Profit in being green

Stock & Land
Thursday 12/6/2008 Page: 25

SUSTAINABILITY is a core focus for the Taresch family. When they purchased Elgo - one of the three properties in their Strathbogie Ranges operation - erosion and rabbits were big problems. "But we've managed to undo all of that and not reduce stocking rates," said Grant Taresch, pictured with wife Suzanne. Sustainability is part of their branding and with the installation of a 150-kilowatt wind turbine, their attention to this is serious.

The turbine takes advantage of the windy ridges and generates enough energy to supply the winery's electricity needs and return excess to the grid. It saves about 500 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per annum and generates more power than the winery requires. Excess power returned to the grid provides the property with Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) which can be traded at $50 each. For every megawatt hour of green energy the Taresches generate one REC.

The turbine has saved the business about $30,000 a year on power and last year returned $8000 worth of RECs. The winery is a closed loop for water use. Water is collected off the roof and after it has been used in the winery it is recycled through lagoon ponds before irrigating the vines. Organic matter is recycled, composted and again, returned to the vineyard. Land regeneration is an ongoing commitment, with wildlife corridors established and less productive land returned to natural woodlands.