Soaking up the Sun – Case Study Card

Soaking up the Sun

Wine glasses on a tasting board at a winery

Project

Hounds of Erie Winery shifted their onsite accommodation cabins from gas powered generators to solar panels and lithium battery power banks.

Benefits

Reduced carbon footprint
Reduce operating and maintenance costs
Map showing London, Ontario
London, ON
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Overview

The Hounds of Erie Winery is a family-owned and operated boutique winery located in Norfolk County, Ontario. They specialize in cold climate hybrid grapes and hard ciders. The dog-themed winery is a popular destination for people (and their pups) to travel to during grape-growing season.

Onsite accommodation for visitors include cabins that are supported by gas-powered generators. In addition to the emissions that go with any fossil fuel powered system, the use of generators created other issues as well, including fuel storage logistics and staff to run and maintain the generators.

Looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint, the owners decided to try converting one of the on-farm accommodation cabins to solar power.