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Napa Businesses Get Environmentally Savvy
Napa Valley Register, Wednesday, April 21, 2004
Rogers & Son plans to begin installing solar panels for local wineries by the end of the year, said Bill Johnson, the company's director of marketing and sales. He said wineries are ideal candidates for solar power because they use a lot of energy.
"We're spreading the gospel of solar energy," Johnson said.
Domaine Caneros by Taittinger, at 1240 Duhig Road in Napa, had solar panels installed on top of its winery last June, said office manager Lavon Allan. The solar panels, installed by PowerLight Corp., supply 40 percent of Domaine Caneros' electrical needs, substantially reducing operating costs, Allan said. The panels generate enough energy in the daytime to power as many as 120 homes.
Best Western, at 100 Soscol Ave. in Napa, has signs letting customers know that they can use their towels more than once, said general manager Gerald Gallegos. The signs tell customers that they can leave their towel on the rack if they want to reuse it, which saves water and detergent.
Best Western also recycles paper, uses both sides of paper, and uses energy efficient fluorescent lighting, Gallegos said. For landscaping, Best Western uses Tru Green, an environmentally sensitive landscaping company.
New technology in the printing industry has enabled Minuteman Press of Napa, at 3148 Jefferson St. in Napa, to become a mostly nonchemical operation, owner Don Krieger said. He said Minuteman uses chemicals only to develop metal plates and clean its press. Minuteman uses recycled paper and recycles leftover scraps, Krieger said.
Devine Paint, 971 Lincoln Ave., recycles all its cardboard and uses fluorescent light bulbs that use less electricity and last longer, owner Bob McAdams said. Devine Paint sells some latex paints that don't contain any solvents or odors, he said. Devine Paint also makes people aware that they can take their latex paint to a county dump that will dispose of it properly, he said.
Yountville-based Jitner Painting Inc. has Clean Harbors Waste Management Industries pick up oil paint, president Larry Jitner said. He said Waste Management uses the paint as a fuel source to burn other hazardous materials.
"You're doing the right thing," said Jitner, who has been in the painting industry about 23 years and in business in the Napa Valley area for 12 years. "It's in good conscience."
Latex paint is more environmentally friendly than oil-based paint because it has fewer toxic chemicals, Jitner said, adding that the painting industry is shifting more toward latex paints. In a couple of years, oil-based paints will be sold only in quarts, not gallons, he said.
Copyright, Napa Valley Register, 2004
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