The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that it is recognizing eight distilleries for being the first to earn EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification. This certification is an acknowledgement of their dedication towards energy efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
The average large distillery in America, categorized as one that produces over 750,000 proof gallons annually, can use as much energy as 7,000 American households, according to a news release. The EPA acknowledges distilleries that use far less energy and contribute fewer emissions by awarding them the ENERGY STAR.
Commenting on this achievement, Michael S. Regan, EPA Administrator voiced his views. "To solve the climate crisis, we need every sector of American manufacturing to demonstrate leadership in reducing emissions," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan in statement. "I congratulate these ENERGY STAR-certified plants for leading the way and showing that distilleries can reduce emissions by operating in a more energy efficient and cost-effective way."
Moving onto the names of these pioneering entities, The first round of EPA’s ENERGY STAR certified distilleries include: Bardstown Bourbon Company Distillery; Rabbit Hole Distillery; Heaven Hill’s Bernheim Distillery; MGP/Lux Row Distillery and Heaven’s Door Distillery — all based in Kentucky. Tennessee-based Brown Forman’s Jack Daniel Distillery, Heaven Hill’s Deep Eddy Vodka Distillery out of Texas, and Washington-based Westland Whiskey Distillery rounded out the list.
These distilleries earned the designation by following some of the almost 180 methods the EPA identified for producers to save energy, including using appropriately sized equipment, water saving strategies, and improving insulation.
One of the recognized entities, Heaven Hill Brands, commented on this accomplishment. "Heaven Hill is honored to receive ENERGY STAR certification at two of our production facilities in Kentucky and Texas," said Allan Latts, co-president of Heaven Hill Brands, in statement. "We have invested millions of dollars to update our facilities with LED lighting, water recycling, and heat recovery components and technologies, making these facilities more energy efficient and helping us do our part to contribute to a truly sustainable distilled spirits industry."
The eight distilleries chosen scored 75 or higher on the ENERGY STAR’s Energy Performance Indicator (EPI). The EPA worked with the distilled spirits industry to develop the EPI, which any distillery can use to benchmark its energy performance on a scale of one to 100.
