Volatile energy costs, unpredictable weather, and ever-higher consumer expectations are pushing growers to seek out better product and quality results. One proven solution? Double screening. Whether you grow fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, or ornamentals, a dual-screen system offers climate precision, labor savings, and overall improved plant health. 

Over many years, countless growers have shared their experiences of double screening with us. Here are 11 compelling reasons to double-screen your greenhouse in their own words, as well as some from Svensson’s Climate Consultants.

1. Double your climate control—exactly when you need it

With two screens you gain a lot of flexibility to manage light, heat, and humidity throughout the day. Deploy one screen or both depending on weather, season, or crop stage.

Moisés Rosas Zamora is the grower responsible for anthurium and orchid crops at Flor y Miel in Cuautla, in the Morelos region of Mexico. He was inspired by a trip to Netherlands to move from traditional black mesh shade curtains to double of Luxous/Harmony screens: ”We realized the importance of using retractable screens and the positive effect that they have on the light,” he said. And he told us more about what led to the decision. "We wanted to create the best climate for the plant by distributing the light better and retaining the humidity more effectively," he added.

2. Stop compromising between light and shade

One specialized screen can diffuse light, reducing hot spots, create uniformity and improve light penetration into the canopy. The second can provide substantial shade or blackout for emissions compliance when needed. This combination gives you precise control over how much light reaches your crop—ideal for sun-sensitive plants like orchids where up to 70% shade must be deployed in high summer.  

At Dutch breeder, Anthura in Bleiswijk, Head of Cultivation Peter Vogal told us that Svensson’s PARperfect solution had created a kind of eternal spring climate, and also resolved their biggest challenge—strips of light and shade. "We see a higher growth rate and better crop quality," said Vogal. ”Harmony's diffusion properties means there is no unevenness. The screen breaks up light bands, and we can maintain a slightly higher light level on average with diffused light."

3. Save serious energy—up to 70% in some cases

The energy savings speak for themselves. For growers in colder regions, a combination of Luxous and Obscura enables high-tech growers to capture energy savings of up to 70%. In Ontario, Canada, Mike Cornelissen of Twin Creeks spoke to Svensson about his double Luxous screens during a cold snap of 0°F: “Today, the boiler is running at only about 50%, and in general we can run our rail pipes at between 110°F and 130°F,” he said. “We are definitely seeing less gas usage and I would say one of the nicest starts of the crop I've ever had thanks to the double screen,” he added. 

Twin Creeks have also made extensive use of ClimaFlow vertical fans from Svensson to further increase their energy savings and create an optimal climate for his peppers to thrive.

4. Boost crop growth and quality

A stable, optimized greenhouse climate leads to healthier, faster-growing plants. Famifarm in Finland combined a clear energy screen (Luxous 1243) with a diffused shade screen (Harmony 3315 O FR), reporting better yield, quality, and even lower carbon impact. Double screens helped maintain ideal temperatures and humidity—accelerating plant development by up to 15% and supporting more frequent crop cycles. 

“The expected savings in energy and the improved product quality together with higher yields made us calculate a pretty short payback time on the investment,” said Managing Director, Jukka Pehkonen.

5. Adapt your climate to each crop and its specific requirements

From hot-house peppers to cool-house lettuce, double screens offer flexibility and precision. Growers gain a more precise level of environmental control. In tomatoes and cucumbers, double screens can compensate for lost radiant heat from sodium lighting when the switch to LEDs is undertaken.  

In hydroponics for leafy greens, double-screening enables a grower to specify a narrow band of climate conditions, according to Svensson Climate Consultant, Hugo Plaisier. 

“Leafy greens are more productive when hydroponic systems are employed, and it’s the big trend for those crops, but the crop can be more vulnerable as well,” says Plaisier. “For this reason, growers tell us they want an even more precise control of the growing climate and for that a double-screening approach like Svensson’s PARperfect can be ideal.”

6. Gain control of humidity

With two screens your span of control over the humidity is greater because you can close one screen, both screens or no screens. This creates a more productive growing environment. Svennson Climate Consultant, Hugo Plaisier, says moisture retention is especially beneficial during early-stage cultivation.

“The young crop has less foliage and therefore less transpiration, so growers value the ability to maintain that humidity using their screening strategy,” he explained.

7. Cut out light pollution and stay compliant

Double screens—especially when one is a blackout screen—greatly reduce night-time light emissions. This is crucial in urban or regulated growing zones, Obscura blackout screens combined with a light-diffusing layer help growers like pepper-grower Allegro Acres in Canada stay in compliance without sacrificing control. 

Gene Ingratta, President of Allegro Acres said his team’s investment in a Luxous 1147 FR and Obscura 9950 FR W double screen set-up meant the greenhouse could be fitted with key technologies to make the operation more environmentally friendly. On top of a 40% saving in energy from the screens, this additionally included misting and new LED lighting: “We are always trying to be better than we were yesterday,” he told Svensson. “We strive to learn, grow and adapt every day to produce the highest quality product in the most efficient way that we can”, said Ingratta.

8. Stabilize temperatures year-round – even during extreme conditions

A second screen acts as an extra buffer, helping prevent heat stress for an innovative grower in Mexico who in 2024 faced unprecedented extreme weather. 

“Our temperature peaks would typically be 30 or 31°C, but in May, 2024 we saw something extreme. We have never seen three heat waves in a row with up to 40 degree temperatures in May,” explained Pharis Rico of Plantanova. 

“We were lucky with the timing of it because we had just installed a PARperfect double screen system from Svensson and this, in combination with vertical fans and fogging, makes a big difference,” he said. Additionally, the company keeps thrips at bay (they like the heat) using Svensson’s Xsect screens.

9. Save on labor and the guesswork of whitewashing​

With two movable screens, there’s no need for seasonal whitewashing or fixed shading that blocks too much light. Many growers have done away with white paint entirely, using Harmony and Obscura screens to adjust shading on demand. That means less labor, less of a gamble on when to paint, and more time with the right light levels for growth. 

“That was one of our goals with the Svensson screens,” said Diamond Flowers Managing Director, Koen Kreling. “We have more flexibility and we can close the screens to keep the harsh sun out.”

10. Create bespoke light conditions for crops that are picky

A layered screen strategy allows you to customize your climate with precision, and with PARperfect the greenhouse can even respond differently to different crop departments. 

Xiamen Tangchao Horticultural Breeding Center in Fujian, China is home to 80 enterprises and a large variety of flower crops. The center is a recently constructed multi-award-winning 5.5 hectare seedling breeding greenhouse. 

"Given the diverse flower types and the necessity for precise climate management, we sought a solution offering adaptable shading and consistent light, Liu Siyang, Head of Tangchao Horticulture Breeding, told Svensson. ”Stability is crucial for genotype selection during breeding."

11. Pay off your investment fast and see improved long-term returns

Between energy savings, crop improvements, and reduced labor spent on an irregularly growing crop, the investment in double screening often pays back within just a few years. Svensson’s Climate Advisors like Paul Arena offer tailored simulations using real greenhouse data to predict energy savings and returns.

JJ Klimp at Randy’s Greenhouse in Kalamazoo, Michigan is one grower who calculated the payback time on his double screen (Harmony/Obscura) investment at 2.5 years. Energy saving was dramatic, JJ said. “Once the screen closes, the furnaces begin shutting off within five minutes throughout the facility,” he added.

Wrapping up: Customized practical advice when it is time to double up

At Svensson, our team of Climate Consultants brings decades of hands-on experience to every greenhouse challenge. Many of our advisors were growers themselves and understand the realities of production from the inside out. Today, they help growers around the world fine-tune their climate strategies with customized, practical advice tailored to each crop, region, and greenhouse setup. If you're considering a double-screen system—or want to get more out of the one you already have—contact the Climate Consultant in your area. We're here to help you take the next step toward a more efficient, productive, and climate-smart greenhouse.