HVAC-D For Cannabis
When evaluating HVAC-D for Cannabis, the primary considerations are typically cost, reliability, efficiency, and functionality. Cost considerations can be broken into upfront costs and ongoing costs, with upfront costs being variable based on contractor discretion in your local area. With EasyRoots high efficiency equipment, the total cost of ownership is quickly driven down by rebates, a formal bidding process, and reduced power consumption. With high efficiency equipment also comes reliability. The ability to ramp up or down based on demand, as opposed to on or off style conventional equipment, saves wear and tear on the equipment extending the functional life. This is backed up by standard 10+ year manufacturer equipment warranties. Finally, HVAC for cannabis cultivation should have precision control, giving the grower the ability to maintain target temperature and humidity over varying water rates and plant growth stages.
Frequently Asked Questions
How important is HVAC for cannabis?
HVAC is vital in a cannabis grow. Without properly engineered climate control, you leave your crops to nature's seasonal impacts in regards to quality, yield potential, and pest mitigation. A cannabis grow is a very unique environment and special considerations need to be taken to maintain the preferred temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels.
Most growers will want different set points between “Day” and “Night” (Or lights On vs. lights OFF), where temperatures are higher during the Day period and lower at Night to simulate a natural environment. This creates two very different environments within the same room, which is an unparalleled engineering challenge of critical importance.
If accounted for correctly, HVAC for cannabis allows for a predictable year around production and the ability to optimize THC or CBD potency. The difference in quality between indoor climate controlled cannabis flower and greenhouse or outdoor cannabis is substantial, and made possible with HVAC designed for indoor cultivation.
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Why is HVAC so important for cannabis cultivation?
Without climate control, you limit production to one harvest during the summer, and leave your crops to nature's inconsistencies and variability. Maintaining temperature, humidity, VPD, and CO2 levels are critical to producing the best cannabis.
Furthermore, homogenizing the grow room and adjusting the climate through an internet enabled control system allows the grower to find the right settings to optimize the conditions and therefore the yields. Such monitoring and control systems can collect environmental control data that can be used to analyze the performance of specific strains under varying conditions.
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How much is a cannabis HVAC system?
The cost of an HVAC system will depend on multiple factors. This includes the type of building, the location of the grow, the amount and type of lights, and the watering schedule. The cost of an HVAC will vary depending on the climate requirements of grower running the cultivation operations. From ductless heat pumps to high efficiency VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow), Easy Roots offers a variety of options for every price range.
Most equipment will range from $500 per ton to as high as $5,000+ per ton. The lower end of that range typically has critical HVAC components like low ambient cooling omitted, and will be inadequate for your grow facility. The higher end of that range is equipment with far too big of a markup and not justifiable. Easy Root’s HVAC offerings range from as low as $1,000 / ton to as high as $3,000 / ton, with a good portion of those costs offset with high efficiency equipment rebates.
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How much energy will a cannabis HVAC system take?
There are many different options for HVAC. All equipment will have different efficiency ratings. These typically are shown as SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) or IEER (Integrated Energy Efficiency Rating) ratings standardized by ASHRAE that denote a Btu’s produced per Watts consumed metric. The higher the value, the more efficient the equipment. VRF is the most efficient air source heating and cooling option for cannabis.
Upgrades to water source equipment are available, but at a substantial cost with only seasonal benefits to an indoor grow environment.
Making the system ductless improves efficiency by eliminating resistance to airflow.
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How do I design an HVAC system for commercial cannabis?
A commercial cannabis facility requires a fair amount of engineering work to design an HVAC system. Factors that go into mechanical engineering for a grow are identifying and accounting for heat loads and target climate parameters. The sensible heat load from the lights and the latent heat load from plant transpiration are the primary contributors. Adding to that, getting air flow optimized to simulate wind and produce plants strong enough to nurture plentiful flowers is a key factor.
There are also weight constraints which often impact how much capacity can be put in a room based on the structural load of the building it's in. The indoor air handlers are less than 100lbs and shorter than 15” tall preserving valuable grow space.
Another common problem is not having enough electrical capacity for the amount of HVAC capacity needed to maintain an optimal environment. Having efficient equipment can help to navigate electrical constraint. The higher the efficiency, the lower the electric required to power the HVAC system.
Both structural and electrical constraints are why Easy Root’s VRF is gaining popularity within the Cannabis cultivation industry.
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How do I size my cannabis HVAC system?
A cannabis HVAC system takes many different inputs to decide how much capacity is needed. This includes the type and amount of lights, the growing medium, the watering schedule, the type and orientation of building, and the target temperatures and humidities (Or Vapor Pressure Deficit, VPD). Our engineers will be able to take all of these into account and properly size the system based on the preferred climate set points.
It is important the design takes into effect how equipment will work together based on different conditions. During lights on the cooling system will have a lot of control on the humidity, but when lights go off dehumidifiers take over. Also understanding how changing temperature and humidity levels affect how equipment performs is critical to making sure the correct type and quantity of equipment is in the grow room.
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Why is ductless HVAC good for a cannabis grow facility?
Ductless HVAC has many advantages over ducted systems. These include improved airflow, less surface area to collect dust and water, lower installation costs, and a simplified construction process with fewer and smaller wall or roof penetrations.
It's a common misconception having air handlers in the room violates GMP protocols. Ductless units allow the room to be closed to outside air and condition only the air in the room. This allows the room to be completely sealed thereby keeping odors in and pests out. Ductless HVAC in your grow room can also simplify the cleaning and preventative maintenance process.
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