By the Numbers

A look at the metrics shaping the cannabis business market — and our lives

Sustainability is something every industry strives toward. One might not think cannabis cultivation would be high on the list of carbon emissions or energy use. After all, we’re talking about plants, right? They produce oxygen and they’re 100% organic. But as the industry continues to boom and more states legalize, Big Cannabis is joining the ranks of environmental offenders. There are ways to mitigate environmental impact, though. Changing from an indoor to a greenhouse grow facility is one of the best ways to save energy and minimize our collective carbon footprint.

ENERGY CONSUMPTION/WASTE PRODUCED BY INDOOR GROWS ENERGY SAVED BY GREENHOUSE GROWS

As much as 1% of the total US energy consumption is due to cannabis production.

Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (2017) Per gram of cannabis produced, a greenhouse model consumes 26% less power than an indoor model.

(Statista)

Production of one kilogram of cannabis flower is equivalent to the carbon emissions of

3 million cars.

Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (2017)

An indoor cannabis facility has the same electricity consumption as

66 homes.

Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (2017)

The average indoor operation spends 51% of its electric consumption for ventilation, cooling, and dehumidification.

Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (2017) Production costs can be cut by nearly 96% using a greenhouse model compared to indoor.

(Aurora Cannabis Inc, 2019)

Greenhouse facilities use anywhere between 20% to 50% of the electricity of an indoor model.

(resourceinnovation.org)

Water pumping, drying, and CO2 injection only account for 3% of energy consumption on average, whereas LED lights account for

38%.

(Southwest Energy Efficiency Project 2017)