September 6, 2006—Stoller Vineyards in Oregon has opened the first and only winemaking facility in Oregon to be 100% LEED-certified at the gold level. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings.
According to owner Bill Stoller, “Currently almost half of our electrical needs are being generated from solar panels. Our gravity-flow system results in a significant energy savings in the production process. We employed recycled construction materials throughout the building and catacombs built into the winery provide us with an eco-friendly space ideal for production and aging of wine.” In addition, cellars are cooled by nighttime air pulled through a thermal mass by a fan.
According to LEED certification consultant Nina Tallering of Green Building Services, “What stands out to me about the Stoller facility is that it was built for posterity. It says that green buildings are appropriate and achievable outside urban environments.”
