Structure |
Inflatable Air Supported Dome |
Hybrid Glass Ceiling Greenhouse |
Industrial Warehouse |
Installed Cost (structure only) |
$35 /ft2 – Lowest |
$40 /ft2 – Average |
$80/ft2 – High |
Clean room suitability |
Highest – dome interior by design becomes primary clean area for cultivation operations |
Poor |
Average – High Cost |
HVAC (climate controls) |
Best – sub floor design enables a highly efficient +30% thermal transfer improvement from below canopy, best suited for vertical farming |
Poor (thermal cooling from top of canopy) |
Poor (thermal cooling from top of canopy) |
Outdoor Contaminate Control |
Double Containment – Highest (all entrances have sealed air locks) |
Low |
Average |
Scent Control |
Double Containment –Highest |
Low |
Average |
GMP certification suitability |
Excellent – at reasonable cost |
Poor |
Good – but at significantly higher CAPEX |
Organic Cannabis Cultivation |
Insect/Pesticide/Mold/Mildew/Mice/Fungal/Bacteria free – Highest organic rating |
Low organic rating |
Medium organic rating |
Interior Grow Room Construction |
Masonry 8” block – 18’ high, self supporting, lowest cost, good vapour seal, easy to clean |
None needed |
3’ King-span, supported from ceiling steel structure |
Lighting options |
Natural sunlight/Indirect LED’s / HPS |
Natural sunlight/indirect LED’s/HPS |
Indirect LED’s / HPS |
Cultivation Methods |
Natural soil /Hydroponics/Aeroponics |
Natural soil /Hydroponics /Aeroponics |
Natural soil /Hydroponics /Aeroponics |
Vertical farming Capability |
Yes |
No |
Limited – buildings cost very prohibitive >16-18’ |
Ability for 24/7 Cultivation 365 days per year |
Yes |
Poor – especially in northern climates |
Yes |
Cultivation yield kg/ft2 of canopy |
Very High – can use multiple levels |
Poor |
Average – (limitations in warehouse ceiling heights) |
Sustainability matrix’s |
Highest – simple design and construction (lowest overall environmental impact) |
Low |
High |
Suitability for low sunlight power intensity, colder geographies |
Highest Rating |
Low rating |
Average rating (Capital intensive) |
Field Construction Duration |
4-6 weeks |
6-8 weeks |
8 months |
Facility Relocation Capability |
Dome can be re-located easily (at low cost) |
Limited – high labour costs to relocate |
None |