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Post by lynnee on Mar 17, 2024 13:43:15 GMT -5
As electricity rates continue to soar in California, I'm wondering whether my AG plants will do okay if their hours of light are moved outside the peak rate hours? For me, that's 5-8 pm on weekdays. Yesterday I set my AG lights to turn off at 5 pm, which mostly means the lights come on at 11 pm. I wonder what the neighbors will think of this? Also, I wonder whether the plants will be shocked by the light coming on at what used to be their bedtime? For them, this is kind of a standard to daylight savings time switch on steroids, so I won't be surprised if the plants sulk for a while. It'll be a few weeks before I can see from our electricity usage graphs whether any significant amount of electricity has been shifted out of the peak period. Any speculative thoughts, anybody?  |
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maskedsonnet
AGA Farmer
Without the burden of comparison, everything is beautiful
Posts: 1,607
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Post by maskedsonnet on Mar 17, 2024 16:00:40 GMT -5
For a while I had several gardens set to come on at night instead of during the day, starting around 6pm I think. Did it so I'd have a couple of "night lights" in that room. The plants did just as well as the daylight hours plants, but I also didn't switch it while they were still growing, I started them out that way.
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pfunnyjoy
AGA Bounty
Made more grow room in my office!
Posts: 777 
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Post by pfunnyjoy on Mar 18, 2024 15:48:51 GMT -5
As electricity rates continue to soar in California, I'm wondering whether my AG plants will do okay if their hours of light are moved outside the peak rate hours? For me, that's 5-8 pm on weekdays. Yesterday I set my AG lights to turn off at 5 pm, which mostly means the lights come on at 11 pm. I wonder what the neighbors will think of this? Also, I wonder whether the plants will be shocked by the light coming on at what used to be their bedtime? For them, this is kind of a standard to daylight savings time switch on steroids, so I won't be surprised if the plants sulk for a while. It'll be a few weeks before I can see from our electricity usage graphs whether any significant amount of electricity has been shifted out of the peak period. Any speculative thoughts, anybody?  Well, it's not a bad thing having lights go on that are visible from outside the home. May deter thieves, as they might figure someone is a night owl. As to whether it will bother the plants, I shouldn't think it would be too big of a deal. Even outdoors there are days that are dark and stormy with little sun, and plants have to adjust. I think it makes great sense to stay outside the peak rate hours where electricity is expensive! |
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Post by lynnee on Mar 30, 2024 12:12:36 GMT -5
The tomatoes, lettuce, and peas seem to have adapted to the new lighting schedule. They're growing again. Their "overnight" growth isn't as obvious as it was when they went to bed and got up with me. Now they wake up at 1 or 2 am, when I'm asleep, and they've been awake for several hours when I get up.  |
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Post by scarfguy on Mar 30, 2024 12:20:44 GMT -5
The tomatoes, lettuce, and peas seem to have adapted to the new lighting schedule. They're growing again. Their "overnight" growth isn't as obvious as it was when they went to bed and got up with me. Now they wake up at 1 or 2 am, when I'm asleep, and they've been awake for several hours when I get up.
Add it to the bowl!  |
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Post by lynnee on Apr 16, 2024 10:51:30 GMT -5
Always the comedian, scarfguy! Turns out that it was definitely worthwhile to switch the AGs to ElST (Electricity Savings Time). This month's electric bill reported peak electricity usage as 8.82% of total usage, which is down from 11.02% the previous month. Given California's very high electricity rates, this is a savings of about $9.50 this month. 
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Post by scarfguy on Apr 16, 2024 12:24:07 GMT -5
Always the comedian, scarfguy ! Turns out that it was definitely worthwhile to switch the AGs to ElST (Electricity Savings Time). This month's electric bill reported peak electricity usage as 8.82% of total usage, which is down from 11.02% the previous month. Given California's very high electricity rates, this is a savings of about $9.50 this month.
Wow! I never would have thought it would be that significant. Good information, Thanks for the experiment
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