ineries and vineyards are looking for energy-saving measures to implement, both to reduce operating costs and carbon footprint. As mentioned in previous reports in PWV, the best course of action is an energy audit (see Benefits of energy auditing for your winery, May/June 2005), followed by upgrades with small capital outlay. Using the money saved by each improvement, you can move up to projects requiring more capital outlay. The final step once lower energy use is achieved is to install renewable energy to power your operations.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) in California offers wineries and vineyards design assistance and financial incentives (up to $3.6 million per project) to support energy efficient, high performance facilities. Whether building a new winery, or retrofitting old inefficient equipment, the utility, with funding from the state Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) can assist your efficiency upgrade.

“We have found that lighting projects are fairly simple to implement, with low capital outlay, offering a swift pay back,” reports Josaphine Tuchel of PG&E’s Ag and Food Processing program. “Wineries often undertake lighting projects as a first step toward energy efficiency, realize reduced energy costs immediately, and obtain financial and marketing leverage for future energy efficiency projects.”

Using high-efficiency fixtures and lighting controls, and taking advantage of natural daylighting, can substantially minimize energy use while enhancing the functionality of interior space. In every case, replacement fixtures should not exceed the wattage of the original fixtures, and wattage cannot exceed maximums listed in the rebate guidelines [see Table I for details]. Any lighting exceeding 400 watts must be installed at a height of more than 12 feet above the floor.

Rebates range from $35 to $125 per fixture depending on wattage. Complete fixture and bulb refitting to T8- , T5-, or high-output T5-fixtures are recommended for fluorescent lighting (replacing older, less efficient incandescent, mercury vapor, T12 fluorescent, standard metal halide, and high-pressure sodium), and only specified fixture types qualify for rebates.