With commercial vacancy rates high, some developers are converting unused office floors into hydroponic farms.Stacked growing trays under LED lighting can produce leafy greens and herbs year-round regardless of outside climate, and buildings already wired for heavy HVAC loads suit the equipment well. Proponents argue the approach shortens supply chains dramatically, letting restaurants and grocers source produce from the same block rather than trucking it hundreds of miles. Skeptics note energy costs remain a significant hurdle to profitability at scale.
