Posted by admin on January 26th, 2012 — Posted in Collector's Den, Science Portal, Stuff for Kids
PC Backup Software
In the end, you must realize that computers have now become a necessity in everyone’s daily activities. Think about all the potential headaches that will arise if you lose all the data on your computer. Negligence in this regard can not only cause you a great distress but can also inflict a loss of thousands of dollars. Therefore, there should be no excuse to avail of a good pc backup software program to safeguard all the data you need.
Insurance For A Silo Painter
A silo painter is someone who paints silos commonly found on farms and ranches. Silos are located everywhere around the world. This signifies that skilled silo painters are in demand worldwide. Since farm workers keep precious grains in silos, these constructions should be safe from the elements. And the structures should seem to be good and go with the surrounding. Silo painters are able to handle this job well. Painters of silos are also responsible for painting interiors.
Search Engine Optimization Quote
Businesses should never miss to get a Search engine optimization pricing when contemplating to have an official website. Search engines do not automatically list websites. Sites need to be submitted either by the website owner or by a technical representative. Until this happens, sites may not be indexed by the major search engines. Unless this happens, searchers cannot find a website on search engine results. Once indexing is done, the next technique will be to ascertain keywords that are mostly entered by searchers when finding the business.
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Posted by admin on May 29th, 2011 — Posted in Science Portal
A fine source of power can be utilized from the wind using electricity creating windmills. Below is a short recap of wind energy, and how it came to be. Wind energy has been harnessed for most many years. No-one knows definitely when man began to use the wind’s power to grind flour or pump water, but it is said the first windmill appeared in the Persian area. Windmills were certainly not the 1st structures to harness the wind. Quite likely, set up in little scale ( little canoe with an animal skin as a sail ) the sailboat became the sole way to cross massive areas of water. Windmills on a smaller scale showed up in America in the mid 19th Century. The Aermotor and Dempster design were invented and many are still in use. From 1850 to 1970 more than 6,000,000 windmills were installed in the U. S. . The key application was pumping water for stock and providing farm houses with a water supply. This windmill had a gearbox with a high spin proportion attached to a DC generator. These systems often had an one to three kilo watt output. It was called the Smith-Putnam machine. The rotor measured an astounding 175 feet in diameter. Today, many turbines are in operation from tiny scale home systems that are reasonable to the householder to massive scale wind turbine farms that are used to provision a big quantity of electricity to use purchasers. wind turbines
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Posted by admin on December 4th, 2010 — Posted in Best Real Estate Resources, Science Portal
Ground source heat pumps have been established for some time now, however plenty of people really don’t understand how they function. These extremely versatile tools are not just capable to create warmness to the house, but is capable of doing other activities also. The systems behind this idea actually takes heat from the ground and supplies it directly to any building as a way to offer a method to warm the selected space. What’s more, this type of tool will in addition pre-heat hot water, lowering the load on that appliance. Even though the concept guiding ground source heat pumps is simple, the whole process is reasonably complicated. First of all, there has to be a spot of land that is ready for digging. Here trenches are dug so as to conceal a few pipes. A variety of antifreeze and water then is used to fill the pipes. A pump consequently circulates this concoction via the web of pipes where it actually takes up heat from the ground. You will discover 3 main pieces that make up heat pumps. In order they are the evaporator, the compressor and the condenser. Part one is the evaporator which gets the water in the ground loop and gets rid of heat from this combination of liquid. The compressor subsequently takes a gas refrigerant and brings it to the temperature that is needed in order for the heat distribution portion of the pump to work. The condenser is the last component of this chain to be put to operate. This is when the hot water tank is fed which consequently is ready to supply the distribution to the rest of the system. The actual flow of heat from the pump is the final stage in the procedure and it entails various kinds of heating solutions. This could mean a space heating model or even under the floor radiant style heat. There is also the possibility for a hot water storage unit to be implemented also. There are many considerations when carrying out this sort of house development and they involve some major places of the house and yard. It’s important to bear in mind all of the factors prior to the installation commences to be able to avoid wasting money on something which can’t be completed. Step one is to look at the necessary spot of land that is necessary for the underground pipes. If this is not big enough, the project can’t even be began. The area has to be rid of any obstructions, such as tree stumps, big rocks and utility lines that can obstruct the task. Plus the installation itself generally costs a lot of money as well. Ground source heat pumps are one of the most frequent ways of heating in the non-urban regions of the U.S. They are able to produce a rate of return of 4 to 1 when the device is running economically. Another bonus is that it can be used to cool a house during the summertime. This can save the utility bills over the long haul. For families, this can mean savings when compared with traditional fossil fuel sources.Discover additional information with regards to ground source heat pumps at http://www.geothermalint.co.uk/ground-source-heat-pumps/
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Posted by admin on November 18th, 2010 — Posted in Best Real Estate Resources, Lots Of Technology Resources, Science Portal
The environmentally friendly production of warmth brings about hardly any to absolutely no damage to the planet - just visualize clean warmth. There are a number of procedures to take a look at if you’re contemplating the eco friendly plan to warming a house. There’s a noteworthy additional benefit to warming the eco friendly way, you minimize fuel rates. We will go over three green practices of warming a house: pellet stoves, solar energy and geothermal heat pumps .
Pellet Stoves use sawdust or switchgrass tablets as fuel. Sawdust is a wood waste and switchgrass is deficient in ample nutrients for farming. So, the truth is, you’re make use of of dumped by-products. Pellets require less storage space than cored wood and give off less pollution and carbon dioxide than most wood stoves. There are no hazardous gases associated with the burning of pellets. One ton of pellets equates to the same warmth time as one core of wood.
Apart from the financial strain linked to the construction of an active solar heating system, solar energy costs barely anything . The suns energy is obtained in a metal panel with a glass top. The sun shines in and in doing so, captures and warms up the air. The heat is then transferred to pipes loaded with liquid or air tubes and is then transferred all around the property using pumps or fans. As minor as 2 hours of direct natural light a day, can warmth a house.
Geothermal heat pumps, or GSHP (ground source heat pump), depends on a gentle underground heat to pump heat to and from the earth. Geothermal power removes warmth from the ground or the air. On the grounds that the warmth originates from the centre of the Earth, no energy conversion is compulsory. A heat pump can give both heating and cooling possibilities. When used as a warmth pump, the outside coil is the evaporator, and the inside coil is the condenser; and, the complete opposite is true during the cooling technique. Subject to your region, the Earths heat extends somewhere between 45 and 75 F. For each unit of heat taken from the earth, as much as six units of warmth are made. Heat pump advances has become of substantial attention due to expanding improvements to this house warming method. Though the system is not cheap, it is easily obtainable, pays for itself in as minor as 5 years, and is thought to be a helpful betterment to your house. You’ll see this reflected in your homes resale value, as well as improving its marketability.
When making a decision to warmth your home as environmentally friendly and cheap as is feasible, an assessment of particular effects from pellet stoves, solar heating and geothermal power must be made. Weigh the cost and the end result of each. In doing this, you’ll find the most effective and environmentally non-evasive process for heating your home.
Find more information about geothermal heat pumps at http://www.geothermalint.co.uk
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Posted by admin on October 21st, 2010 — Posted in Best Real Estate Resources, Science Portal
Geothermal energy is defined as the heat generated in the earth?s core since the planet?s source. This power originates from radioactive decay of a number of minerals underneath the earth?s crust and additionally from the solar energy consumed by the earth’s surface. The power presently, is used in industries, commercial enterprises and even in homes for numerous functions and is considered ecologically workable as it utilizes minimum exhaustible resources of the earth. The thermal performance of this power is additionally high as little or no energy conversion is needed during its use. Recently, geothermal energy gets ground as it’s being increasingly more utilized in heating and cooling of houses and offices. This process makes use of constant temperature of the earth to heat and cool residences and businesses with 40-70% less energy than standard systems. While regular heating and cooling devices burn fuel or consume electricity, the geothermal energy uses a much lesser volume of electricity only to pump out heat from the earth and then directly use the heat energy for air heating or cooling. Geothermal businesses provide ground source heat pumps, for air cooling and heating functions, which takes heat from ground or groundwater, thus lowering carbon dioxide emissions and electricity bills and improving ecological sustainability. Ground source heat pumps : ProcessAir cooling and heating by ground source heat pumps is a procedure which is greatly in vogue in the developed countries and is attaining a certain level of utilisation in developing nations too. The constant heat of the earth, at about 10 feet below the earth?s surface, remains around 50F, that is utilized by these pumps for the function. Air or anti-freeze liquids are usually pumped via the pipes that are buried underground and are re-circulated in the household or business building. In summer, the air or the anti-freeze liquid in the pipes of the ground source pumps draw out heat from the building and takes it underground through the pipes, therefore operating as air-coolers. During winter, it pulls the heat from underneath the earth?s surface area and supplies warm air or water to the building. The ground source heat pumps makes use of a closed loop principle of evaporation of water or liquid refrigerant (which boils at a lower temperature in comparison with water and therefore forms steam effectively), compression of the vapour formed and the subsequent condensation of the steam to water/liquid refrigerant for air cooling function. Therefore, in summary, geothermal energy is a noble way of energy utilisation in the modern world. The warrants of its use in the purpose of air cooling and heating are: 1. Geothermal energy, being a renewable source, can very easily be utilized over and over again and therefore lessens the risk of energy exhaustion in the future. 2. As a result of its sustainability and lesser degree of pollution (its use reduces carbon dioxide emissions in a big way), geothermal energy is viewed as ecologically feasible source of power. 3. This source of power is cost-effective and energy-efficient, making it reliable for future makes use of. With so many distinct reasons, there’s no question of why geothermal energy is rising in popularity.Learn more about Air Cooling solutions on the internet
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Posted by admin on September 23rd, 2010 — Posted in Better Home Improvement, Pets and Other Animals, Science Portal
One of the most insidious species of household pests,
termites, cause billions of dollars in household damage each year. Their main source of nutrients is wood, but they have also been known to feed on books, stray stacks of paper, insulation, and even filtration systems and swimming pool liners. Termites have the capacity to chew through living trees and shrubbery, but prefer to munch on rotting wood and half decomposing trunks and bark. While the threat of termites can come at any time, they are most prevalent during the spring, when winged colonies and swarms emerge inside homes. In nature, this process occurs in order to disseminate the species and begin new colonies. This biological instinct to fly is triggered by hotter temperatures and rain.
Termites can cause a significant financial impact to a homeowner. A termite inspection is often a mandatory condition in home sales, and could seriously affect the value of a home. Moreover, even those who are uninterested in selling a home could incur a number of costs in repairing and replacing damaged structures, not to mention the emotional impact of waking up one morning to find a cloud of a thousand flying termites buzzing about your living room, mating.
When a termite infestation is present, the best thing to do is turn to local pest control technician.
Massachusetts termite control can be handled by a number of home inspectors experienced with
wood-boring insects. They are trained to locate points of entry and shelters and calculate an estimate after inspection. Normally the inspection can be done for a nominal fee.
Full treatments will generally cost about $1500 to $2000. Most pest control operators will inject insecticide into the soil around the foundation and the interior perimeter. This creates a chemical wall on both sides, preventing the colony from leaving its nest. The chemicals pose little to no risk to the resident as they are designed to stay in the soil. If soil treatment is impossible due to the proximity of a water source, a termite control agent can discuss other options such as baiting. Avoid planting near treated soil, and replace all damaged structures. While they can feed on you emotionally, physically termites masticate rather slowly, so feel free to take your time and find the best termite control in Massachusetts to suit your needs.
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Posted by admin on September 23rd, 2010 — Posted in Better Home Improvement, Science Portal
The dwindling supply of fossil fuels are producing conventional techniques of heating houses and buildings non-viable. New, innovative methods are being borne to combat these issues and air source pumps and ground source heat pumps are but two of these solutions. They come at a price but new initiatives mean that funding is offered to make them operate for everyone. An air source heat pump is a kind of heating and cooling method that accomplishes its task by moving a chemical refrigerant via the pump’s coils and compressors. This enables for a similar effect as a refrigerator on a significantly larger scale. An air supply high temperature pump draws heat out of the air and funnels it into the home. You will find a few drawbacks in extremely cold weather. Nevertheless, the potency from the device may be improved by changing the type of refrigerant used. These units have an average coefficient of performance (COP) rating of 3 that can waver from a rating of four inside a mild climate to a rating of one in a extremely col one. The COP is determined by how a lot high temperature output is generated compared for the amount of electricity employed. Within the instance of a three rating the equipment generates three times as much high temperature as the quantity of electricity getting used. A ground source heat pump, which is also known as geothermal heat pumps, work in the manner comparable towards the air source heat pumps. The difference in their function is that ground source heat pumps are installed in the ground and are proven to be a lot more efficient. These kinds of heat transfer pumps generally preserve a three and a half to four score on the COP scale. Ground source heat pumps start out with a higher COP rating at the beginning of the heating and cooling system and gradually lower in efficiency as high temperature is transferred. nevertheless, they maintain their efficiency longer than air source heat pumps due towards the generally stable temperature from the earth at around eight feet below ground level. Installing either resource of heating can be quite costly. You will find many sources of funding to aid the individual or commercial enterprise in outfitting or retrofitting their homes and offices with such renewable heating and cooling sources. You can find a number of types of government sponsored funding within the United Kingdom that could be acquired by residential owners and commercial enterprises alike. These grants and funds are the Low Carbon Building Programme (LCBP), Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT), Community Energy Savings Programme (CESP), Scottish Community & Household Renewable Initiative (SCHRI), and the upcoming Renewable High temperature Incentive (RHI). With the available programmes most individual or commercial enterprises can afford to install a heat pump, whether it be an air source or ground source version. Find out more information about heat pumps
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Posted by admin on September 20th, 2010 — Posted in Hall Of Health, Science Portal
Breast Cancer Research
Breast cancer research is an ongoing global initiative. Medical centers around the world are studying the causes, prevention, detection, and treatment of breast cancer. Their efforts have led to breakthroughs in the following arenas:
Causes
- Smoking and Breast Cancer: On April 24, 2009, an international panel of researchers demonstrated that smoking is causally linked to breast cancer.
- Lifestyle Choices: Research has uncovered links between breast cancer development and certain lifestyle choices. The effects of weight gain or loss, diet, and exercise on breast cancer are the objects of ongoing research.
- Genetics: Research has determined that BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are causally linked to breast cancer.
- The Sister Study: The Sister Study is a long-term study funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). The study will follow 50,000 women for at least 10 years. In doing so, researchers will obtain volumes of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental date, which will help them identify the causes of breast cancer. For more information on the Sister Study, call1.877.4.SISTER (1.877.474.7837) or go to www.sisterstudy.org.
Prevention
- Chemoprevention: Several studies have indicated that selective estrogen-receptor modulators (SERMs) may reduce a woman’s breast cancer risk. Common SERMs include tamoxifen and raloxifene. These medicines may induce a wide variety of potentially serious side effects. As a result, chemoprevention is typically reserved for women with certain breast cancer risk factors. For more information about medicines used to reduce breast cancer risk, visit the American Cancer Society.
Detection
- Scintimammography: In this procedure, a radioactive tracer known as technetium sestamibi is injected into one of the patient’s veins. The tracer travels through the body and is absorbed by breast cancer cells. A special camera is used to observe whether or not the absorption takes place. Scintimammography research is ongoing and aimed at improving the imaging technology needed to make an accurate diagnosis.
- Tomosynthesis (3-D Mammography): In this procedure, a woman lies facedown on an examination table. The table has a hole in it through which on of the woman’s breasts will hang. An x-ray machine rotates around the hanging breast, capturing images from several angles. These images allow the breast to be viewed as many, thin slices, which can be assembled into a single 3-D picture.
- MRI-Assisted Breast Biopsy: This procedure allows physicians to obtain several tissue samples through a single small incision. With the aid of local anesthesia and an MRI machine for guidance, this diagnostic test makes it possible to study breast tissues in the laboratory without having to make invasive incisions.
Treatment
- Hypofractionated Radiation: Researchers are studying the effects of larger daily doses of radiation over a shorter period of time than the standard radiation schedule. Studies indicate that high-dose radiation over 3 weeks is about as effective as a traditional 5-weel radiation regimen.
- Vitamin D: A recent study identified a link between vitamin D deficiencies and cancer recurrence. More research is needed to better understand the effects of vitamin D on breast cancer.
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Posted by admin on September 1st, 2010 — Posted in Better Home Improvement, Science Portal
Geothermal power is defined as the heat produced in the earths core since the planets source. This power stems from radioactive decay of several minerals under the earths crust and additionally from the solar power consumed by the earth’s surface area. The energy at present, is utilized in industries, commercial enterprises and even in households for various functions and is considered ecologically viable as it utilizes minimal exhaustible resources of the earth. The thermal performance of this power is also high as little or no energy conversion is needed during its use.
Recently, geothermal energy gains ground as it’s being increasingly more utilized in heating and cooling of residences and offices. This process uses constant temperature of the earth to heat and cool residences and businesses with 40-70% less power than traditional systems. While standard heating and cooling units burn fuel or consume electricity, the geothermal energy makes use of a much lesser amount of electricity only to pump out heat from the earth and then directly use the heat power for air heating or cooling.
Geothermal businesses provide ground source heat pumps, for air cooling and heating functions, that takes heat from ground or groundwater, thus lowering carbon dioxide emissions and electricity bills and improving ecological sustainability.
Ground source heat pumps : Process
Air cooling and heating by ground source heat pumps is a process that is completely in vogue in the developed countries and is attaining a certain level of utilisation in developing nations also. The continuous heat of the earth, at about 10 feet below the earths surface area, continues to be around 50F, which is used by these pumps for the purpose. Air or anti-freeze liquids are typically pumped via the pipes that are buried underground and are re-circulated in the household or office. In summer, the air or the anti-freeze liquid in the pipes of the ground source pumps get heat from the building and takes it underground through the pipes, therefore operating as air-coolers. During winter, it draws the heat from under the earths surface and supplies warm air or water to the building.
The ground source heat pumps utilizes a closed loop principle of evaporation of water or liquid refrigerant (that boils at a lower temperature when compared with water and therefore forms steam effectively), compression of the vapour formed and the following condensation of the steam to water/liquid refrigerant for air cooling purpose.
Therefore, in a nutshell, geothermal power is a commendable way of energy use in the modern day world. The value of its use in the purpose of air cooling and heating are:
1. Geothermal power, being a renewable source, can effortlessly be used over and over again and therefore lowers the risk of power exhaustion in the long term.
2. As a result of its sustainability and lesser degree of pollution (its use reduces carbon dioxide emissions in a large way), geothermal power is viewed as ecologically viable source of energy.
3. This source of energy is cost-effective and energy-efficient, making it reliable for future utilizes.
With so many distinct reasons, there’s no question of why geothermal power is rising in popularity.
Discover more about Air Cooling solutions online
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Posted by admin on June 1st, 2010 — Posted in Science Portal
In some dictionaries life is defined, as a power that demonstrates a purpose to feed, process matter into energy, grow, and reproduce. Life means existence, a state of being. No matter how we look at the definitions, one thing is clear: life is the energy driving the universe and all its happenings, and for humans and all the living organisms, life, or being alive, is a force entirely dependent on special factors such as air, water, light and much more elements that interact to support existence in all its forms and each of them is equally important for the survival of the species…
All these resources are an abundant presence on Earth, but nothing can last forever. Polluted water is not usable, air is itself contaminated on many parts of the Globe, mineral resources are non-renewable and light… natural light has its benefits but also it can constitute a danger for the species if we consider the UV emissions reaching Earth’s atmosphere.
Light influences all life on Earth directly or indirectly. Plants need light for photosynthesis, therefore for growing and in exchange they forward their energy to the animals that consume them. At the same time animals need light for a harmonious evolution and even nocturnal ones require some low level illumination. Lack of natural light causes various disorders by people and the same happens by plants and animals.
UV light can harm living organisms in several ways. For example plants overexposed to UV light reduce size and are more susceptible to specific diseases. The light coming direct from the sun sends to earth three types of ultraviolet: UV-A (380-315 nm), UV-B (315-280 nm) and UV-C (280-10 nm). Due to the absorption in the atmosphere’s ozone layer, 99% of the ultraviolet light that reaches the Earth’s surface is UV-A.
While UV-A causes plants only a little harm, UV-B, which is a shorter wavelength, can damage plant tissue and in humans it can cause skin cancer. UV-C is the part from the UV spectrum with the shortest wavelength and all bacteria and virus get deadly sunburn in an artificial UV-C filter system. Certainly UV light has its paradoxes: even if it is harmful in one way, it is useful in another. Medicine is using this artificial UV light to cure difficult skin conditions such as psoriasis eczema, lymphoma, acne, a-topic dermatitis, and so on.
Fact is that plants don’t need too much UV light, on the contrary. This is why crop production with artificial light means that will eliminate the dangerous UV emissions seems to be the next logical step.
Growing Plants Technology - Crop Production Systems
The target of crop production systems is to develop innovative technologies that lower the costs of harvest and ensure ecologically aware crop farming.
The crop production systems do not disregard important factors that influence plant development: temperature, humidity, light, carbon dioxide, water and nutrients. All these blend to create the ideal environment for a plant to grow and reproduce as well as they influence size, seeds, plant health and so on. Each plant will progress in its own manner, depending on the environment. Since a long time already biologists are studying the factors that influence vegetation’s evolution. Light is a very important factor and researchers were able to determine exactly which wavelengths are the ones plants need for their growth. Some colours in light rays are essential for good plant evolution. Vegetation mirror and receive a small amount of energy from yellow and green emissions of the visible spectrum. However the red and blue fractions of the light continuum are the most valuable energy resources for plant life, and plants necessitate more red (625 to 675 nm) than blue (400 to 470nm). Yellow (525 nm) triggers photosynthesis too, while IR influences seed spurring and UV colour and scent.
How Light Colour Influences Plant Growth
Blue light: plants react to the intensity of blue light. Lessening the blue light will cause poor growth - the strength of the radiation in any other part of the spectrum is not as important as the intensity of the blue, which shapes height and quality.
Red (660 nm) and infrared (730 nm) (also known as IR or far red) light: Intensifying the total of IR in relation with 660 nm red makes plants grow tall and thin. On the other hand if red is increased while IR diminished, plants will be short but thick. Plant reactions are not linear with the red/far red ratio and they can also vary in their response to red and far red light.
Ultraviolet light (UV): While overexposure is dangerous, small amounts of UV light can be beneficial for the flora. In many cases UV light is a very important cause for colours, taste and aroma. But UV-C and UV-B are believed to stop plant spread and this is why they have to be removed from the light under which plants are developed in green houses by UV stabilisers or glass. Removal of the UV up to 400nm is might be effective also in case of virus carrier insects (as insects see partly in UV).
Direct light from the Sun distributes the useful wavelengths only on special times of the day and in small quantum enough for a harmonious growth in some parts of the Earth, yet not enough on others.
Crop production systems are dealing with such problems and find ways to replace natural light with artificial light. The idea of growing plants under artificial illuminators is not new at all. Long time ago NASA started to grow plants in space, and the results were astonishing. Nowadays we know that by using the correct wavelength plants develop harmonious and healthy, sure if they have all the other conditions ensured. Yet getting light of the correct wavelength is not an easy task, especially if one takes into account the costs and efficiency of such light sources.
LED Lighting Technologies to Substitute Natural Light
To substitute natural light is quite difficult also if you consider how hard it is to obtain light near the visible part of the spectrum with traditional luminaries. Light emitting diodes are here to change that difficulty.
SSL (solid state lighting) is the youngest lighting technology and by now is believed to be more efficient than incandescence and fluorescence due to the fact that SSLs produce light at or near the visible part of the spectrum and as a result the emitted light can be used straight or with minor conversion. One of the most important advantages is that SSL technology has eliminated damaging components from the light sources (remember: light emitting diodes contain no ultraviolet unless they are produced as UV LEDs).
NASA is already using SSL in its space farming systems. The reasons are quite simple: incandescent or fluorescent lamps are not efficient enough for such purposes, because they consume a lot of electrical power, generate heat and contain electrodes that burn out (maintenance costs are high). This is why NASA’s plant physiologists started to work with light emitting diodes (blue and red) to grow salad plants such as lettuce and radishes. The researchers found our that blue and red light is essential for plant growth and, in general, a percentage of 8% blue LEDs and 92% red LEDs, both with the same frequency and relative intensity per LED, are enough for a harmonious evolution. Blue has a smaller influence than red; however a percentage between 1% and 20% of blue light can be selected, depending on the plants and their growth requirements. The NASA scientists have tried to create the most cost and energy efficient light sources possible, and this is why they have eliminated from the fixtures other colours normally found in white light. “What we’ve found basically is that we are able to limit the amount of colour we give to the plants and still have them grow as well as with white light.” said the research scientist Greg Goins of Dynamac Corp. LEDs are not the only ones efficient for growing plants: sulphur microwave lamps are the most efficient light sources known to man, that can generate as much light as the noonday sun, perfect for illuminating large-scale systems such as greenhouses. For smaller applications, such as indoor gardens, LEDs seem to be the right choice.
Pros and Contras LED Grow Light Systems
There are some pro and contras when it comes to LED grow light systems. When planning such farming alternatives, one has to carefully consider that plants do use light at all wavelengths from UV to IR, as explained above, needed to convert water and carbon dioxide into sugars. Some plants use more red and blue, less green and yellow, while others use green as much as they use red and blue, as well as the light in between. If LEDs are chosen for brightness, there is one aspect to be underlined: they just look bright because their light is unidirectional and their size is small. To get enough light there are many LEDs needed, that’s why the cost of LED arrays or LED modules is so high. LEDs can be calibrated to emit only the light most efficient for the plants, but not all the light plants need. This is why such light sources are recommended only in places where direct light from the sun is not enough or inexistent - space farming for example. Also in places where light from the sun is too strong and can harm the plants with the high emission of UV, LEDs are a good choice, because UV filters are stopping some of the useful wavelengths too. In wintertime the weather conditions restrain crop production; this is why greenhouses need a substitute for the natural light. It makes sense to deliver plants the minimum lighting conditions for a corresponding evolution.
There are some significant factors to take into account when choosing light sources for such applications and these are low costs, energy efficiency, long life, and ability to withstand voltage fluctuations, modularity in order to grant users the possibility to assemble arrays that gives as much light as needed, where needed. LEDs are pretty efficient in the conversion of electric power to light, in any case more than traditional fluorescent and incandescent lamps. Due to the fact that light emitting diodes can be manufactured to emit a specific wavelength and are expected to have a long life span (from 50000 hours up), many plant physiologists are considering using them in large applications. Compared to LEDs most of the other traditional lamps have to be replaced every two-three years. Other features such as choice of viewing angles, control options, instant turn on times, cold start and much more, recommend the semiconductor devices. At present this is still an expensive technology, but in time LEDs efficiency will be maximized while prices reduced and these details are a good base for future planning.
My-tronic GmbH to Produce LED Grow Light Systems on Request
It is so far clear that in order to produce efficient LED grow light systems a lot of investigation is necessary. It is not enough to mount some blue and red LEDs on a PCB and say: “that’s it; we’ve got the plant growing LED system”. NASA created only a mechanism that delivers the minimum amount of light needed for some plants. For greenhouses on Earth other questions need to be answered: how much blue, how much red? What about the other colours, what about UV and IR? Should the light pulse? Should it be dimmed in the morning and evening to imitate natural conditions (sunrise and sunset?). Do plants need light at night? And the list remains opened.
At my-tronic GmbH there are no plant physiologists, but only engineers ready to bring their technical expertise to scientists in order to build the best light sources for LED plant growth systems. The domain is still new and can be considered a challenge for any researcher. Still my-tronic’s engineers know exactly which are the LEDs’ limitations, what can be done with such devices and what not. And the company’s motto: “bringing light in your lives” is also a statement of commitment to life and development.
About the Author
Mihaela Lica started her career as a reporter for the National Romanian Radio Station, worked as a PR Referent in a bank, later used to work as a military journalist for the Romanian MoD and now she is the PR and Media Manager for the German company my-tronic GmbH.
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