Livgreen
Black Amber, Bubba Berry, Cherry Diesel, Cookies N Cream, Durban Kush #8, Georgia Pie, KPF, LCS, Marshmallow OG #9, Miracle Alien Cookies, Oui Oui, PAY, Platinum Kush Breath, SNI, SNX, Sherb Crasher, Slurricane, Sour Rado, Sugar Rush #2, Tart Pops #4, Triangle OG, Woosah, Yuk Mouth
Lucky Monkey Buds
Cherry Diesel, PAY, Platinum Kush Breath, Yuk Mouth
Magnolia Rd
Bubba Berry, Durban Kush #8, Grape Gasoline S1, LCS, Marshmallow OG #9, SNI, Sherb Crasher, Triangle OG, Woosah
Magnolia Road
A-Bay Bay, Apples & Bananas, Bordeaux #5, Bubba Berry, Cherry Diesel, Cookies N Cream, Divine Kush Breath, Durban Kush #8, Fubar, Glitter Bomb, Grape Gasoline S1, LCS, Marshmallow OG #9, OG Sin, Oui Oui, PAY, Platinum Kush Breath, SNI, Sherb Crasher, Shock Tart, Sour Rado, Street Urchin, Tart Pops #4, Triangle OG, Woosah, Yuk Mouth
Makena
Durban Kush #8, LCS, PAY, SNI, Slurricane, Sour Rado, Street Urchin
Medicine Man
Durban Kush #8, Forza Sans Souci #4, PAY, Peach Kush #2, Platinum Kush Breath, SNI, Shock Tart, Tart Pops #4, Woosah, Yuk Mouth
Mellow Harvest
Durban Kush #8, KPF, SNX, Sueno, Veritas Cookies
Native Roots
A-Bay Bay, Apples & Bananas, Black Amber, Bubba Berry, Cherry Diesel, Cherry Hills, Divine Kush Breath, Durban Kush #8, Georgia Pie, Glitter Bomb, Marshmallow OG #9, Miracle Alien Cookies, Muffinz Breath #1, OG Sin, OZ Kush, Oui Oui, PAY, Passionfruit, Platinum Kush Breath, SNI, Strawberries N Cream, Sugar Rush #2, Yuk Mouth
Police and Thieves
Durban Kush #8, LCS, SNI, Sherb Crasher, Triangle OG
RoadRunner
KPF, SNX, Veritas Cookies
Rocky Mountain Blaze
Black Amber, Cherry Diesel, Georgia Pie, Miracle Alien Cookies, Oui Oui, Platinum Kush Breath, Sugar Rush #2, Yuk Mouth
Rocky Mountain Cannasol
A-Bay Bay, Blueberry Lemonade, Glitter Bomb, Grape Gasoline S1, Medellin, Tart Pops #4
Rocky Road Remedies
Black Amber, Cherry Diesel, Cherry Hills, Cookies N Cream, Durban Kush #8, Glitter Bomb, Marshmallow OG #9, Miracle Alien Cookies, Peach Kush #2, Platinum Kush Breath, SNI, SNX, Slurricane, Sour Apple, Sugar Rush #2, Tart Pops #4, Turnt
Roots RX
Muffinz Breath #1, Platinum Kush Breath, SNX, Yuk Mouth
Roots Rx
A-Bay Bay, Fubar, Grape Gasoline S1, LCS, Peach Kush #2, Platinum Kush Breath, Sherb Crasher, Tart Pops #4
Simply Pure
Durban Kush #8, PAY, SNI
Skunked
OG Sin, Oui Oui, Peach Crescendo #2, Platinum Kush Breath, SNX
Solace Meds
Blueberry Lemonade, Divine Kush Breath, KPF, Passionfruit, SNI, SNX, Slurricane, Watermelon Sorbet
Spark Dispensary
Divine Kush Breath, Durban Kush #8, Marshmallow OG #9, PAY, SNI, SNX, Slurricane, Watermelon Sorbet
Standing Akimbo
Apples & Bananas, Cherry Hills, Durban Kush #8, Marshmallow OG #9, Muffinz Breath #1, OZ Kush, PAY, SNI, Sudz, WOF, Wedding Crasher
THE GREEN SOLUTION LLC
Sherb Crasher, Sour Diesel, Sour Rado
The 404 Dispensary
A-Bay Bay, Cookies N Cream, Fubar, Grape Gasoline S1, OG Sin, Oui Oui, SNI, Sour Rado, Woosah, Yuk Mouth
The 64 Store
Apples & Bananas, Bubba Berry
The Dispo
Bubba Berry, Cherry Diesel, Georgia Pie, Grape Gasoline S1, LCS, Marshmallow OG #9, Miracle Alien Cookies, Oui Oui, PAY, Passionfruit, Platinum Kush Breath, SNX, Sherb Crasher, Slurricane, Sugar Rush #2, Tart Pops #4, Triangle OG, Yuk Mouth
The Green Solution
Bordeaux #5, Cherry Diesel, Cherry Hills, Cookies N Cream, Durban Kush #8, Forza Sans Souci #4, Medellin, Miracle Alien Cookies, OG Sin, PAY, Peach Kush #2, SNI, SNX, Sherb Crasher, Slurricane, Sour Diesel, Sour Rado, Street Urchin, Sugar Rush #2, Tart Pops #4, Woosah, Yuk Mouth
The Happy Camper
Divine Kush Breath, Durban Kush #8, Muffinz Breath #1, SNI, Sherb Crasher
The Kind Castle
KPF, LCS, Sour Rado
Third Day Apothecary
Cherry Diesel, OG Sin, Oui Oui, Platinum Kush Breath, Yuk Mouth
Top Crop
Cherry Hills, Durban Kush #8, KPF, SNX, Sueno, Veritas Cookies
Tumbleweed
Divine Kush Breath, Durban Kush #8, Forza Sans Souci #4, SNX, Woosah, Yuk Mouth
Twin Peaks
Bubba Berry, Cherry Diesel, Georgia Pie, Miracle Alien Cookies, Sherb Crasher, Sour Rado, Sugar Rush #2, Triangle OG, Yuk Mouth
ANNA
Black Amber, Cherry Diesel, Georgia Pie, Miracle Alien Cookies, Oui Oui, Platinum Kush Breath, Sour Diesel, Sugar Rush #2, Yuk Mouth
Bud Board
Cherry Hills, Durban Kush #8, KPF, SNX, Sueno, Veritas Cookies
Buku Loud
A-Bay Bay, Apples & Bananas, Bubba Berry, Cherry Hills, Durban Kush #8, Marshmallow OG #9, Muffinz Breath #1, OZ Kush, SNI
COS Confidential
Apples & Bananas, Bubba Berry, Cherry Hills, Durban Kush #8, Oui Oui, SNI
Canna Cabinet
Blueberry Lemonade, Bubba Berry, Cherry Diesel, Divine Kush Breath, Glitter Bomb, Marshmallow OG #9, OG Sin, Oui Oui, PAY, Passionfruit, Platinum Kush Breath, SNI, SNX, Slurricane, Tangidos, Watermelon Sorbet, Woosah, Yuk Mouth
Cannabicare
Apples & Bananas, Black Amber, Bubba Berry, Cherry Diesel, Georgia Pie, Miracle Alien Cookies, Platinum Kush Breath, Sugar Rush #2, Yuk Mouth
Cherry Peak
Bubba Berry, Cherry Diesel, Cherry Hills, Divine Kush Breath, Durban Kush #8, Marshmallow OG #9, Miracle Alien Cookies, OG Sin, Oui Oui, PAY, Passionfruit, Platinum Kush Breath, SNI, SNX, Sherb Crasher, Slurricane, Sugar Rush #2, Triangle OG, Watermelon Sorbet, Woosah, Yuk Mouth
Colorado Harvest Company
Cherry Diesel, Durban Kush #8, Georgia Pie, LCS, Marshmallow OG #9, PAY, Passionfruit, Platinum Kush Breath, SNI, SNX, Slurricane, Sour Rado, Watermelon Sorbet, Woosah, Yuk Mouth
Dark Matter
Cherry Hills, Durban Kush #8, KPF, SNX, Sueno, Veritas Cookies
Denver Kush Club
Oui Oui, SNX, Sour Rado
Euflora
Divine Kush Breath, Passionfruit, Watermelon Sorbet
Green Dragon
A-Bay Bay, Black Amber, Bordeaux #5, Cookies N Cream, Durban Kush #8, Fubar, Georgia Pie, Grape Gasoline S1, LCS, Miracle Alien Cookies, SNI, Sherb Crasher, Slurricane, Sour Rado, Sugar Rush #2, Tart Pops #4, Woosah
Green World
Cherry Hills, Marshmallow OG #9, PAY, Woosah
High Class
Sueno, Veritas Cookies
High Octane
Grape Gasoline S1, OG Sin, SNX, Woosah, Yuk Mouth
Karmaceuticals
Durban Kush #8, PAY, Passionfruit, SNI, Watermelon Sorbet
LivWell- Broadway
Apples & Bananas, Bananaghani, Blueberry Lemonade, Bubba Berry, Circus Act, Durban Kush #8, Malibu Mirage, Marmot OG, Medellin, Melonade #8, Muffinz Breath #1, Oui Oui, Sour Apple, Strawberries N Cream, Turnt
LivWell- Broomfield
Malibu Mirage, Mating Call, Medellin, Melonade #8, Oui Oui, Sour Apple, Tangidos, Triangle OG
LivWell- Buckley
A-Bay Bay, Blueberry Lemonade, Bubba Berry, Cherry Punch, Forza Sans Souci #4, Glitter Bomb, Grape Gasoline S1, Malibu Mirage, Mating Call, Medellin, Melonade #8, Miracle Alien Cookies, Muffinz Breath #1, OG Sin, Oui Oui, Platinum Kush Breath, Sour Apple, Strawberries N Cream, Sueno, Tangidos, Toxic Boo, Triangle OG, Yuk Mouth
LivWell- Central Park
Bubba Berry, Durban Kush #8, Malibu Mirage, Medellin, Melonade #8, OG Sin, Sour Apple, Tangidos, Tart Pops #4, Woosah
LivWell- Colfax/City Park
Blueberry Lemonade, Bubba Berry, Medellin, Strawberries N Cream, Sueno, Turnt
LivWell- Colorado Blvd
Bubba Berry, Mating Call, Medellin, Melonade #8, Strawberries N Cream, Street Urchin, Tangidos, Tart Pops #4
LivWell- Commerce City
Apples & Bananas, Bubba Berry, Glitter Bomb, Malibu Mirage, Mating Call, Medellin, Melonade #8, Strawberries N Cream, Street Urchin
LivWell- Cortez
Apples & Bananas, Bubba Berry, Cherry Diesel, Glitter Bomb, Grape Gasoline S1, Mating Call, Medellin, Melonade #8, Muffinz Breath #1, Oui Oui, Shock Tart, Strawberries N Cream, Street Urchin, Toxic Boo, Triangle OG, Turnt, Yuk Mouth
LivWell- Evans
Blueberry Lemonade, Bubba Berry, Glitter Bomb, Malibu Mirage, Mating Call, Medellin, Melonade #8, Muffinz Breath #1, Oui Oui, Sour Apple, Sueno, Tangidos, Toxic Boo, Triangle OG, Turnt
LivWell- Federal Heights
Apples & Bananas, Bananaghani, Bubba Berry, Fubar, Glitter Bomb, Malibu Mirage, Medellin, Melonade #8, Oui Oui, Shock Tart, Sour Apple, Strawberries N Cream, Tangidos, Toxic Boo, Triangle OG, Yuk Mouth
LivWell- Ft Collins
A-Bay Bay, Apples & Bananas, Bananaghani, Blueberry Lemonade, Bubba Berry, Cherry Punch, Durban Kush #8, Electric Lemonade, Forza Sans Souci #4, Fubar, Glitter Bomb, Grape Gasoline S1, Malibu Mirage, Marmot OG, Mating Call, Medellin, Melonade #8, Muffinz Breath #1, OG Sin, Oui Oui, Pancakes, Platinum Kush Breath, Sherb Crasher, Sour Apple, Sour Rado, Strawberries N Cream, Sueno, Sunset Drive, Tangidos, Tart Pops #4, Toxic Boo, Triangle OG, Turnt, UNI, Woosah, Yuk Mouth
LivWell- Garden City
A-Bay Bay, Apples & Bananas, Bananaghani, Blueberry Lemonade, Bubba Berry, Cherry Diesel, Cherry Punch, Circus Act, Durban Kush #8, Electric Lemonade, Fubar, Glitter Bomb, Grape Gasoline S1, Malibu Mirage, Marmot OG, Mating Call, Medellin, Melonade #8, Muffinz Breath #1, OG Sin, Oui Oui, Pancakes, Platinum Kush Breath, Sherb Crasher, Sour Apple, Sour Diesel, Sour Rado, Strawberries N Cream, Street Urchin, Sueno, Sunset Drive, Tangidos, Tart Pops #4, Toxic Boo, Triangle OG, Turnt, UNI, Veritas Cookies, Woosah, Yuk Mouth
LivWell- Highlands
Cherry Punch, Durban Kush #8, Malibu Mirage, Medellin, Melonade #8, Shock Tart, Tangidos
LivWell- Lakewood
Bananaghani, Bubba Berry, Fubar, Malibu Mirage, Medellin, Muffinz Breath #1, Oui Oui, Tangidos, Turnt
LivWell- Log Lane
Apples & Bananas, Blueberry Lemonade, Bubba Berry, Fubar, Glitter Bomb, Malibu Mirage, Mating Call, Medellin, Melonade #8, Miracle Alien Cookies, Sour Apple, Strawberries N Cream, Tangidos, Triangle OG
LivWell- Mancos
Bananaghani, Bubba Berry, Cherry Punch, Medellin, Melonade #8, Muffinz Breath #1, Sour Apple, Strawberries N Cream, Street Urchin
LivWell- N 2nd St Berthoud
A-Bay Bay, Apples & Bananas, Bananaghani, Blueberry Lemonade, Bubba Berry, Cherry Punch, Circus Act, Durban Kush #8, Electric Lemonade, Fubar, Glitter Bomb, Grape Gasoline S1, Malibu Mirage, Marmot OG, Mating Call, Medellin, Melonade #8, Miracle Alien Cookies, Muffinz Breath #1, OG Sin, Oui Oui, Platinum Kush Breath, Sherb Crasher, Sour Apple, Sour Rado, Strawberries N Cream, Sueno, Sunset Drive, Tangidos, Triangle OG, Turnt, Veritas Cookies, Yuk Mouth
LivWell- N Pueblo
A-Bay Bay, Apples & Bananas, Bananaghani, Blueberry Lemonade, Bubba Berry, Cherry Punch, Durban Kush #8, Glitter Bomb, Mating Call, Medellin, Melonade #8, Miracle Alien Cookies, Muffinz Breath #1, Oui Oui, Sour Apple, Strawberries N Cream, Toxic Boo, Turnt, Yuk Mouth
LivWell- Park Hill
Cherry Punch, Marmot OG, Medellin, Melonade #8, Oui Oui
LivWell- Peoria St
A-Bay Bay, Apples & Bananas, Bananaghani, Blueberry Lemonade, Bubba Berry, Fubar, Glitter Bomb, Malibu Mirage, Medellin, Melonade #8, Miracle Alien Cookies, Muffinz Breath #1, Oui Oui, Sour Apple, Strawberries N Cream, Sueno, Triangle OG, Turnt, Veritas Cookies
LivWell- S Pueblo
Apples & Bananas, Blueberry Lemonade, Bubba Berry, Georgia Pie, Grape Gasoline S1, Malibu Mirage, Mating Call, Medellin, Melonade #8, Muffinz Breath #1, OG Sin, Toxic Boo, Triangle OG, Turnt
LivWell- Tower Rd
Apples & Bananas, Blueberry Lemonade, Bubba Berry, Georgia Pie, Malibu Mirage, Mating Call, Medellin, Melonade #8, Muffinz Breath #1, Oui Oui, Strawberries N Cream, Tangidos, Triangle OG, Turnt
LivWell- Trinidad
Apples & Bananas, Bubba Berry, Cherry Punch, Durban Kush #8, Malibu Mirage, Medellin, Melonade #8, Miracle Alien Cookies, Oui Oui, Sour Apple, Tangidos
LivWell- Uptown
A-Bay Bay, Blueberry Lemonade, Bubba Berry, Cherry Punch, Glitter Bomb, Medellin, Melonade #8, Muffinz Breath #1, Oui Oui, Strawberries N Cream, Turnt, Woosah
LivWell-RiNo
A-Bay Bay, Apples & Bananas, Bananaghani, Blueberry Lemonade, Bubba Berry, Cherry Punch, Durban Kush #8, Electric Lemonade, Forza Sans Souci #4, Fubar, Glitter Bomb, Grape Gasoline S1, Malibu Mirage, Marmot OG, Mating Call, Melonade #8, Miracle Alien Cookies, Muffinz Breath #1, OG Sin, Oui Oui, Sour Apple, Sour Rado, Strawberries N Cream, Sueno, Sunset Drive, Tangidos, Toxic Boo, Turnt, UNI, Veritas Cookies, Yuk Mouth

March 20, 2023


PROFILES IN LIGHTING | Libra Design

March 16, 2023

Libra Design custom engineers science-backed LED lighting for controlled environment agriculture with reduced equipment expense.

Carrie Meadows

Libra Design co-founders Dung Duong and Travis Williams bring a passion for precision to the development of horticultural lighting fixtures.
Libra Design co-founders Dung Duong and Travis Williams bring a passion for precision to the development of horticultural lighting fixtures.

View Image Gallery

EDITED BY CARRIE MEADOWS

Two years ago, Travis Williams and Dung Duong combined their experience and skillsets in semiconductors, LEDs, and solid-state lighting technology development to found Libra Design in Austin, Texas. The colleagues first met at BML Horticulture, which eventually became Fluence Bioengineering. (Fluence has since been acquired by lighting manufacturer Signify.)

The premise for Libra Design grew over their time with BML and Fluence: Develop a firm dedicated to crafting lighting for controlled environment agriculture (CEA) that could leverage the benefits of LEDs while driving down barriers to SSL adoption in the sector.

Along with a bachelor of science in communications from the University of Texas at Austin, Williams brings a 15-year career in the semiconductor industry to the venture. Before entering the horticulture lighting industry, Williams led the introduction of new products, business units, and ecosystem partnerships at AMD.

Duong holds more than 40 patents in the LED industry, including specialty optics and heatsinks. Prior to Libra Design, he was the founder and chief science officer of Illumitex and co-founder of BML Horticulture. Duong has dual bachelor of science degrees in optics engineering and electrical engineering from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, in Indiana.

Libra CTO Duong and CEO Williams lead a lean operation from their Virginia and Vermont offices, respectively.

With custom engineered horticultural LED luminaires, Veritas Fine Cannabis achieved a 60% yield increase and 20% reduction in energy use compared to its prior HPS installation.
With custom engineered horticultural LED luminaires, Veritas Fine Cannabis achieved a 60% yield increase and 20% reduction in energy use compared to its prior HPS installation.

Firm mission: Our mission is to address global food insecurity and the climate crisis by removing the financial and technological barriers to horticulture lighting systems for CEA. It offers tremendous benefits compared to conventional agriculture yet remains a niche player in the global food system, primarily due to the extensive capital and operating costs โ€” which we aim to remove.

What we are known for: Customized horticulture lighting solutions for indoor and greenhouse farms that are high performance and high quality without the high price tag.

First commission: While our primary focus is accelerating CEA food production, we are extremely passionate about working with the commercial cannabis industry to increase efficiencies and reduce its carbon footprint.

Last summer, we worked on a lighting retrofit project for Veritas Fine Cannabis, one of Coloradoโ€™s largest cannabis cultivation brands based in Denver. Like most cannabis producers in Colorado, Veritas was facing macroeconomic pressures to increase operational efficiencies as statewide supply outweighed demand. To help Veritas reduce opex and increase production, we worked with its management and cultivation team to develop a lighting solution to replace the existing high-pressure sodium equipment, resulting in a 60% yield increase and 20% reduction in energy use. Not only was this a home run for our client, but a truly rewarding result for Libra as we kickstart our goal of making LED solutions accessible for all crop producers.

Design rendering of High-Flux, capable of radiating up to 3,000 µmol/s in greenhouse and high-bay facilities, while employing a patent-pending thermal management system.
Design rendering of High-Flux, capable of radiating up to 3,000 ยตmol/s in greenhouse and high-bay facilities, while employing a patent-pending thermal management system.

Firm culture: Libra Design is a private, self-funded, and mission-based company. These factors drive a culture based on purpose rather than shareholder value, investor returns, or other financial-based metrics (for example, EBITDA), which dominate conventional business and influence both short- and long-term decision making. We believe this foundation materializes in better solutions for our clients and relationships with our partners, and a culture with personal and professional fulfillment at the forefront.

Favorite lighting/engineering rule of thumb, standard, or equation: Conservation of radiance [ฮฆ/(n2Aฮฉ)=ฮฆ1/(n12A1ฮฉ1)]. The radiance through a lossless optical system is constant, yet, like perpetual motion, everyone tries to โ€œcheatโ€ it and ultimately gets proven wrong. While simple, its underlying principles define the aperture of a lighting system, regardless of the complexity of the optical system, defining the exit aperture to control a beam at 100% efficient. This equation has proved so profound throughout Duongโ€™s career that he named his son Radiant.

Industry generalization or perception that should be debunked: We continue to see a disproportionate amount of attention and capital spent on spectra for commercial horticulture lighting systems. Our experience continues to demonstrate spectrum is less important to overall crop and business success than other factors โ€” PPFD, efficacy, and capex/opex. While spectrum plays a vital role in the development of crops, we believe the focus needs to shift to a balanced approach with intensity, energy efficiency, and sound financials in the foreground.

Libra Design leverages deep supply-chain relationships in order to develop fixtures that are priced according to the functionality each customer requires, rather than increasing price with unnecessary features.
Libra Design leverages deep supply-chain relationships in order to develop fixtures that are priced according to the functionality each customer requires, rather than increasing price with unnecessary features.

Top industry concern today: The short-term viability of vertical farming remains a concern as most farms continue to depend on outside investment โ€” not solely for the upfront costs but also to cover operating costs as a substitute for profitability. While we are encouraged by some farms turning their attention to sound operations, many still have unnecessarily high capex/opex from equipment and product features that do not substantially affect the bottom line. Although some of the large costs are inevitable, we hope to provide solutions that allow growers to achieve profitability.

Technology, product, or designer you admire: On-site power generation with a centralized DC grid to power horticulture LED fixtures. Both the cost and energy efficiency of LED fixtures are starting to reach an asymptote. The next wave of significant cost and energy savings will come from a centralized DC grid system.

Mid-Flux module is less than 1 inch thick to allow for high crop density and increased air flow in vertical farms (shown in 2x4 configuration).
Mid-Flux module is less than 1 inch thick to allow for high crop density and increased air flow in vertical farms (shown in 2x4 configuration).

What should the industry talk more about? The unsustainable carbon footprint of CEA. LEDs are more energy efficient than incumbent lighting technologies, and CEA facilities offer tremendous upsides compared to conventional agriculture. Still, we must offset the energy used from carbon-based power generation. A typical indoor farm requires anywhere from 14 to more than 70W per square foot for lighting alone, whereas a typical office or retail space requires less than 1W per square foot. Vendors, designers, policy makers, and crop producers must work together to address this issue. For our part, Libra maintains a minimum 2.7 ยตmol/J efficacy design principle and is also a member of 1% for the Planet, so proceeds from every order go to planting a tree.

Advice to anyone interested in developing CEA lighting or entering the industry: Focus on the core metrics with a constant evaluation of the market needs. Like every business, itโ€™s about providing enough value to ensure scalable growth. Both CEA technology and the industry are evolving rapidly. What worked last year may not work this year.

Donate to Last Prisoner Project

$