Environment
Elderton is a leader within the Australian wine industry due to our environmental sustainability. We have proactively implemented a number of initiatives in the day to day operations of the winery, in order to minimise our environmental footprint and to promote a sustainable, clean and environmentally responsible work place. These initiatives include:
Solar Power
Elderton has erected a major solar panel grid on the winery, making it one of the largest solar projects undertaken by a winery in Australia. The system, comprising of 168 panels, was installed in September 2010. The grid will be able to generate 150kW of clean power daily, which is expected to easily satisfy the winery's electricity demand outside vintage. This will help to reduce the winery's carbon dioxide emissions by at least 55 tonnes annually.
Offsetting Carbon Emissions
Elderton was the first winery in South Australia to use the Trees for Life program to further consider our carbon emissions. We have considered our carbon footprint in line with the Australian Government's Department of Climate Change National Greenhouse Energy Reporting Act and measured the Scope 1 & 2 carbon emissions generated by the business. This includes emissions associated with company vehicle (fuel) use and electricity usage. We have also chosen to measure domestic and international plane travel (Scope 3 emissions). We have then offset all of these company emissions by planting trees. This is an annual commitment. Click here to read about just one of the ways that Elderton is helping a Trees for Life in its revegetation projects in the SA through this commitment.
Elderton Wines have also been commended in the Australian Government Greenhouse Gas abatement program, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by over 37 million tonnes over the life of the Greenhouse Challenge Plus program.
Water Recycling
Elderton's winery effluent system has been upgraded so that 100 per cent of the water that goes through the system is recycled to a quality level that can be used on the vineyard. We expect to save the equivalent of around half our existing water allocation by recycling-around 5ML of water annually.
In 2008 we also increased the on-site tank storage to harvest more rainwater off the Elderton buildings in Nuriootpa, adding to our water self-sufficiency. We are looking to increase this storage capacity in the near future.
Environmentally Sound Cellar Door
Our Cellar Door cottage is now combining the use of solar power and traditional power for its electricity source. Along with this, we have specially designed water-wise bathroom facilities and infrastructure in place for the utilisation of rain water stores. We are aiming to develop one of the most environmentally sound cellar doors in Australia.
Bio-Dynamics
Increasingly, Elderton is turning to bio-dynamic farming techniques in our own vineyards. 2007 was the first year that we trialled these methods in one block of old vine Cabernet and one block of old vine Shiraz. Based on the results of continuing trials we may look to convert the rest of our Estate holdings.
Our first biodynamic wine was released in mid 2009, the 2008 Neil Ashmead Grand Tourer Shiraz. Click here for further information on this wine.
North Para River Regeneration
In conjunction with the Barossa Council and the Adelaide and Mt Lofty Natural Resources Management Board, Elderton is regenerating the banks of the North Para River where it flows through our Estate in Nuriootpa. Stage 1 was finished in April 2008. This involved the planting of various native plants to enhance biodiversity on the Elderton Estate and will begin to bring the waterway back to its former state. Stage 2 is also complete, with stages 3 and 4 to take place over the next few years.
Organic Certification
Elderton's winery has certification from the Australian Certified Organic Organisation. This means we have the capability to make organic wines for our contract winemaking clients, or our own in the future.
Green Ochre
In addition to the above initiatives that have been implemented, Elderton has previously employed the services of Green Ochre, who conducted a walk through audit of our winemaking facilities, to see if there were any other areas in which we could further improve Elderton as an environmentally sustainable business. Richard Furler, Director of Green Ochre had the following comments:
“It is very rare to walk into a facility and find few energy saving opportunities with respect to operational issues. Richard Langford, Chief Winemaker, understands the relationship between winemaking and energy consumption. For example, equipment that could be turned off was turned off (such as lights, air conditioners, pumps and compressors). Natural ventilation and lighting are utilised to minimise heating, cooling and energy requirements. There was no evidence of over sizing of equipment. Even the process of fermentation has been optimised to minimise the peak cooling requirements for the chillers.
Recently, the roof had been upgraded to make full use of natural lighting. It is estimated that this has resulted in a reduction of lighting operating hours of 2,250 hours per year. As a consequence, it is estimated that electrical consumption has reduced by 12,500 kWh per year. In turn, this has reduced carbon emissions by 10.6 tonnes per year and cost savings of over $1,500 have been achieved. This is equivalent to taking two Ford Falcons off the road, each travelling 20,000 km.
Green Ochre would like to congratulate Elderton Wines on their high level of understanding of energy efficiency in wine making.”
Richard Furler, Director, Green Ochre Pty Ltd, can be contacted on 08 8354 3498 and their website address is www.greenochre.com.au.
