Setting up an indoor cannabis grow facility? Here’s what you need to know.
Just ten years ago, the idea that large-scale cannabis cultivation would be a legitimate business in many parts of the United States was almost laughable. Yet here we are. The people have spoken, and they’re saying they want legal, high-quality, professionally-grown cannabis. And that demand is expected to grow, which means the demand for modern, efficient, and controlled growing environments will only increase.
But designing these environments is no easy thing. Indoor grow facilities have very specific—and often very demanding—requirements for humidity and temperature control that change as plants grow and develop. Any system design will have to account for the role of photosynthesis in the plant development lifecycle.
That’s why HVAC designers must take a comprehensive approach to determine the loads their indoor climate control systems will have to monitor and manage.
If you want to achieve tight environmental control while keeping operating costs as low as possible, you’ll need to focus on three key HVAC design considerations foremost in your mind:
- the evaporative cooling-off effect of the plants;
- vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and equipment sizing;
- and mitigating mold and mildew through airflow design.
By focusing on these three factors during the HVAC design process, you can ensure your recommended solution is appropriately sized.
As the cannabis market matures and competition tightens, minimizing operating costs becomes a matter of survival. A well-designed HVAC system can make all the difference.
