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You are here: Home / Archives for Energy

Federal REAP funds help nurseries make the shift to solar power

By Jon Bell — Posted April 21, 2025

REAP has helped many nurseries, farms and small businesses in Oregon with beneficial renewable energy projects.

Filed Under: Nursery Operations Tagged With: Energy

An illuminating trend

By Jon Bell — Posted March 27, 2018

LEDs are helping nurseries gain all kinds of new efficiencies A mid-January morning in Hillsboro, Oregon: It’s gray, it’s drizzly and, most depressingly, it’s dark. Dark enough that 10:30 in the morning feels like dusk, which at this time of year comes far too early for most; dark enough that the region would be lucky to […]

Filed Under: Nursery Operations Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, Efficiency, Energy, Greenhouses, LED, Lighting, Wholesale Nurseries

September Digger arrives in mailboxes

By Curt Kipp — Posted September 16, 2013

The September issue of Digger has been mailed to subscribers, and the cover story this month is on plants that thrive in wet sites (PDF). Due to the prevalence of bioswales and other urban water features, many nurseries — native plant growers in particular — have been trying hard to keep up with demand. Other […]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Digger, Education, Energy, Marketing

Putting greenhouses in a new light

By Curt Kipp — Posted October 4, 2012

We already mentioned LED lighting in nursery environments last December (PDF). But if you’re looking to operate your greenhouse with more efficiency and less cost, rapidly-developing LED technology is getting to where it’s worth more than a cursory glance. Researchers at Penn State University have studied the idea extensively, using grant funds secured in 2010. […]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Energy, Greenhouses, Irrigation, Pests and Diseases, Sustainability

Incentive available for thermal greenhouse curtains

By Curt Kipp — Posted September 21, 2012

Ulrike Mengelberg at the Energy Trust of Oregon dropped us a note to let us know they’re offering an incentive for growers who install energy-saving thermal curtains in their greenhouses. Qualifying growers can receive 9 cents per square foot of heated greenhouse (or square feet of curtain, but the former number in most cases will […]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Conservation, Energy, Greenhouses, Sustainability

Energy incentives available for nursery, greenhouse owners

By Curt Kipp — Posted January 31, 2012

New business energy tax credits (often known as BETC) are available for nursery and greenhouse owners based in Oregon. The incentives are part of the Oregon Department of Energy’s new Simple Premium Projects program, which has $1.7 million in funding. According to officials, the paperwork is much simpler than past BETC programs. Business owners may […]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Energy, Greenhouses, Irrigation, Sustainability, Wholesale Nurseries

OAN Energy Pilot wins $80,000 USDA grant

By Curt Kipp — Posted September 23, 2011

Less than a year ago, the Oregon Association of Nurseries announced an ambitious goal to reduce industry energy usage by 25 percent in 10 years as part of its Energy Pilot program (PDF). Last week, the program scored a major victory when USDA Rural Development awarded the OAN an $80,000 grant (see press release): Oregon […]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Energy, OAN, Sustainability

Greenhouse growers can save money, energy with cash incentives

By Curt Kipp — Posted September 20, 2011

Greenhouse controllers are a great way to save both money and energy, but as with any improvement, there’s the upfront cost to consider. The Energy Trust of Oregon, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people be energy efficient, announced last week that it is rolling out an incentive for greenhouse growers. This could go a long […]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Energy, Greenhouses, Sustainability, Wholesale Nurseries

Energy Trust of Oregon steps in with efficiency incentives

By Curt Kipp — Posted August 31, 2011

Many nurseries looking to cut their operating costs have found that energy efficiency projects pay strong dividends — particularly when incentives are available to help pay for them. Since 1979, the state of Oregon has offered the Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC) program, which proved to be very popular. Not only did it save businesses […]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: 2011 Legislature, Climate Friendly Nurseries Project, Conservation, Energy, Irrigation, Nursery Equipment, OAN, Operations, Politics, Sustainability, Wholesale Nurseries

OAN energy conservation summit yields first steps

By Curt Kipp — Posted December 21, 2010

Members of OAN and several partner groups took part in the nursery industry energy conservation summit Dec. 7 at the Oregon Garden Resort. They came away with notable progress toward the industrywide goal of becoming 25 percent more energy efficient over the next decade. The OAN Board of Directors officially adopted this goal back in […]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Climate Friendly Nurseries Project, Conservation, Energy, Sustainability

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NURSERY NEWS

In Memoriam: Melvin John Steffenson

New USDA Census of Hort arriving in mailboxes this month

Oregon Association of Nurseries honors the industry’s best at 2024 Convention

Eason Horticultural Resources is now employee-owned

Oregon’s nursery licensing program aims to keep the entire industry healthy

Building trust is key to establishing clientele base for new nurseries

Five owners share their experiences on what it takes to start a nursery businesses

Bailey hires new CFO and chief HR officer

More Nursery News

From the pages of Digger

June 2025: Shrubs issue

May 2025: Sustainability Issue

April 2025: The Tree Issue

March 2025: The Perennial Issue

February 2025: The Greenhouse Issue

More issues of Digger

Pests and Diseases

Prioritizing nursery pest challenges

New tools in the battle against thrips

Aiming for precision in pest control

Oregon’s nursery licensing program aims to keep the entire industry healthy

$250,000 shifted to P. austrocedri research

More articles

FARWEST SHOW UPDATES

Sense of excitement prevailed at Farwest as nursery industry ‘Meets the Future’ 

Farwest Show attendees select favorites for the Retailers’ Choice Awards

Starway to Heaven™ Japanese Snowbell wins People’s Choice balloting at Farwest Show New Varieties Showcase

Hopper Bros. wins Best in Show booth award at 2024 Farwest Show   

Starway to Heaven™ Japanese Snowbell wins Judges’ Best in Show at Farwest Show New Varieties Showcase

More Updates from Farwest

The Value of Membership

Meet the leader: Sam Pohlschneider

OAN honors the industry’s best

Oregon Association of Nurseries honors the industry’s best at 2024 Convention

More member stories

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