Goyang City Provides On-Site Technical Support for Energy Savings at Facility Vegetable Farms

Goyang Special City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Donghwan) announced on January 9 that it will provide on-site technical support for facility vegetable farmers until the end of February, aiming to help them reduce heating costs and maintain stable production as management burdens increase due to climate change and rising energy costs.

Goyang Special City (Mayor Lee Donghwan) will provide on-site technical support until the end of February to help facility vegetable farmers reduce heating costs and maintain stable production amid increasing management burdens due to climate change and rising energy costs. Provided by Goyang Special City

Facility vegetable cultivation requires a high proportion of energy use for heating and insulation during winter, so when oil and electricity prices rise, production costs increase significantly. In response, the city plans to focus on improving heating and insulation efficiency and reducing unnecessary energy use through customized on-site inspections and technical guidance for each farm.

This on-site technical support will be carried out by intensively inspecting the operational status and management of heating and insulation facilities inside greenhouses.

The main areas of focus include: ▲ inspecting the airtightness and operation of multi-layer insulation curtains ▲ checking for condensation and excessive humidity ▲ inspecting the operation of electrical facilities such as distribution panels ▲ improving environmental control accuracy by checking temperature sensors ▲ inspecting the operation of heat pumps ▲ and verifying the operation of circulation fans.

In addition, farmers will be guided on how to manage optimal temperature and humidity according to the growth characteristics of each crop. For fruiting vegetables such as cucumbers, tomatoes, and green peppers, the nighttime minimum temperature should be maintained at 12°C or higher, while for leafy vegetables such as lettuce, it should be kept at 8°C or higher. Guidance will also be provided on preventing excessive humidity, condensation, and managing nighttime humidity to prevent major diseases such as blight, powdery mildew, and downy mildew.

Furthermore, farmers will be instructed to maintain and supply irrigation water and nutrient solutions at appropriate temperatures, rather than using them at low temperatures, to prevent growth inhibition caused by cold stress.

Han Cheolhee, Director of the Goyang Agricultural Technology Center, stated, "Efficient operation of heating and insulation facilities is extremely important for the management stability of facility vegetable farms," adding, "We will actively support heating cost reduction and stable crop management tailored to each farm's conditions through field-oriented technical support."