The Essential 3-Point Checklist for Designing a Sustainable Cannabis Cultivation Facility
1. Evaluate Building Envelope
It may seem obvious, but building selection is arguably the most important aspect in beginning the process of constructing a commercial cultivation facility. As the saying goes, “It’s easier to build the building around the intended facility, than it is to design the facility around an existing building.”
The first checklist item to consider is whether to build from the ground up or select an existing structure. Cost effectiveness is a major key to the sustainability of any business. Initially, on paper it may appear more efficient to work with an existing building; however, in the long run that is not always the case.
An existing building may require major renovations to suit strict building codes, CCC regulations, building methods, and equipment that are necessary for high quality, high output cannabis production. Costs for sealing cracks in the foundation, replacing a roof on a large structure, re-running outdated utilities, and other complications can quickly put a business beyond the cost it would take to construct a new building from the ground up. Moreover, new construction materials are much more efficient in indoor climate control and can sustain a longer life.
Working with an expert in the initial stages of building selection can have a large impact on the long-term sustainability of the commercial cultivation operation.
2. Choose Equipment and Installer
The next facet to consider in the design and construction of your commercial cultivation operation is your qualified Architect, MEP Engineer and Equipment. Choosing the right people will ensure the lowest cost of operation, the greatest & most consistent output of product, and the smallest possible environmental impact.
When it comes to commercial cultivation, the water and energy resources necessary to run the lights, the irrigation & fertigation, HVAC, and other systems to keep a consistent climate over massive canopy are astounding. In some cases, it may even be necessary for a cannabis business to recycle and/or generate its own energy resources because they simply aren’t available.
This is where equipment such as co-gen stations (an efficient technology to generate electricity and heat), water reclamation systems, fertigation systems, and automated Building Management Systems (BMS) with integrated controls come into play.
Finally, to achieve the highest level of efficiency of the Equipment, be sure to have systems installed correctly by professional cannabis contractors that know how to install and operate cannabis equipment.
3. Choose a Turnkey Solution
The third checklist item is to find a turnkey solution for the development of your cannabis operation. With a turnkey solution, you will be able to walk in and start growing the day your contractor hands over the keys to the building.
In evaluating your development team, ask about past projects and the structure of their organization. Does the contractor specialize in the entire process from manufacturing to packaging & shipping, distribution, retail sales, extraction labs, and commercial kitchens? Or do they only specialize in lighting for flowering rooms? Are the project managers, architects, and engineers in-house? or brought in from a third party? If they’re separate organizations, have they worked together in the past?
Bringing in multiple parties to complete the intricacies of constructing a large-scale project like a cultivation facility can spell disaster. Each day the facility is not in operation is a day the business loses money and expends resources. In addition, a turnkey solution provides simplicity for future operation by limiting points of contact. In cases of equipment maintenance or repair, proposed expansion of existing facilities, or general systems troubleshooting, companies that offer turnkey solutions can reduce the number of contacts necessary to solve a problem.
Building a sustainable cannabis facility is no simple feat. These 3 steps are essential. Proper building envelope evaluation, equipment & installer, and a turnkey solution can ensure a consistent, quality product, minimized consumption of resources, and increase the longevity of your business.
