Grant: Engage Plus Grants Program

Topnotch Building Maintenance Ltd (TBM) manufactures and sells pulsed xenon lights (Pulse RX) for a variety of commercial applications focussed general building maintenance and sterilization of surfaces. Pulsed lights are capable of producing instant pulses of high irradiance at different desired light spectra at higher energy efficiency than currently commercially available lights. Thus, the use of xenon pulsed light technology reduces carbon footprint. Additionally, xenon lights do not use mercury as one of its components, unlike the high irradiance high-pressure sodium lights, and therefore there is an added environmental benefit. Since Pulse RX lights are energy efficient, environmentally friendly and produce high irradiance light with a spectral output similar to that of the sun required for optimal plant growth and productivity, Consequently, TBM would like to expand its high irradiance pulsed light technology into the greenhouse industry. Ontario's greenhouse industry currently uses mainly high-pressure sodium lights which are causing excessive damage to the environment and high loading on the power grid. However, it is not known if high irradiance pulsed xenon lights are equal to or superior to high-pressure sodium lights in their ability to provide optimal plant growth and productivity. The previous Engage Grant with TBM indicated that the intensity of the Pulse RX lamp must be modified to allow for flexibility in the control of light intensity. This has been accomplished. Therefore, Topnotch Building Maintanance Ltd. is partnering with Western University and Prof. Norman P.A. Hüner, a top expert in photosynthesis and light signaling, to investigate the suitability and advantages of the modified Pulse RX xenon light technology for optimal growth and productivity of greenhouse crops.