We had fun making this video and thought we’d start with a quick peek at our renewable energy system. The problem with the video is the footage we took is from “Phase One” – about one year ago….
You may notice when we show the solar roof panels there are only a few panels. Now we have over fifty full size panels running side-by-side on almost the entire length of our roof building. Plus two wind turbines in our parking lot.
Our factory, offices, warehouse and retail showroom are energy-efficient meaning we don’t use any traditional incandescent light bulbs. We maintain a moderate yet comfortable temperature with our geo-thermal system. Small on-demand tanks provide instant hot water. We only use energy-efficient appliances, like our Vestfrost refrigerator – same goes for our washing and drying machines.
It’s critical that you reduce your energy consumption with more modern and efficient means before you attempt to generate your own energy!
We’re a business… and for that reason our electricity is “tied-in” to the grid. If for some unforeseen reason our system should have maintenance problems, our back-up would be conventional electricity. What’s really great is our meter goes backwards once we shut down for the day and power down our machines, lights, computers, etc. That’s when WE get to MAKE the power that we’re NOT using and send it back to the electric company. Cool, huh?
Since we’re “tied-in” we have to “pay” for the privilege of being a “customer” in both fees and taxes. Believe it or not, the customer fees and taxes cost more than the fuel that we use. When we have to use the heat or air conditioning, our energy fuel costs average an additional 10 KW a month (we produce approx 6,000 KWH per month).
Keep in mind this is for a 7500 sq ft manufacturing factory plus our offices and storefront. What could be better than using 10 KW in the winter? How about this: Moderate spring-time weather is ZERO $$ – ZERO KW.
That may be why, according to the US Department of Energy, our factory can be considered a “Zero-Energy Building“.
The US Department of Energy defines a zero-energy building as “a residential or commercial building with greatly reduced energy needs through efficiency gains such that the balance of energy needs can be supplied with renewable technologies.”
If we weren’t so busy designing and producing new organic bedding, we’d have time to showcase our renewable energy system a little more to you. It’s something we really love and believe in and it’s something that makes us come fully “true-circle” in our mission of “green bedding” made entirely with our own “green-energy”.
We promise to post more on our solar panels and wind turbines before the year is up! Until then… sleep well.
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Cheryl Hahn is the President and Founder of Organic Comfort Zone, manufacturers of CozyPure® organic mattresses and bedding and Tomorrow’s World, one of America’s first green-living stores. |
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