Brewed with the sun: Wise Man goes solar
Wise Move: Wise Man Brewing goes solar
Winston-Salem, NC – APRIL, 18, 2018 – Winston-Salem’s Wise Man Brewing is pleased to announce they have completed a 34-kiloWatt solar energy installation on their building’s roof, located at 826 Angelo Brothers Avenue, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. On Earth Day, Sunday, April 22, 2018, the brewery will host an event celebrating clean energy and marking the brewery’s recent sustainability strides.
Wise Man’s owners have taken steps to make the most of their solar, including thicker insulation, LED lights, and high-efficiency water taps for brewing. With these energy-saving improvements, they expect to see the electric usage decline even while beer production increases.
Wise Man Brewing Co-Founder Jason Morehead describes their solar plan this way: “We have always had a focus on sustainability, but getting a brewery off the ground is a monumental task. Now that we’re up and running, we’ve been able to take a step back and focus more on our footprint. Being an environmentally friendly brewery is central to being a good neighbor and responsible business.”
Spencer Warmuth, a Wise Man “Beer Scholar” who helped spearhead the solar effort, adds, “Our taproom customers know that community is core to Wise Man’s culture, and our move to use solar highlights this commitment. We’re looking forward to serving up beers that are among North Carolina’s first brewed with sunshine.”
Representing the building’s owner, Drew Gerstmeyer says, “Wise Man has been a vibrant addition to the growing community of excellent businesses in Winston’s entertainment district. We were happy to do our part by lending the building’s roof to help with Wise Man’s conversion to solar power.”
Wise Man Brewing is displaying the benefits of affordable, reliable solar energy for its bottomline by reducing electric utility bill costs, for averting the need for costly new power plants, and for a sustainable world. The brewery recently celebrated its first anniversary.
Renu Energy Solutions, the solar installer on the project, has provided solar energy systems for home and business since 2010 and is proud to partner with Wise Man Brewing as they join the renewable energy revolution and celebrate Earth Day 2018.
The project, which was awarded to Sunworks on September 25, 2017, will be managed entirely by Sunworks and will assist Angelus Temple by eliminating over $100,000 in annual electricity costs while also eliminating the impact of inflationary energy costs. The savings realized will allow funds to be used for greater impact within the community it serves.
Sunworks will construct a 521 kW DC parking shade structure above Angelus Temple’s seven-story parking structure using a 1,447 Sunpower 360 W panels. The system will be connected to a 30kW/40kWh Sharp SmartStorage battery system. After completion, the installation is expected to generate more than 750 MWh of power per year using Sunworks’ suite of products and solutions.
Sunworks’ Chief Executive Officer, Chuck Cargile, said, “We’re excited to partner with Foursquare to develop a sustainable energy plan that optimizes their energy savings. Angelus Temple has a long history in Los Angeles and we are pleased to assist them in achieving their sustainability goals and drive greater cost savings.”
With Angelus Temple’s project, the Foursquare Foundation will have partnered with Foursquare churches to install over 1 MW of solar energy across its US properties, with the hope of installing up to another 9 MW of solar energy in the next few years.
About Sunworks
Founded in 1983, Sunworks, Inc. is a premier provider of solar power solutions. We’re committed to quality business practices that exceed industry standards and uphold our ideals of ethics and safety. Today, Sunworks continues to grow its presence, expanding nationally with regional and local offices. We strive to consistently deliver high quality, performance-oriented solutions for customers in a wide range of industries including agriculture, commercial and industrial, federal, public works, utility, and residential. Our dedication to excellence is reflected in our 25-year warranty, a benchmark that we standby to support our customers above and beyond their expectations. Sunworks’ diverse, seasoned workforce includes distinguished veterans who are devoted to providing the very best customer experience. All of our employees uphold our company’s guiding principles each day. Sunworks is a member of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and is a proud advocate for the advancement of solar power.