The Doctor Is In

In the fourth episode of How to Succeed in CEA series, the focus is on how indoor growers can select the right HVAC system for their facility, guided by five key factors from a 2021 grower survey.
The top 5 factors identified by indoor growers were:

1. Performance
2. Controllability
3. Reliability
4. Cost
5. Lead Time
Additional factors covered in the episode include available utilities and power voltage, ease of use and maintenance complexity, regulatory compliance, redundancy, familiarity with contractors or brands, and physical constraints such as equipment size, weight, noise, and visibility.
Watch on YouTube:
How to Choose the Right HVAC System
Related Listening:
Episode 36: Why HVAC is important
Episode 37: Why HVAC is important for CEA
Episode 44: 10 Reasons HVAC is hard for indoor plant environments
Episode 115: HVAC Cage Match
Related Viewing:
HVAC Cage Match
Related Reading:
The Many Things to Look for When Selecting HVAC Equipment for Your Indoor Farm, Dr. Nadia Sabeh (Feb 5, 2021)
Music Credits:
Intro Music Credits: Melody – Luke Bergs & Waesto | https://soundcloud.com/bergscloud/
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
Creative Commons CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

In the third episode of How to Succeed in CEA series, we are posting the live HVAC Cage Match Dr. Nadia Sabeh hosted in September 2026. During the live webinar, four experts duked it out over what type of HVAC system is best for indoor farming: decoupled air conditioners with standalone dehumidifiers, integrated HVAC/D packaged systems, chilled water hydronic systems, or desiccant dehumidifiers combined with air conditioning. The competition was both fierce and informative, and according to our attendee poll, the winner won by only 2 votes.
If you are wondering How To Choose an HVAC System, this episode is a great place to start!
Cage Match Competitors:
- Dan Dettmers: Senior Applications Engineer, Quest Climate
- Craig Burg: President, Desert Aire
- Michael Gillespie: President, Gillie Consulting
- John Hammond: CEO, Aire Green
Watch on YouTube:
HVAC Cage Match
Related Listening:
Episode 36: Why HVAC is important
Episode 37: Why HVAC is important for CEA
Episode 44: 10 Reasons HVAC is hard for indoor plant environments
Related Reading:
The Many Things to Look for When Selecting HVAC Equipment for Your Indoor Farm, Dr. Nadia Sabeh (Feb 5, 2021)
Music Credits:
Intro Music Credits: Melody – Luke Bergs & Waesto | https://soundcloud.com/bergscloud/
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
Creative Commons CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

In the second episode of How to Succeed in CEA series, Dr. Nadia Sabeh shares 10 practical strategies on how growers can get more value from every dollar spent on nutrients and fertilizer. From testing source water quality and rethinking fertilizer formulations to recycling unused fertilizers and optimizing growing conditions, these strategies challenge growers to think about what their plants really need. Learn why nutrient deficiencies aren't always caused by insufficient fertilizer, how your HVAC system and growing environment affect nutrient uptake, and why buying premixed fertilizers might mean paying extra for something you already have: water! Most importantly, discover how to measure fertilizer savings against the costs of implementing new strategies and their effects on crop productivity. Because the goal isn't simply to use less fertilizer, it's to spend less money growing a healthy, profitable crop.
Related Listening:
Episode 113: How to Set Up Your Irrigation System for Success
Related Reading:
How To Reduce Your Fertilizer and Energy Costs By Dr. Nadia Sabeh | May 18, 2026
Intro Music: "Melody" by Luke Bergs & Waesto Artist: Luke Bergs on SoundCloud Music promoted by Chosic License: Creative Commons CC BY-SA 3.0

In the first episode of our How to Succeed in CEA series, Dr. Nadia Sabeh talks with irrigation experts Randy Nester and Jared Babik about how indoor and greenhouse growers can set up their irrigation systems for success. They discuss why you should start with the plant and work backward, what a water-quality test can tell you about treatment needs, when RO is and isn’t necessary, and how to plan for maintenance, redundancy, and future expansion. They also explore why successful irrigation design requires looking at the facility as a complete system and getting growers, vendors, engineers, and other consultants communicating early in the design process.
About the Guests:
Randy Nester is Vice President of Business Development at Anderson Injectors and brings more than 25 years of experience helping growers, farmers, and cultivators develop efficient, precise, low-maintenance fertigation and irrigation solutions for indoor, outdoor, greenhouse, and field-grown operations.
Jared Babik is National Project Sales Manager at DrammWater and has worked in the horticulture industry for more than 20 years, helping growers improve efficiency through labor-saving techniques, automation, water management systems, and integrated irrigation solutions.

Intro Music Credits: Melody – Luke Bergs & Waesto | https://soundcloud.com/bergscloud/ Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Creative Commons CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Welcome to our new series How to Succeed in CEA! Join Dr. Nadia Sabeh as we roll up our sleeves and learn the “how” of controlled environment agriculture. We’ll talk with growers, suppliers, contractors, and other industry professionals about what it takes to design, build, operate, and grow a thriving CEA business. Along the way, we’ll share equipment mishaps, success stories, and practical tips to help you avoid common pitfalls and keep growing.