"The cheapest energy ultimately remains the energy you do not need to purchase"
Source: HD.com
new screens as a response to rising energy costs "The cheapest energy ultimately remains the energy you do not need to purchase" In the Netherlands, rising gas prices combined with the opening of a European subsidy program have put energy savings back at the center of discussion in the greenhouse horticulture sector. "Growers have already taken significant steps in recent years, but current gas prices once again show how important it remains to manage energy wisely.
The cheapest energy is ultimately the energy you don't have to buy." © Phormium Where growers once had to choose between maximum light transmission and energy savings, the options available now are considerably broader. Phormium has introduced Diamond, which it describes as the clearest energy screen on the market, with a shading level of just 8% and energy savings of up to 47%.
For businesses looking to retain heat mainly at night, an aluminum night screen such as Noctis Thermo can deliver energy savings of up to 72%. Arjan notes that the combination of higher energy costs, new developments in screen fabrics, and available subsidies is prompting growers to rethink their approach.
Why this matters: For operators, this is a water-management story. The useful signal is that direct substrate measurements can help cut drain loss materially without giving up yield or fruit quality, which is exactly the kind of controllable efficiency gain a facility can build on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does substrate sensing matter in free-drain strawberry systems?
Because drain percentage tells a grower what already happened, while substrate moisture and EC data show root-zone conditions directly. That makes it easier to cut water loss without guessing.
What is the operator takeaway from this trial?
If the thresholds are understood well enough, growers can reduce drain water materially while protecting yield and fruit quality, which makes sensing an operational tool instead of a reporting tool.
