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Hi everyone,
I'm a small grower in the UK, where the prices of electricity are supposed to be riased more than 50% at the end of Feb 2022.
For me this puts my cost per oz production nearly to the point where it is not cost effective for me to grow anymore, and will definately put a strain on the household finances, so I would like to know if you have any tips or tricks to keep the electricity costs down.
Basically I have a small 250w HPS, a couple of bar heaters for when it gets too cold, internal 5" fan, and 5" extraction. I know it may not seem a lot to some of you with quite large grows & hydro pumps etc, but I would still like to reduce my footprint.
I assume that changing from HPS to LED would make quite a difference to the end bill, as this is the main culprit for overall consumption & is on constantly 20 /4? I know that not all LEDs are made equal, so what should I be looking out for efficiency wise if I raise the cash to purchase one? I have been offered a few LEDs on Instagram, but have never took them up as I didn't want to accept some crap thing. Are there certain words or levels I should look out for?
I have thought about going back into growing regular canna, as I will have to flip onto 12/12 for over half its life (saving 8hrs of leccy a day). I'll have to figure out if the increased flowering time eats up those additional hours
My extraction is on 24x7, and is already on a step controller at the lowest setting apart from in full flower. I don't think it would be a good idea to have this on a on / off cycle, as it is the only barrier between my plants and the police at the door. If anyone does cycle their extraction without releasing any smell I would like to hear about it.
Heaters are only used when it gets below a certain temp, so that is an easier fix by not growing when it's winter like I currently do. It will of course reduce my growing year to 2 x 12 week grows, but that's a consession I will probably have to make.
Fans can be put on a timer. Normally I would leave them on all the time, but is there a better / worse time for not running them, or a cycle others use?
Unfortunately growing outside is not an option where I live, and I'm a bit too old and feeble to be using derelict spaces around motorways and the like.
So if you would, please put up your cost savers. I'm not bothered if it doesn't relate to my grow specifically, but just what you do to reduce costs & possibly help out some others who are going to be in a simular position. Cheers all
I'm a small grower in the UK, where the prices of electricity are supposed to be riased more than 50% at the end of Feb 2022.

Basically I have a small 250w HPS, a couple of bar heaters for when it gets too cold, internal 5" fan, and 5" extraction. I know it may not seem a lot to some of you with quite large grows & hydro pumps etc, but I would still like to reduce my footprint.
I assume that changing from HPS to LED would make quite a difference to the end bill, as this is the main culprit for overall consumption & is on constantly 20 /4? I know that not all LEDs are made equal, so what should I be looking out for efficiency wise if I raise the cash to purchase one? I have been offered a few LEDs on Instagram, but have never took them up as I didn't want to accept some crap thing. Are there certain words or levels I should look out for?
I have thought about going back into growing regular canna, as I will have to flip onto 12/12 for over half its life (saving 8hrs of leccy a day). I'll have to figure out if the increased flowering time eats up those additional hours
My extraction is on 24x7, and is already on a step controller at the lowest setting apart from in full flower. I don't think it would be a good idea to have this on a on / off cycle, as it is the only barrier between my plants and the police at the door. If anyone does cycle their extraction without releasing any smell I would like to hear about it.
Heaters are only used when it gets below a certain temp, so that is an easier fix by not growing when it's winter like I currently do. It will of course reduce my growing year to 2 x 12 week grows, but that's a consession I will probably have to make.
Fans can be put on a timer. Normally I would leave them on all the time, but is there a better / worse time for not running them, or a cycle others use?
Unfortunately growing outside is not an option where I live, and I'm a bit too old and feeble to be using derelict spaces around motorways and the like.
So if you would, please put up your cost savers. I'm not bothered if it doesn't relate to my grow specifically, but just what you do to reduce costs & possibly help out some others who are going to be in a simular position. Cheers all
