Using LEDs for indoor growing is a relatively new application, mostly because of the advent of low cost, high power LEDs in many new colors.  By combining LEDs of various colors, mostly reds and blues, we can very efficiently match the light requirements of growing terrestrial plants.  HPS and Mercury Vapor lamps were wonderful in their day, but their day is rapidly coming to an end for indoor growing.  LEDs are just too efficient for them to compete with in a time where saving power is becoming ever more important.  By matching the spectral curve of photosynthesis in plants, we can almost completely remove the wasteful use of any green part of the light's spectrum, which is almost all reflected and unused by plants anyway.  HPS and Mercury Vapor light waste much of their power on wavelengths not heavily utilized by photosynthesis.  In this way, LED lights of far lower power (Wattage) can outperform HPS or Mercury Vapor lights for healthy plant growth and development.

Because of their high efficiency, LED grow lights will easily pay for themselves over the years through power savings.  National power rates are currently 10 cents/kWh.  Running 15 hours per day, for example, a 300 Watt LED grow light will save about 32 dollars per month over a comparable 1000 Watt HPS light of similar growing capacity.  LED grow lights outperform HPS and Mercury Vapor lamps of 3x the power.

LEDs also are very long lasting.  They can easily operate for 50,000 hours which is equivalent to about 10 years of operation at 15 hours per day with no need for any bulb replacement.

LEDs are very environmentally friendly compared to their predecessors.  They contain no Mercury and are RoHS compliant.

The primary advantages of LED grow lights over HPS or Mercury Vapor are as follows:

• All of our lights are Tri-Band (Red, Blue and Orange) LEDs in a balanced number, providing the plants with all the needed spectrum for efficient photosynthesis (growth).
• 50,000 hour lifetime.  At 15 hours per day, that's about 10 years.
• Low Power, good for the environment.  See the table below comparing grow capacity of LED versus HPS/Mercury Vapor.
• Low Heat.  No need for extra ducting to remove heat from the lamp.  Plants can safely grow against the glass lens or even the LEDs themselves without scortching.
• Quick power on.  LEDs come on in milliseconds and can be safely power cycled (On/Off/On) very quickly (seconds).
• Specific spectrum tuned to the plants needs.  No wasted light in wavelengths that plants simply reflect (for example, green).
• No Mercury, RoHS compliant.  Non toxic for the environment when disposed of and requires no special handling

 A comparison of power consumption for equivalent growth capability of LED vs. HSP/MV:

• 90 Watt LED ~ 200 Watt HPS/MV
• 120 Watt LED ~ 250 Watt HPS/MV
• 300 Watt LED ~ 600 Watt HPS/MV
• 600 Watt LED ~ 1200 Watt HPS/MV

For example, at 10 cents/kWh, a 300 Watt LED light will save the user approximatly $22 per month in power over a similar HPS light.  LED lights will quickly pay for themselves in power savings.