As marijuana legalization laws sweep across the country, most consumers\nare jumping for joy -- widespread marijuana will cut back on potentially\ndangerous prescription drugs and help manage complex symptoms in people\nwith a multitude of conditions. While these factors are indeed true,\nmarijuana also has a dirty little secret most consumers don't realize:\nit's a huge energy hog.
\nProduction and Power Supply: How the Two Are Connected
\nAs legalization laws pop up around the country, demand for quality\nmarijuana products has skyrocketed. All of this demand has given rise to\nhundreds of grow operations striving to produce quality products for\nconsumers; unfortunately, commercial marijuana production in cities like\nDenver has proven to be a huge strain on local power supplies.
\nHere's why: In Denver alone, there are approximately 354 commercial\ncannabis grow operations. In 2014, these grow operations consumed a\nwhopping 200 million kilowatts of\nelectricity.\nWhile this number still represents less than 2 percent of Denver's\noverall power supply, electricity usage in the city has been growing at\nan annual rate of 1.2 percent, largely due to the ballooning number of\ngrow\noperations.
\nThe reason marijuana cultivation is so energy-intensive comes down to\nbasic growing practices. Thanks to excessive lights, fans, and cooling\nand hydroponic systems required to cultivate cannabis indoors, cannabis\ngrow operations consume eight times as much electricity per square foot\nas a typical office building. While it may seem like the obvious\nsolution is to place cannabis grow operations outdoors, this idea would\nbe virtually impossible to do given the current demand for cannabis\nproducts across the country.
\nWhile an indoor grow operation is considerably more energy-intensive\n(indoor grow lamps are an estimated 500x more powerful than reading\nlights), the control allowed by an indoor grow operation is necessary to\ncontinue producing cannabis on a commercial level.
\nGoing Green with Cannabis
\nWhile it's clear cannabis is a significant burden on energy grids around\nthe country (cannabis production currently accounts for 3 percent of\nCalifornia's total\nenergy\nconsumption), few cities or states have plans in place to deal with the\nincreasing demand for cannabis and the strain on the power supply.\nFortunately, there are many ways for environmentally minded consumers to\nbe part of the solution rather than the problem. Here are a few tips to\nsupport cannabis operations that have less impact on the environment:
\nWhile cannabis is certainly a powerful crop for dozens of purposes, the\nfact remains that large grow operations make a significant dent in the\nenergy grid of the cities in which they reside. Fortunately, consumers\ncan do their part to mitigate this impact by being aware of cannabis's\nenergy needs and seeking to support smaller, less harmful operations.
\n","timeToRead":3},"headerYoutubeVideo":null,"autoplayHeaderYoutubeVideo":null},"allArticle":{"nodes":[{"id":"Article_1919-markdown","title":"Does Medical Marijuana Work?","slug":"does-medical-marijuana-work","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.2580645161290323,"src":"/static/2237cfc5d60b053a4d07ad9dc402f6ec/cc196/5cb38b52d86fae4ebe2aa6fca9d79870.png","srcSet":"/static/2237cfc5d60b053a4d07ad9dc402f6ec/f5a60/5cb38b52d86fae4ebe2aa6fca9d79870.png 78w,\n/static/2237cfc5d60b053a4d07ad9dc402f6ec/2199e/5cb38b52d86fae4ebe2aa6fca9d79870.png 156w,\n/static/2237cfc5d60b053a4d07ad9dc402f6ec/cc196/5cb38b52d86fae4ebe2aa6fca9d79870.png 311w,\n/static/2237cfc5d60b053a4d07ad9dc402f6ec/21564/5cb38b52d86fae4ebe2aa6fca9d79870.png 467w,\n/static/2237cfc5d60b053a4d07ad9dc402f6ec/b0675/5cb38b52d86fae4ebe2aa6fca9d79870.png 622w,\n/static/2237cfc5d60b053a4d07ad9dc402f6ec/ee604/5cb38b52d86fae4ebe2aa6fca9d79870.png 800w","srcWebp":"/static/2237cfc5d60b053a4d07ad9dc402f6ec/de783/5cb38b52d86fae4ebe2aa6fca9d79870.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/2237cfc5d60b053a4d07ad9dc402f6ec/dc369/5cb38b52d86fae4ebe2aa6fca9d79870.webp 78w,\n/static/2237cfc5d60b053a4d07ad9dc402f6ec/09bb5/5cb38b52d86fae4ebe2aa6fca9d79870.webp 156w,\n/static/2237cfc5d60b053a4d07ad9dc402f6ec/de783/5cb38b52d86fae4ebe2aa6fca9d79870.webp 311w,\n/static/2237cfc5d60b053a4d07ad9dc402f6ec/40086/5cb38b52d86fae4ebe2aa6fca9d79870.webp 467w,\n/static/2237cfc5d60b053a4d07ad9dc402f6ec/3df30/5cb38b52d86fae4ebe2aa6fca9d79870.webp 622w,\n/static/2237cfc5d60b053a4d07ad9dc402f6ec/58556/5cb38b52d86fae4ebe2aa6fca9d79870.webp 800w","sizes":"(max-width: 311px) 100vw, 311px"}}}},{"id":"Article_2425-markdown","title":"Marijuana Has Gone Mainstream","slug":"marijuana-has-gone-mainstream","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDABALDA4MChAODQ4SERATGCgaGBYWGDEjJR0oOjM9PDkzODdASFxOQERXRTc4UG1RV19iZ2hnPk1xeXBkeFxlZ2P/2wBDARESEhgVGC8aGi9jQjhCY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2P/wgARCAAPABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFwABAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAACA//EABYBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIAAf/aAAwDAQACEAMQAAABboyBIuMs/8QAGxAAAgIDAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIAMQMREiL/2gAIAQEAAQUCV9jpYKqY/Ydyp//EABcRAQADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABESH/2gAIAQMBAT8BnFv/xAAWEQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEhH/2gAIAQIBAT8BnUv/xAAaEAACAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAREhEBJR/9oACAEBAAY/Ar5I06xBsyEj/8QAGhAAAwADAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAERITFhcf/aAAgBAQABPyFdGzVDwGtrpTSUqngmRHvwW0Gpcn//2gAMAwEAAgADAAAAEA/v/8QAFhEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAER/9oACAEDAQE/EJMP/8QAFxEBAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEhcf/aAAgBAgEBPxCiWX//xAAcEAEAAwEAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAABABEhMUGB0fH/2gAIAQEAAT8QYEQhuAZ7h8OaqtOUwIDjyRYwVfhVoQgQ+BRf1FQbQb1+T//Z","aspectRatio":1.3220338983050848,"src":"/static/3cda17039ef3b209d00b76bdc1b90575/10fcc/2945067e88a029b1b5cbf18909c189ea.jpg","srcSet":"/static/3cda17039ef3b209d00b76bdc1b90575/f37cf/2945067e88a029b1b5cbf18909c189ea.jpg 78w,\n/static/3cda17039ef3b209d00b76bdc1b90575/6620e/2945067e88a029b1b5cbf18909c189ea.jpg 156w,\n/static/3cda17039ef3b209d00b76bdc1b90575/10fcc/2945067e88a029b1b5cbf18909c189ea.jpg 311w,\n/static/3cda17039ef3b209d00b76bdc1b90575/7c4aa/2945067e88a029b1b5cbf18909c189ea.jpg 467w,\n/static/3cda17039ef3b209d00b76bdc1b90575/ab499/2945067e88a029b1b5cbf18909c189ea.jpg 622w,\n/static/3cda17039ef3b209d00b76bdc1b90575/54ac5/2945067e88a029b1b5cbf18909c189ea.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/3cda17039ef3b209d00b76bdc1b90575/de783/2945067e88a029b1b5cbf18909c189ea.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/3cda17039ef3b209d00b76bdc1b90575/dc369/2945067e88a029b1b5cbf18909c189ea.webp 78w,\n/static/3cda17039ef3b209d00b76bdc1b90575/09bb5/2945067e88a029b1b5cbf18909c189ea.webp 156w,\n/static/3cda17039ef3b209d00b76bdc1b90575/de783/2945067e88a029b1b5cbf18909c189ea.webp 311w,\n/static/3cda17039ef3b209d00b76bdc1b90575/40086/2945067e88a029b1b5cbf18909c189ea.webp 467w,\n/static/3cda17039ef3b209d00b76bdc1b90575/3df30/2945067e88a029b1b5cbf18909c189ea.webp 622w,\n/static/3cda17039ef3b209d00b76bdc1b90575/5e0b8/2945067e88a029b1b5cbf18909c189ea.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 311px) 100vw, 311px"}}}},{"id":"Article_2865-markdown","title":"How to Dry & Cure Your Homegrown Cannabis","slug":"how-to-dry-and-cure-your-homegrown-cannabis","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3928571428571428,"src":"/static/f6db6295b0a924a98606189e5453a42b/10fcc/3d5620b28ca1e30d3b1e7fbd3e1546ff.jpg","srcSet":"/static/f6db6295b0a924a98606189e5453a42b/f37cf/3d5620b28ca1e30d3b1e7fbd3e1546ff.jpg 78w,\n/static/f6db6295b0a924a98606189e5453a42b/6620e/3d5620b28ca1e30d3b1e7fbd3e1546ff.jpg 156w,\n/static/f6db6295b0a924a98606189e5453a42b/10fcc/3d5620b28ca1e30d3b1e7fbd3e1546ff.jpg 311w,\n/static/f6db6295b0a924a98606189e5453a42b/7c4aa/3d5620b28ca1e30d3b1e7fbd3e1546ff.jpg 467w,\n/static/f6db6295b0a924a98606189e5453a42b/ab499/3d5620b28ca1e30d3b1e7fbd3e1546ff.jpg 622w,\n/static/f6db6295b0a924a98606189e5453a42b/a6b41/3d5620b28ca1e30d3b1e7fbd3e1546ff.jpg 1088w","srcWebp":"/static/f6db6295b0a924a98606189e5453a42b/de783/3d5620b28ca1e30d3b1e7fbd3e1546ff.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/f6db6295b0a924a98606189e5453a42b/dc369/3d5620b28ca1e30d3b1e7fbd3e1546ff.webp 78w,\n/static/f6db6295b0a924a98606189e5453a42b/09bb5/3d5620b28ca1e30d3b1e7fbd3e1546ff.webp 156w,\n/static/f6db6295b0a924a98606189e5453a42b/de783/3d5620b28ca1e30d3b1e7fbd3e1546ff.webp 311w,\n/static/f6db6295b0a924a98606189e5453a42b/40086/3d5620b28ca1e30d3b1e7fbd3e1546ff.webp 467w,\n/static/f6db6295b0a924a98606189e5453a42b/3df30/3d5620b28ca1e30d3b1e7fbd3e1546ff.webp 622w,\n/static/f6db6295b0a924a98606189e5453a42b/3fafc/3d5620b28ca1e30d3b1e7fbd3e1546ff.webp 1088w","sizes":"(max-width: 311px) 100vw, 311px"}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"id":2070,"slug":"marijuanas-dirty-secret-energy-consumption","tags":[5234,5300,5567,5592],"country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}