Leadership pillar

ENERGY SAVINGS & EFFICIENCY

Making wine is actually quite energy intensive. It takes a lot of refrigeration to cool, ferment, and age wines. A lot of hot water to sanitize tanks, barrels, and bottling lines. Napa Green baselines and tracks the energy use of all of our members. Energy efficiency is one of the quickest ways to cut the bottom line.

We’ve seen a winery that makes 25,000 cases of wine spending $2/case on electricity, and another winery of exactly the same size spending $6/case. That’s a difference of $100,000 a year in electricity costs to make the same amount of wine!

Here are some examples of energy efficiency opportunities in vineyards & wineries:

  • Go electric – tractors that is. The new electric Monarch Tractors help growers save fuel and costs in the vineyard.
  • Night-time air for natural cooling in the cellar
  • Upgrade to LED lighting
  • Install motion sensors to automatically control lighting
  • Use skylights and other daylighting
  • Install VFDs on motors and compressors to phase operation based on deman
  • Reduce hot water temperature to 120-140 when higher temps are not needed for cleaning
  • Consistent monitoring & maintenance of equipment
  • Keeping thermostats locked at efficient settings (68 in winter, 76-78 in summer)
  • Improve water efficiency – it takes significant energy to heat, treat and transport water

ENERGY SAVINGS & EFFICIENCY musings

Going Green Energy & Incentives for EV Chargers
Energy efficiency is a core priority for Napa Green Wineries, both for conservation and cost-savings. Maximizing efficiency is especially important when considering the installation of solar renewable energy. As we say, “We don’t want to solarize inefficiencies.” The more efficient the operation, the smaller the scale and footprint of the solar array, reducing the price tag.
Climate Action and Electric Tractors
When discussing reduced herbicide use or organic farming, a common argument made is that more tractor passes are required, which increases emissions and the carbon footprint of vineyard operations. However, that no longer has to be the case as electric tractors are entering the market that are competitive with, or even outcompete, conventional tractors.
For ZD Wines Sustainability is a Daily Endeavor
ZD Wines, a family-owned winery operated by the 2nd and 3rd generations of the deLeuze family, is celebrating 50 years in the Napa Valley. They are a perfect case study of how embracing sustainability can support production of great tasting, world-class wines.