Few things are costlier than a structural error. Overcorrecting for poor design can cost your cannabis operation more in the long run. Adam Chalasinski of RBI answers some questions about common mistakes growers have made when designing a structure.
Cannabis Business Times: What do growers forget to consider when building a structure (water sources, aisle space, etc.)?
Adam Chalasinksi, RBI: There are a handful of factors grower should keep in mind, including their:
- Processing
- Integrated Pest Management
- Water management and regular maintenance - the sizes of water storage tanks. These tanks can quickly grow quite large, especially in water-recirculation systems.
- Customers often make the mistake of building a greenhouse with a headhouse that is too small. When it comes to cannabis the structure itself is a relatively small cost.
- Cooling and dehumidification requirements - whether the location for their greenhouse will be able to use fan and pad cooling. Mechanical cooling is one of the biggest costs.
CBT: What’s the biggest challenge of transitioning from indoor grows to greenhouse?
AC: Building, maintaining and operating a greenhouse is fundamentally different from an indoor grow. In a greenhouse, you are essentially outside. People have trouble with this. Most warehouse growers when they move to a greenhouse want to zone everything off. In their greenhouse grow area, they will want to build up lots of walls to have different environmental zones. This is not a good idea for greenhouses, as you lose a lot of room and energy. You’ll also face less protection from outside heat; a smaller R value, meaning greater heat gain or loss; offset by free light; and more bugs in the greenhouse. You’ll need to invest time and research into preventative matters, such as beneficial insects, sprays, insect screens, etc. Instead, you'll want to build open zones.
CBT: Do growers typically plan their structures for expansion? How can they do this?
AC: Yes, with how the cannabis laws are being written, most growers are looking at obtaining expansion licenses (think phase 1, 2, 3, etc.). Knowing of a future expansion during design allows for the consideration of larger-capacity equipment that will cost more up-front, but ultimately save money once the time comes to expand. When doing expansions, a cost-savings measure is to size all expensive equipment to handle the larger load, as one big unit will be cheaper than two small units. Typical equipment that fits under this category are controlled injectors, UV sanitization, reverse osmosis filters, boilers and controls computers. Another way customers can save money and hassle is by creating a headhouse area large enough for the expansion, so that there is room for new equipment (tanks, etc.).
CBT: Why can't growers go with a one-size-fits-all option?
AC: Growers must consider different market demands, as well as:
- Different delta T (?T = difference in temperature. If it is 15°F outside and it needs to be 80°F inside, you have a ?T of 65°F) to maintain temperature; and
- Different humidity ranges, which can result in the need for additional dehumidification or humidification units.
Not all growers are the same, nor do they use all the same cannabis strains. Many growers and customers prefer a personalized solution to fit their needs. Many growers also have different cultivation techniques and differing levels of experience. Another large factor is how much money they’re willing to spend. More initial cost will always get you a combination of better cannabis quality and lower operational costs. Another aspect is regulations are different in each state.
Overall, you can say that it all comes down to the local climate and other conditions. If you get less sun in the winter, you will need more/different lights. If it is humid year-round, you will need an entirely different type of cooling system. If you only have access to well water, you may need to pre-treat incoming fresh water. There are a ton of variables that, if you want the ideal growing environment 24/7/365, must be considered and designed around.