubes can consume approximately 60% more power than LED fixtures to produce the same light output. This leads to substantially higher electricity costs just to maintain adequate light levels in plants.

Additionally, fluorescent light emits heat. Too much heat can stress plants and reduce yields. Finally, fluorescent lights lack dimming abilities. As different growing stages require different light levels, consistent light levels of fluorescent lights can be a waste of money.

Why LEDs are the future of horticulture lighting

LED grow lights offer numerous advantages that make them the future of horticulture lighting compared to fluorescent tubes.

First, LED fixtures provide higher energy efficiency and cost savings - using up to 60% less electricity to produce equal light output. This translates to lower operating costs for growers, particularly commercial growers.

Second, LEDs enable completely customized light spectra. By tuning specific wavelengths, growers can create unique recipes optimized for each crop and stage of plant growth. The optimal spectrum promotes healthier plants and higher yield potential.

Additionally, LED technology is advancing rapidly. With capabilities like dimming and variable spectrum, LED grow lights allow precise light strategy for plants.

At last, LEDs have a longer lifespan than fluorescent lights. And LEDs maintain consistent light quality over their full lifetime. This reduces the maintenance costs significantly.

The combination of efficiency, customization, advanced functionality, and longevity make LEDs the obvious lighting solution for horticulture operations.

Switch to LED grow lights

At Atop, we provide tailored LED lighting solutions to help your plants and business thrive.

As your partner, we offer:

• Innovative LED fixtures made with high-quality materials and components
• Customizable spectrum and design to optimize growth
• ODM and OEM service

Contact our lighting experts and let us help you grow faster, smarter, and more sustainably.