Occupancy sensors are an easy way to drop energy use by automatically turning lighting on or off, based on room occupancy. Rebates are available for hardwired, passive infrared, or ultrasonic detectors to control interior lighting, and for photoelectric cells that switch outdoor lighting on at dusk and off at dawn.

Time clocks controlling lighting equipment are also eligible for rebate. Units should feature a 3-hour battery back-up in case of power outages, and outdoor units without a photocell should feature astronomical time clocks (where on-off time follows sunset and sunrise).

Plug-load occupancy sensors control office equipment using electricity, including shared copiers and printers. Rebates apply when passive infrared and/or ultrasonic plug-load occupancy sensors are installed

The Sobon family are longtime advocates and practitioners of sustainable winegrowing, and in the past several years, have set about reducing their carbon footprint. When they hired Renewable Technologies (RTI, Sutter Creek, CA) to install a solar photovoltaic (PV) system for them, RTI first performed an energy audit, and then recommended affordable efficiency upgrades before they installed the PV system.

Shenandoah consolidated all of its electric meters into a single unit. Electric utility rates are charged, in part, on how electrical energy is used, and by consolidating meters, the winery was able to select a single utility rate schedule and reduce overall billing.

The winery replaced two old, unrated heat pumps in the tasting/ gallery/office areas, with a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system with a SEER-13 rating.