Russian River DuMOL Winery Goes Solar — Reduces Carbon Footprint and Saves Energy & Money Too
Novato- and Sonoma-based SolarCraft announced the completion of a 123.5 kW solar energy installation at DuMOL Winery in Windsor, CA. The newly constructed state-of-the-art wine making facility, in the heart of the Russian River Valley, is now powered by the sun.
The solar energy system consists of nearly 7,000 square feet of SunPower High-Efficiency 315 watt solar panels — the most efficient photovoltaic panel on the market today. SolarCraft designed and installed the system using a non-penetrating roof mount system. The solar energy system's photovoltaic panels convert sunlight directly into electricity and will generate approximately 185,000 kilowatt hours of energy annually, offsetting the winery's yearly energy consumption.
The DuMOL winery was the first LEED-certified commercial building constructed in the Windsor Township. The addition of solar power significantly enhances DuMOL's green business strategy as the system will satisfy nearly all of their electrical energy requirements while reducing their carbon footprint. The project payback is projected to be less than six years followed by significant cost savings for decades to come.
"After careful consideration, we chose SolarCraft for our project because of their long standing reputation and track record, particularly with renewable projects in the wine sector," says partner Michael Verlander. "Their design using the highest efficiency SunPower modules allowed us to maximize energy production in limited space giving us an excellent return on investment. Their installation team was top notch, and they did an exemplary, professional job from start to finish."
The new solar energy system will enable DuMOL Winery to generate enough clean electricity each day to power more than 62 homes. It will spare the air nearly 109 tons of harmful greenhouse gases annually. Over the next 30 years, the air pollution saved will be equivalent to eliminating over 7.5 million miles of driving.
About DuMOL
DuMOL Estate Vineyard is located on 30 acres of east-facing slopes within the cool Green Valley sub-appellation of the historic Russian River Valley. Founded 1996, DuMOL produces a stellar lineup of highly-acclaimed Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay and Viognier. Partners Kerry Murphy, Andy Smith and Michael Verlander prefer to lead a low profile and let their wines speak for themselves. DuMOL wines are available through their pre-release membership program and in fine restaurants. They consistently sell out months prior to their release date.
