In 2004, MetaEfficient.com pre-reviewed the AeroGrow aeroponics growing system. That was before the system was released. A couple of years ago, you couldn’t cut on your TV without seeing an ad for AeroGrow indoor gardening systems. It isn’t as ubiquitously advertised now, but it hasn’t disappeared from the market. In fact, five years after its initial release, there are several …
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Chinese Design Winner: High-Rise With Vertical Hydroponics
This apartment high-rise concept won a sustainable housing award recently in China. It integrates a vertical greenhouse into the high-rise. Designed by Knafo Klimor Architects, the “agro-housing” concept allows the residents to produce their own food, reducing commuting needs and providing a green neighbourhood. The greenhouse is a multi-floor structure for cultivation of crops such as vegetables, fruits, flowers and …
SmartGardens: Automated Growing
SmartGardens are specially designed gardens that automatically water and feed plants without the need for pumps, timers and nutrient monitoring. They incorporate a watering system called a SmartValve, which enables the plants to be gravity fed, instead of through a pump. This means there is no need for a reservoir below the garden to capture runoff. There are some more …
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LED Lights: Efficient Indoor Growing
LED grow lights are a good choice if you are interested in growing indoors without a lot of hassle. Traditional grow lights generate a lot of heat and use large amounts of electricity, which raises your monthly electric bill by noticeable amounts. These LED grow lights stay cool, and use only a minuscule amount of energy.
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Red LEDs to Grow Lettuce
Apparently red LEDs are 60% more efficient than fluorescent light when growing vegetables hydroponically. According to IEEE Spectrum Online: Of all the colors of the rainbow, red is lettuce’s favorite. Chlorophyll, the electrochemical engine of photosynthesis, runs on red photons. So if you are growing the vegetable indoors in a factory, why waste energy on colors you don’t need?
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Self-Regulating Aeroponics System: AeroGrow
We don’t usually feature products that are prototypes or not yet on the market, but this aeroponics system looks quite intriguing. It is due to be released in the next month of so, and it is aimed to take aeroponics to the mass consumer market. Aeroponics is similar to hydroponics, but the roots of the plants are exposed to the …
