Supplemental crop lighting in the research greenhouses (Walnut Street Greenhouse, King Hall Greenhouse and West Madison ARS Greenhouses) will be upgraded to LED over the next two years. The large project involves well over 1000 light fixtures and impacts the work of those who use the spaces. The upgrade will significantly reduce power consumption and increase the quality of light for the crops.

Ben Erdman, superintendent of the greenhouses, and his team are working with the Campus Energy Advisor to capture any energy incentives available. The project will then be taken to bid. He hopes to have the light fixtures arriving in the first half of 2024.  

Erdman will work closely with the PIs and lab managers for each of the ~60 groups who use the greenhouses to determine best times to convert the lighting in the spaces they are using. For example, if researchers are replicating studies across two or more greenhouse rooms, all rooms being used will be converted at the same time, or those spaces will not be converted until the study has been concluded. There will be an 18-month window from fixture arrival until all greenhouses are 100% converted to provide flexibility in timing. The team will place a high priority on maximizing research continuity and minimizing disruptions. 

Erdman welcomes any and all communication, questions and concerns as this project moves forward. His email address is ben.erdman@wisc.edu.