Spence and Chaaban reviewed the winery’s utility rate structure in January 2010 to explore switching some of the winery’s agricultural accounts to more suitable rate schedules. The idea came from Chaaban, who believes that if the winery qualifies for a better rate schedule, JordanWinerymay save up to $5,000 per year.

In January, Jordan Winery implemented a new “Power Shaver” program recommended by IES. Cortese and Nicholas Moen of IES installed five “power factor correction” devices on large equipment motors at the Jordan facility. Field-tested at thewinery in summer 2009, the devices are expected to improve the

power factor of the energy pulled from the utility grid from 85% to 95%.

Moen explains that the devices are designed to flatline energy spikes in motors operating at 7 hp or above on startup (acting as voltage regulators), and to increase the motors’ ability to maximize the use of power as it comes in from the utility grid (converting wasted magnetic energy to useful energy). Acting as capacitors reducing wasted current, the devices should allow the motors to get more use out of the energy they pull from the utility grid, thus reducing the amount of energy needed to run them.

Spence believes JordanWinerywill be one of the first wineries to use the Power Shaver devices, and thinks the experimental program (not eligible for utility rebates) will pay for itself in energy-cost savings. IES estimates the payback period of the installation at 2.46 years, and that the winery can save $14,866 per year on energy bills.

PG&E does not recommend using power factor correction equipment to save energy, nor are any PG&E incentives available for power factor devices.

Spence and his teamcontinue tomonitor the winery’s energy use, vineyard andwinery operations and practices, and overall carbon footprint. His eventual goal? “With facility improvements and future projects, we hope to become carbon neutral,” replies Spence.

IES (Indoor Environmental Services) can be found at www.ies-hvac.com/.

Information about the Wine Industry Efficiency Solutions program (WIES) offered by Resource Solutions Group can be found at www.rsgrp.com/wine.php.