Sustainable development has always been a core value of Stone Brewing’s business philosophy; from the all-natural ingredients in its acclaimed beers to the Bistro’s emphasis on local, organically produced food, use of reclaimed building materials and environmentally friendly beer garden. In keeping with this theme, the company has recently installed a 312Kw Photovoltaic Solar System on the roof of its brewing facility in the Escondido Research & Technology Center (ERTC).

The system, which consists of 1,561 roof-mounted solar modules, will supply the brewery with up to 43 percent of its energy needs, and is expected to pay for itself in just five years, saving the company more than $3 million in electricity costs. Even more importantly, the clean energy produced by the solar array will offset more than 538,000 pounds of carbon emissions over its lifetime, which is equivalent to planting 204 acres of trees. Designed and installed by local company Borrego Solar Systems, Inc., the system began generating electricity by July 2008 and is among the most productive systems in the State of California. According to Borrego Solar CEO Aaron Hall, “We have designed a system utilizing the most efficient and advanced Solar technology commercially available today, the Sanyo HIT (Heterojunction with Intrinsic Thin layer) technology.”

Although a solar power component was not included in the building’s initial construction, both the brewery’s ownership and the developer and builder of the facility, JRMC Real Estate owner James McCann, had the foresight to spend additional money upfront to upgrade the load-bearing structure of the entire roof, thus enabling the future installation of a solar power system. Additionally, solar carports are planned for a portion of the brewery and restaurant’s parking area, further maximizing the solar collecting ability of the property. “We’re excited to continue to participate in the move towards sustainable design,” says Stone Brewing CEO Greg Koch. “This system, together with other conservation initiatives at our brewery and restaurant, will help minimize our impact on the environment.”

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