Honig Vineyard & Winery – Solar Energy
COMPANY SUMMARY:
Honig Vineyard & Winery consistently creates high quality wines that offer unparalleled value. We accomplish this through constant innovation using a creative and fun approach to business. We are committed to our winery family and our community by operating in a socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable manner.
STARTING DATE: 01/01/2006 | ENDING DATE: ongoing
SUSTAINABLE TARGET
To continue our goal of reducing our carbon footprint and being at the forefront of sustainable practices.
REASON WHY/ MOTIVATION
In a world of diminishing resources, our family makes it standard practice to give back more than we take. We pride ourselves on using sustainable viticulture practices, minimizing farming’s effect on the environment and maximizing the earth’s ability to renew itself. Not only are we saving thousands of dollars a year in electric bills, we are eliminating about 300,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually –– the equivalent of removing 30 standard passenger cars from the roads.
DESCRIPTION AND STRATEGIES
A lot of electricity is used in the making of wine. In addition to powering our offices, and running the bottling line, we run air conditioning and humidifiers in the cellar to protect the integrity of the wine aging in barrel. On average, there are 260 sunny days per year in the Napa Valley. So it made perfect sense for us to look to solar as a sustainable energy source.
In August of 2006, we threw the switch on a photovoltaic system consisting of 819 Sanyo 200-watt ground-mounted modules designed to generate enough power to run the winery. In August of 2015, we added 696 Bosch 270-watt roof-mounted modules, essentially doubling our power production at the winery.
ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR
In August of 2006, we threw the switch on a photovoltaic system consisting of 819 Sanyo 200-watt ground-mounted modules designed to generate enough power to run the winery. But as the winery grew, so did our energy needs. So in August of 2015, we added 696 Bosch 270-watt roof-mounted modules, essentially doubling our power production at the winery. We are continually monitoring our electricity needs, and have plans in the works to update our system to ensure efficiency.
LESSONS LEARNED
As the winery continues to grow, so does our energy need. We are continually monitoring our electricity needs and have plans in the works to update our system to ensure efficiency.
NEXT STEPS
We have plans in the works to update our system to ensure efficiency.
POTENTIAL FOR REPLICATION
We encourage all other businesses that have not yet gone solar, to do so. Not only to save money as a business but to help the environment simultaneously.
