Southern California-based Stone Brewing Co. recently finished work on a 312-kilowatt SANYO HIT solar system, and on July 1st began generating its own power. The system, installed by Borrego Solar of San Diego, will provide about 40% of the factory’s electricity and will save the company over $8,000 in monthly energy costs. There was no initial cost, thanks to the California state rebate, Federal tax credits and the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) program supported by Bank of America.
“Environmental awareness and sustainability have been part of our corporate mission since day one,” noted Greg Koch, CEO of Stone Brewing Co., in discussing the new SANYO HIT installation. “SANYO’s state-of-the-art solar technology and reliability mesh perfectly with our business strategy and social responsibility to create this beautiful yet environmentally-friendly, cost-efficient facility.”
Established in 1996, Stone Brewing Co., is one of the fastest growing breweries in the country. The company’s newly opened restaurant, Stone Brewing World Bistro & Garden, located just next door to the brewery facility, offers locally grown organic fruits and vegetables. Stone’s stylish new facility utilizes recycled materials, such as used wooden floors and bar counter, as well as bricks once used in the walls of a prominent hotel in downtown San Diego. The gargoyle imagery, visible everywhere from the walls to the menus, symbolizes Stone Brewing’s commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. Gargoyles have been used for centuries in European architecture, such as the Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris, to symbolize strength, style and purity.
SANYO and Stone Brewing may have different business models, but they share the same core philosophy of being responsible stewards of the living earth, or GAIA. “It is very encouraging that one of San Diego’s most respected companies is using SANYO’s solar technology,” commented Akihiko Oiwa, a director of SANYO North America Corporation’s Corporate Communications department. “We hope to see more corporations taking advantage of these attractive PPA incentives to utilize clean and reusable energy”.
Photo: Stone Brewing Co. in Escondido, California, with SANYO's HIT solar energy system on the roof top.
