Power use spikes with rise in indoor marijuana growth

摘要

Legalized marijuana in four states has indoor cannabis growers blazing through electricity bills. High-intensity lighting, dehumidification to remove water vapor, space heating or cooling and complex irrigation systems are just a few of the aspects of hydroponic growing that require large amounts of electricity. Growing marijuana indoors is estimated to use $6 billion worth of electricity per year, according to a 2012 study published in the journal Energy Policy. That amounts to roughly 1 percent of overall U.S. electricity consumption. The study also found that producing 1 kilogram of final product emits 4,600 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.