Southwestern Ontario greenhouses to receive new incentives for LED upgrades

The province is offeringnew incentives to intended to make greenhouses moregreen.

Ontario's Ministry of Energy said last week that up to$136 million will be invested to help greenhouse operators in southwestern Ontarioimprove energy efficiency by making changes likeswitching their lights to LEDs.

While the details surrounding the incentives aren't yet known, Joe Sbrocchi, general manager of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, said the funding showsthat the government recognizesthat greenhouses are one type of "farming of the future."

Sbrocchi said about 70 per cent of new greenhouses have LEDs already.

LISTEN | Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers General Manager Joe Sbrocchi talking about switching lights in greenhouses to LEDs:

According to Sbrocchi, LEDs use less energy, meaning they would be cheaper to operate. They are flexible with how they can be programmed to follow a specific lighting recipe for the crops they illuminate.

Traditional greenhouse lights include high-pressure sodium (HPS) lights. They require more electricity to operate, though they do also help keep the greenhouses warm, he explained.

Sbrocchi saidolder facilities did not initially switch to LEDs due to high costs and the technology not being readily available.

"The cost differential has come down quite a bit," he said.

Switching to LED lights from more traditional lighting sources will not make a noticeable difference in terms of how much light is seenoutside the greenhouses, according to Sbrocchi.

As well, the amount of light greenhouses can emitislimited due to bylaws in municipalities such asLeamington.

"There's a lot more [light] being blocked through curtains and things of that nature," he said.

The program was announced Tuesday along with anumber ofother new programs aimed at energy efficiency.Theyinclude anincentive for residentialcustomers to run their air conditioning less in the summer.The provincial government said the programs would cut greenhouse gas emissions by three million tonnes over 20 years.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the ministry saidthat supportfor greenhouses will come in the form of incentives to install LEDsand controls for lighting and environmental systems, including the option for incentives for solar generation.

"This would reduce local peak demand, offsetting the need for new generation resources and saving growers money on their bills," thespokesperson said.

In an emailed statement to CBC News, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said the wider announcement "is a win-win for residents and businesses in Windsor-Essex."