Energy & Environment

Caring about the Environment

Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) established an Energy and Environment Committee to develop all issues relating to energy and the Ontario greenhouse vegetable industry, and become a leader in environmental stewardship. OGVG believes there is tremendous opportunity within the greenhouse industry to develop green and alternative energy sources that will benefit the Province of Ontario, the environment and the bottom-line for greenhouse growers.

Energy expenses are greater than 40% of the cost of greenhouse production and are expected to increase. Green energy and other conservation techniques, many designed specifically for greenhouse application, can help reduce these economic costs as well as environmental problems associated with energy use.

Our growers use high efficiency boiler systems to heat their greenhouses, which help maintain good air quality. Natural gas, the cleanest hydrocarbon fuel, is used by many growers. Carbon dioxide (CO2), a byproduct of natural gas is captured before being emitted into the environment. The CO2 is released into the crop instead, ensuring optimal growth and development.

Our hydroponic crops are virtually pesticide free because our growers use integrated pest management (IPM). IPM uses beneficial insects (good bugs) to control pests in the greenhouse (bad bugs).

The greenhouse provides the most optimum conditions for plant growth and protects our vegetables from the harmful rays of the sun, manure, field run-off and acid rain.

A greenhouse is designed to control the plant environment (i.e. temperature, moisture level, and nutrient levels). Computers control these variables 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, which improves the productivity, flavour and quality of our greenhouse vegetables.