"Being in a time when technology is king, the virtual process of TOTA's energy assessment was second nature for me. It was very helpful because I was provided with information to help my business reduce our energy consumption. As per TOTA's recommendations, I have implemented motion sensors for our light fixtures to reduce energy usage. I am currently working on getting our entire lighting system switched over to LED, as half of the system was already done before. I am also looking into solar energy for the near future.
I would recommend this process to everyone. All you need to know is how your facility operates and TOTA will walk you through the process, which makes it much easier to understand.
With TOTA's virtual energy assessment, I wanted to make sure my business is using the least amount of energy as possible for two main reasons: 1) When I leave planet Earth, I want to make sure the future generations, (which includes my 5-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter), are left with a sustainable planet that can nurture them and keep them healthy. Investing in energy-saving habits now will naturally be passed down to future generations. I want to do my part to give them a safe and healthy planet because we only have one. 2) Cost-saving; by reducing my energy costs and consumption, I can reinvest in my business and community that have helped me get to where I am today. Let's all work together to keep our planet healthy."
About Volcanic Hills Estate Winery’s sustainability Initiatives
At Volcanic Hills, they have a few areas where they try to be as sustainable as possible. For them, sustainability doesn't just mean being conscious about their waste but it also means respecting the land. A few ways in which they do this is through critically environmentally friendly infrastructure and avoiding the use of chemical treatments in the vineyard wherever possible. They have motion sensors set up around all of their interior spaces, including the bathrooms, and their office space in order to reduce the amount of electricity they use.
They have their own state of the art water processing and treatment facility that uses geothermal technology for heating and cooling. This on-site facility ensures that all incoming water is filtered to remove chlorine and metals. All of the water that is used for cleaning or that is a by-product from the actual winemaking is then retreated through their plant and recycled back into the vineyard to be used as irrigation. As we can imagine, water plays a huge role in their business. It's an evolving process that involves respecting and listening to what is needed to produce top-quality wine in a manner that they can be proud of.
Beyond their water, they also return any organic matter back to the earth. Whether it is off-cuts from pruning, stems, grape skins, and sediment deposits, they are used as natural fertilizers. Check them out at volcanichillswinery.com