Citizen Green Solutions Help Kunde Family Estate Winery Go Greener with Solar Water Heating

 — One of the Largest Solar Thermal Installations in Sonoma County

KENWOOD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Citizen Green Solutions, a renewable energy solutions company and the Kunde Family Estate Winery announced a new Solar Thermal installation, which generates hot water using the sun's energy. Solar water heating is ideal for the wineries with a large demand for hot water used for sterilization and cleaning process.

The 1,000 square foot solar thermal system was financed via the Sonoma County Energy Efficiency Program (SCEIP) and is expected to save the winery $95,000 in natural gas costs and displace more than 491 tons of carbon dioxide over the next 30 years.

"Citizen Green Solutions showed us how we could cut more carbon emissions with solar thermal than photovoltaic," said, Chairman Jeff Kunde. "Our new solar water heating system reinforces our goal of being a green winery and is a tangible demonstration of our commitment to sustainability."

"It is an honor to help the Kunde family advance their sustainable winemaking practices," said Rob Smits, Chief Operating Officer of Citizen Green Solutions. "Their solar water heating system provides a model to other wineries who want to reduce their utility bill and use the energy savings to pay for the system."

About Kunde Family Estate

Kunde Family Estate is one of the North Coast’s premier, destination wine estates. Located in the Sonoma Valley, the family’s scenic 1,850-acre estate has been managed by five generations since 1904. The Kunde Family Estate winery, built in 1990, produces 100,000 cases annually with distribution throughout the United States. The family also producers small-lot wines available only through its tasting room, wine club or website.

Today, the Kunde family sustainably farms twenty grape varietals on 750-acres of estate vineyards. The family’s sustainable farming efforts have earned them multiple awards, among them the 2008 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA), the State of California’s highest environmental honor, and in 2010, certification from the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA).

To learn more about Kunde Family Estate, visit www.kunde.com or call (707) 833-5501.