Green Tips for Your Nursery/Commercial Greenhouse Business

Operating a nursery or commercial greenhouse can require a considerable amount of resources. From energy conservation to water conservation, eco-friendly initiatives that reduce resource use are a great strategy for reducing your most significant overhead costs. Here are some tips from the Green Business Bureau for bringing sustainability to your greenhouse facility:

1. Monitor for irrigation system problems: Make sure all employees are trained to watch for leaks and other irrigation problems, and replace washers, hoses, pipes, and sprinklers as soon as leaks are noticed.

2. Hydrozone your plants: By creating separate irrigation zones for plants that require different watering practices, you’ll be able to avoid excessive watering.

3. Choose fans that meet AMCA standards: When replacing the fans at your commercial greenhouse, select equipment that meets AMCA standards, and make sure your fans’ Ventilation Efficiency Ratio (VER) is higher than 15.

4. Install under-bench heating: These systems generally allow air-circulated heating systems to be set 5 degrees to 10 degrees F lower, and can even provide all of your spring and fall heating needs in most climates.

5. Practice Integrated Pest Management : An Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach can reduce the presence of insects, pests, and plant disease while also lessening reliance on chemical pesticides.