Chile: VC Family Estate wins energy award

Chile: VC Family Estate has won an energy efficiency trophy from the Confederation of Production and Trade, (Confederación de la Producción y Comercio – CPC). 

The estate which is a member of the Corpora Group, won the award for its incorporation of measures to protect the environment as part of its sustainability policy.  The award saw VC beat all other Industry and Wineries in Chile. 

VC’s biggest initiative was  a US$300,000 solar energy plant in the Gracia Winery, based in the Cachapoal Valley, in 2007. VC built 65 panels with a solar absorption surface of 282.75 square metres in order to save US$ 100 000 per year in liquid gas and even more in petrol.   The result in the last 6 months of 2008 was a reduction of 50.26% of gas in the winery’s sterilization and maintenance processes. 

In addition, VC has installed a second solar energy plant in its wine cellar in Totihue, which has a capacity of 9 million liters and includes bio-energy for when sunshine is not at full capacity. One of the main targets is to expand this type of energy to the remaining family wineries.  It is the first Chilean wine producer to implement this type of initiative. 

   

Jorge Goles, CEO of VC Family Estates said: “ This award reaffirms the commitment of VC with regards to our energy efficiency issues, since our major concern is to offer unique and different products of high quality. In addition, it is of increased value for us, as it is added to a sustained reduction in the consumption of natural resources, which is a growing and valued asset in international markets.”  

  

VC Family Estates has also gained the ISO 14001 certificate to show its commitment to the environment and to the reduction of the consumption of natural resources such as water and energy, through an increase in the efficiency and optimization of all processes.