News » 25.06.2025 - Climate control, energy costs, safety, and solutions
Rising energy costs are a major concern for growers today, and combined with increasing sustainability demands, greenhouse operators are being pushed to rethink how they manage their growing environments. Advancing Alternatives is a company that has spent more than 20 years developing smarter, more efficient climate control technologies for greenhouses and high tunnels.
Smart climate control for modern challenges
"Energy consumption is one of the things greenhouse operators can make conscious decisions to improve," says Dave Stoltzfus, president of Advancing Alternatives. "We're seeing growers make a shift toward smarter, more integrated approaches to natural ventilation and climate control."
He shares that this is why Advancing Alternatives' thermally sealed natural ventilation systems, such as their Roll Lock Curtain systems, are a great choice in regions that experience freezing temperatures. These systems combine passive cooling with precision environmental controls. The Roll Lock system uses a specialized locking mechanism to secure double-layer poly curtains, forming an airtight seal that maintains stable temperature and humidity. "This not only reduces energy waste but also actively improves crop quality by preserving ideal growing conditions."
These systems integrate seamlessly with their touchscreen controllers, like the AegisTEC or the AegisTEC Plus, which automate sidewall ventilation based on real-time sensor data, ensuring optimal greenhouse environments throughout the day and across seasons.
Raising the bar with safety
Reliability is a non-negotiable when it comes to climate control. That's why Advancing Alternatives offers UL-listed Industrial Enclosures, delivering a new level of electrical safety and regulatory compliance.
"When growers invest in environmental controls and industrial enclosures, they need to know it's bulletproof," Dave adds. "UL certification is one thing we can offer for markets that require it, and for customers who desire that extra layer of certification.
All environmental controls and industrial enclosures, whether UL-listed or standard, are designed for durability in harsh environments. Select environmental controls provide 24-volt DC outputs and compatibility with contactor boxes for system expansion, integrating seamlessly with various sensors, including temperature, humidity, wind, and rain. UL-listed enclosures meet Underwriters Laboratories standards, and while Advancing Alternatives offers both UL and non-UL enclosures, both exceed typical reliability expectations. This provides growers with flexible options tailored to their operational and budgetary needs.
Cloud-based control: The AdvanSync advantage
Perhaps the most exciting development is the company's AdvanSync platform, a cloud-based control system that lets growers monitor and adjust their environments from virtually anywhere.
"AdvanSync isn't just about remote access," Dave explains. "It's about real-time insights into what is actually happening. As all growers know, heaters, fans, and motors fail; real-time alerts for the important stuff are the best insurance policy anyone can get. That kind of responsiveness can mean the difference between a good yield and a great one."
That insight comes from an array of environmental sensors to ensure robust control. It works with temperature sensors to enable precise ventilation adjustments, aspirated humidity sensors for accurate monitoring of relative humidity, wind sensors that allow for automatic high-wind overrides, and rain sensors with adjustable sensitivity to safeguard crops during inclement weather.
Alerts are another key feature. Growers can set custom alarms for anomalies such as temperature spikes or motor failures. These alerts are delivered via the AdvanSync platform and can be configured as email, SMS, or phone call notifications, enabling quick responses whether managing one zone or an entire complex of greenhouses.
ROI and labor efficiency
Automation offers meaningful long-term benefits in terms of return on investment. Industry insights suggest ROI timelines of 2-5 years for growers who adopt full automation packages. "Switching from fan-based ventilation to natural ventilation systems with smart automation can lead to substantial savings," says Dave. "Especially when you add in our Roll-Lock system, that is when you hit the sweet spot, eliminating heat loss, and being able to ventilate on the drop of a hat."
"With labor costs rising 3-5% annually, automation is no longer optional," he emphasizes. "Our systems reduce the need for on-site monitoring, allowing staff to focus on high-value tasks like planting and harvesting. AdvanSync provides peace of mind with weather-based overrides and remote control features, making it easier to manage operations even with limited personnel." While AdvanSync itself may not directly drive ROI, its ability to maximize uptime, reduce manual errors, and prolong equipment life makes it a vital part of the system.
A versatile partner in growth and supply
Advancing Alternatives also supports growers with a curated selection of hard goods, including sprayers, pruners, and other greenhouse essentials, chosen for both quality and sustainability.
"Our support doesn't end with the sale," Dave says. "We make sure their systems run smoothly. And with features like proactive alarms, growers can rest easy knowing they'll be alerted before a small issue becomes a big problem."
Source: www.floraldaily.com
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