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6 6 V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T | N o v - D e c 2 016 w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m BY M.V. WOOD + Use resources such as your local utility company, state agencies, private consultants, university extension programs and wine industry groups. + Start off with the measures that will give you the most return on your investment, and then funnel those savings back into the next tier of energy conservation projects. + Take a close look at your refrigeration, lighting, HVAC, process equipment and wastewater treatment systems to get the most bang for your buck. AT A GLANCE eplace something here, t w e a k s o m e t h i n g t h e r e and, through some fairly simple energy conservation measures at your winery, you can end up slashing energy consumption by 20% or more. Not only does that spell out big savings on your utility bill, but it also rein- forces a work culture focused on caring for the environment, an important asset in an indus- try known for its commitment to sustainability. Any way you look at it, those tweaks and adjust- ments pay off. WHERE TO START? There are many resources out there to help wineries reduce energy costs and attain sus- tainability goals. Look for state agencies, private consultants, university extension programs and wine industry groups. A great place to start is with your local utility company. Many of them offer free, streamlined services in which experts will visit wineries, identify oppor- tunities to reduce energy use and provide recommendations b a s e d o n i n d u s t r y - s p e c i f i c experience. They also have the added benefit of providing simplified access to the many rebates and incentive programs put in place to help fund these energy-saving projects. In California, wineries con- tacted for this article gave rave reviews for PG&E's Wine Indus- try Efficiency Solutions (WIES) Program, which provides a free, third-party analysis of energy use and expert recommenda- t i o n s o n p o t e n t i a l i m p r o v e - SeamlessSustainability Employing energy conservation measures means big savings for your winery. The UC Davis Jess S. Jackson Sustainable Winery Building is the first self-sustainable, zero-carbon teaching and research facility in the world.