Solar energy system: $1,000,000
Last month’s energy bill: $1.19
Reduced carbon emissions: Priceless

What sounds like an advertisement by a well-known financial institution is actually taken from a postcard you can find at Honig Vineyard. In August 2006, the winery threw the switch on its photovoltaic system and has been 100% solar-powered since then. With 819 Sanyo 200-watt modules, the installation was one of the largest in the country when it was installed. Mounted on the ground, the modules generate sufficient power to run the whole winery, including cooling and bottling. This allows Honig to save over $42,000 a year in electricity bills. Not only that: Over the next 30 years, it will prevent over 7.5 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions (the equivalent of planting more than 34 acres of carbon dioxide-absorbing trees). The economics seem to be working out, according to Michael Honig:

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Solar professionals, what are you doing on Saturday?! I would like to invite you to a special event with a unique cause: CleanTechies is organizing a “Solar-Powered Wine Tour”, an exclusive event for thought leaders in Solar and in organizations and industries that support it – and it would be great if you could join us!

We will be visiting three innovative solar-powered vineyards close to San Francisco, and all proceeds of the event will go to Solar Richmond, a fabulous non-profit that deserves recognition and backing.

Space is limited to 24 people, and there are still a couple of spaces left. So if you don’t have plans for Saturday yet and want to join an interesting group of Solar professionals for a fun and relaxed day, read on to learn more and how you can participate.

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