2021 WINNERS - Business Excellence Awards Sustainable and Environmental Category
October 2021
We are thrilled to have won this very special award for our continued dedication to living and working in a low-carbon footprint environment within our Estate over the years, whilst creating and selling our wines from our new off-grid Cellar Door and Bistro – completed in October 2021.
The research Peter accomplished during his four-year Master’s degree in Wine Technology and Viticulture in 2012 enabled Silver Spoon Estate to have the science data and a better understanding of our environment with his projects on soil moisture retention for longevity of the vines, gravel mulching – what works best to supporting and strengthening our dry-grown vineyards throughout the cool winters and warming summer seasons throughout the years, while continuing our recycle program and identifying more effective sustainable farming practices with building kangaroo fencing around our Dowds Lane vineyard and other land projects.
Our new upgraded 64 solar panels are generating 33kW hours supported by a new lithium-ion battery system with diesel generator for back-up power when the battery capacity is low during the winter months. We are proud to have saved over 17 tonne of CO2 emissions since installation less than 16 months ago.
Sunergy Solar and Batteries in Bendigo worked alongside Peter to obtain the best solution for our energy requirements with the high volume of electrical items required to run our new Cellar Door. We are very proud to be ‘green’ and have a very low carbon footprint for now and into the future.
From our humble beginnings in 2008 when we purchased 100 acres of land (with no electricity), to building a small cellar door with only 12-volt lighting and a generator, to building an off-grid Metricon home in 2017 and a large commercial Cellar door, Bistro, new barrel room, winery extension and outdoor alfresco areas all off-grid in 2021, we continue grow within the confines of our awareness to this important environment we live, work and enjoy here at Silver Spoon Estate.
