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IMPLEMENT: VINEYARD ENERGY EFFICIENCY & RENEWABLES Energy Use in Vineyards The combustion of fossil fuels during the operation of tractors, ATVs, irrigation pumps, and other farm equipment constitutes a large source of the vineyard carbon footprint . As such, reducing fuel and electricity usage is one of the most effective ways to reduce the vineyard carbon footprint and help mitigate climate change. Reducing energy use is also good for the bottom line since it reduces energy costs and conserves natural resources. Priority Practices Quick Links: Conduct an Energy Audit Optimize Energy Efficiency Electrify Equipement Power with Renewable Energy The Goal of Decarbonization One of the main objectives of climate action is decarbonization (using carbon-free renewable energy sources for all energy needs). To achieve decarbonization, first overall energy use must be reduced and optimized, wherever possible equipment should be powered with electricity and renewable energy such as solar and wind should be used. Technology advances are still needed to efficiently electrify all farm equipment, however, there are many steps outlined below that can move your vineyard operation closer to decarbonization. 1. Conduct an Energy Audit Before installing any renewable energy or implementing energy efficiency measures, an energy audit should be conducted. The intent of an energy audit is to assess energy-consuming processes and equipment and to compile a list of potential changes in behavior or technology that can reduce overall energy consumption. Once energy consumption is minimized, then renewable energy options can be explored that will meet the vineyard’s energy needs, which can prevent added costs from installing renewable energy systems that provide more energy than needed. The three main uses of energy in vineyard operations include the irrigation system, farm vehicles and tractors, and lighting of structures and outdoor task areas on the property (non-winery structures). Use the following resource to assess your energy related practices, prioritize potential opportunities and learn about resources for cost-share, rebates and incentives. 2. Optimize Energy Efficiency Once you have completed an energy audit, you can prioritize potential opportunities for efficiency. Energy efficiency practices for vineyards fall primarily into three categories: irrigation pump, vineyard vehicles and lighting. Since irrigation pumps are the one of largest sources of energy use it is important to ensure pumps are operating efficiently. An inefficient pump will use more energy than normally required and may not supply the pressure and flow appropriate to the demands of the pumping system. The result could be poor distribution uniformity and poor irrigation efficiency, leading to more water being pumped to fully irrigate the vineyard, which can impact winegrape quality and quantity. The following list of potential improvement areas are shown in order from highest impact on energy use to lowest to help with prioritization. Include relevant practices in Climate Action Plan Worksheet to help track practices and create timelines for implementation. You can also run the CSWA Climate Smart Report to easily identify which energy efficiency practices are already implemented and where there are improvement opportunities. Irrigation Pump Efficiency Vineyard Vehicles Lighting Office Equipment 3. Electrify Equipment As noted above, a large source of the vineyard carbon footprint is from combustion of fossil fuels for operation of vineyard vehicles and equipment. To decarbonize mobile and stationary field equipment, the equipment needs to be powered with electricity that can be sourced from renewable energy. Electrifying vineyard vehicles and equipment is one area that needs more research and advancements in technology, however there are some promising options available along with financing assistance. 4. Power with Renewable Energy Many vineyards and wineries install solar panels as part of their renewable energy strategies, with a growing number adding batteries for storage. Installing solar photovoltaic panels can be a great investment, especially as electricity costs continually increase. There is also currently a Federal Tax Credit that covers 30% of the cost of solar. There are more options for incorporating renewable energy into your operations than rooftop solar panels. You can also explore innovative technologies powered by the sun to pump water. Resources: Vineyard Energy Efficiency & Renewables - Implementation Guide : The guide outlines key practices and resources to support implementation of an energy audit, energy efficiency measures for irrigation pumps, vineyard vehicles, lighting and office equipment, and renewable energy, along with cost-share, rebate and incentive opportunities to help finance energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy.

STEP 3: IMPLEMENT Guidance, Resources and Tips for Climate Smart Practice Adoption Once you have identified your climate action goals in Step 2: Assess & Plan, you can find information about how to implement specific climate smart practices in this section. Either navigate directly to the topics and practices identified in your climate action plan or browse topics to learn more about why those practices are important for building climate resiliency and what steps and resources are needed for implementation. Navigate to Implementation Guides Below or via the Navigation Bar Navigate directly to relevant topics and practices using the list below or by using the menu at the top of the page. Helpful information on practices that are included in your climate action plan is organized by Vineyard , Winery or Supply Chain.   Vineyard Practices: Viticulture Adaptation Soil Health & Carbon Sequestration Drought Resiliency & Irrigation Energy Efficiency & Renewables Winery Practices: Energy Efficiency & Renewables Packaging Water & Solid Waste Supply Chain Practices (Vineyard & Winery): Sustainable Purchasing & Suppliers Vehicles & Transportation Implementation Guides Provide Detailed How-To Information and Cost Share Opportunities Each climate smart practice in this toolkit has an accompanying implementation guide. These guides provide detailed information and concrete steps to carry out the climate smart practice along with resources and tools to assist with implementation. Cost-share and incentives may be available through governmental and non-governmental organizations to reduce the financial burden of certain practices; therefore, the end of each guide contains a Cost-Share Opportunities section with available assistance and funding opportunities. A list of the implementation guides can also be found on the Resources page.

IMPLEMENT: SOIL HEALTH & CARBON SEQUESTRATION Healthy Soils are Essential for Vineyard Adaptation and Mitigation Maintaining and enhancing soil health is one of the most effective strategies for adapting to climate change impacts and addressing mitigation in a vineyard. Adaptation : Healthy soils can help address drought, excess precipitation and extreme heat. Management practices that increase organic matter, enhance soil structure, and reduce soil disturbance, especially during high rainfall events, can improve water availability and promote water storage and infiltration. Mitigation : Healthy soils sequester and store more atmospheric carbon. Soil amendments - including compost, biochar, and mulch - can help increase and retain soil organic carbon, and cover crops can also increase soil organic carbon. An added benefit to these climate smart practices is increased soil fertility, which improves plant health and resiliency to pests and disease pressure. The many benefits to healthy soils are the key reason it is an important part of any sustainable, regenerative, organic or biodynamic winegrowing approach. Priority Practices Quick Links: Optimizing Nitrogen Cover Crops Soil Amendments Reduced Tillage Non-Crop Vegetation & Carbon Carbon Sequestration: The capture and long-term storage of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) in plant material and soils. Plants are considered a “sink” for CO2 because they uptake CO2 during photosynthesis and store it in plant tissue such as leaves, wood, and roots. The burning of vines can release some of this carbon back into the atmosphere. Chipping and low smoke burning techniques used to produce biochar can significantly reduce these carbon loses. Optimizing Nitrogen is Vital to Reducing Vineyard GHG Emissions An important source of vineyard GHG emissions is the use of nitrogen fertilizers. When any nitrogen is added to soil, some of the applied nitrogen can be converted to N2 O. This can happen to any nitrogen-containing additive including synthetic fertilizers (e.g. nitrate and ammonium) and organic materials (e.g. green manures and pomace). All N2 O production associated with vineyards results from soil microbes using the nitrogen instead of the vines. Providing just enough nitrogen that vines need and timing nitrogen applications to ensure maximum uptake by roots can decrease N2 O emissions. Optimize Nitrogen Cover Crops are a Powerful Tool for Adaptation and Mitigation Cover crops can buffer the negative effects of extreme weather events — e.g., precipitation and flooding, along with heat waves. The use of cover crops can increase the storage of carbon in vineyard soils and decrease CO2 emissions. Perennial cover crops are most efficient at doing this because of their greater root production. In addition to increasing soil carbon, leguminous cover crops supply nitrogen to the soil, and may be used to decrease applications of synthetic fertilizers. Cover crops also decrease the offsite movement and loss of soil organic matter by erosion and nitrogen by leaching. Cover Crops Soil Amendments Soil Amendments Increase Water Storage Soil amendments such as compost, mulch and biochar can increase soil organic matter, water storage capacity and nutrient cycling. Compost can improve soil structure and increase soil water storage, with the level of impact dependant on the compost characteristics and the number and rate of applications. Mulch is effective as both a soil cover, improving soil water storage, and a means of increasing soil organic matter. Biochar has many positive benefits including on water and nutrient retention, improved soil structure and carbon sequestration. Reduced Tillage Helps with Mitigation and Adaptation The act of tilling soil can consume substantial quantities of fossil fuel. By breaking up soil aggregates, tillage increases soil emissions of CO2 and N2 O by mobilizing carbon and nitrogen, thus allowing microbes to access and consume previously protected organic matter. Each tillage pass causes some loss of soil-sequestered carbon. Decreases in tillage not only limit CO2 emissions but protects against the loss of organic matter through erosion which increases the soils ability to absorb excess precipitation. Reduced Tillage Non-Crop Vegetation Carbon Sequestration Potential Non-crop vegetation in and around vineyards such as buffer strips, hedgerows, natural woodlands, and riparian flora can also contribute to climate mitigation. The carbon stored in these woody long-lived perennial plants and the soil in these areas can represent a large source of sequestered carbon, significantly decreasing overall GHG emissions. Oak woodlands, for example, can store large amounts of above- and below-ground carbon over their lifetime. In addition, these areas can help reduce soil erosion and runoff, which helps in extreme weather events that are increasing due to climate change and increases carbon sequestration potential by keeping soil in place. Non-Crop Vegetation Sustainable, Regenerative, Organic and Biodynamic Farming are Climate Smart Many of the soil health practices included in this toolkit will look familiar to growers who participate in certification programs for sustainable, regenerative, organic or biodynamic winegrape growing. All of these farming approaches include practices to build and maintain soil health, which has a direct impact on the ability of a vineyard to mitigate and adapt to climate change. To learn more about the relationship between sustainable and regenerative winegrowing, see the CSWA Sustainable and Regenerative Winegrowing Handout , which includes a list of regenerative winegrowing principles and examples of practices to help winegrape growers better understand and communicate about the relationship. Resources: Soil Health & Carbon Sequestration Implementation Guide : The guide includes practices and resources for optimizing nitrogen, increasing organic matter, cover crops, carbon sequestration and erosion prevention. Habitat & Biodiversity Implementation Guide : The guide outlines key practices and resources to support implementation of wildlife habitat such as hedgerows, buffer strips and nesting boxes, native woodlands and riparian and aquatic habitats.