I'm looking to grow herbs indoors since buying them at the store can get pretty pricey. I know there are some initial costs for equipment, particularly the grow lights, but I'm curious about how the electricity costs will impact my monthly bill. Can anyone share their experiences with growing herbs indoors, especially regarding the costs associated with the lights?
3 Answers
It really depends on your local electricity rates. To get a good estimate, check how many watt-hours (Wh) your specific grow lights will use and calculate the annual costs based on your electricity rate. That should give you a better idea of what to expect.
I have a Spider Farmer SF1000 in a 2x2 area, and it adds just a few bucks to my bill even on for about 15 hours daily. It spreads light pretty well, so I can grow various herbs and even a few fruit plants. If I wanted to cover more space, I'd just get another light. Just a heads up, though: keep an eye out for pesky fungus gnats if you start growing!
LED grow lights are surprisingly energy-efficient! I run 28 high-intensity LEDs for about 24 hours a day, and it only bumps my electricity bill up by around $50 a month. So if you're just using one or two, you probably won't notice much of a difference in your bill at all.
Thanks for the tip! I'll look into the wattage and my rates to plan better.