Sniff.  Twirl.  Sip.

What is that intoxicating aroma emanating from your glass of wine? Fruity raspberries…smokey leather…a subtle hint of cedar.  Perhaps a whiff of petroleum? With some wines consuming three times their weight in petroleum, don’t be surprised if it’s the latter.

As “green” issues have become increasingly more predominant over the last few years, wine lovers have likewise become increasingly more interested in understanding the impact their favorite beverage has on the environment.

From the pesticides and fertilizers used to grow wine grapes, to the greenhouse gases released while transporting the wine from the vineyard to often far-reaching locales, producers and consumers alike are wondering….What is the Carbon Footprint of that glass of wine?

Fellow wine lovers, wonder no more! Pablo Päster, a sustainability metrics specialist with ClimateCHECK has calculated the carbon footprint of wine, in terms of both its production and transportation.

Here are some of the key findings:

• Organic farming reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) compared to conventional farming, but the difference is not that large.  While there may be other factors, such as variations in local ecosystems, the GHG difference was surprisingly small.  For the most part, the mode of transportation played the most significant role from a GHG perspective.

• Distance matters. However, not all miles a bottle travels are the same. Efficiencies in transportation make container ships better than trucks, which in turn are better than planes.

• Shipping wine, bottled at the winery, around the world really means shipping glass that happens to contains wine.  In this regard, drinking wine from a magnum is the more carbon-friendly choice. Half-bottles, by contrast, are a far-less carbon-friendly choice.

• Shipping bulk wine from the source, and bottling closer to the point of consumption can reduce its carbon intensity.

• Lighter packaging materials have much less carbon intensity.

• Oak chips are a carbon friendly alternative to oak barrels, especially those that are shipped assembled and empty around the world.

• There is a “green line” running down the middle of Ohio. For those of us West of that line, it is more carbon efficient to consume wines trucked from California. For those to the East, it’s more efficient to say “oui” to that bottle of Bordeaux, which has had benefited from the efficiencies of container shipping, followed by a shorter truck trip.

In summary…. the best “green” option for your favorite glass of vino?  Wines made without agrichemicals, from larger format bottles, originating on your side of the “green line.”

Cheers!

Earth Day was the precursor of the largest grassroots environmental movement in US history. The newfound focus on protecting the environment resulted in the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency, and was the impetus for national legislation such as the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts.

By the twentieth anniversary of the original event, more that 200 million people in 141 countries had participated in Earth Day Celebrations.

Earth Day 2009: The Green Generation

April 22, 2009 will mark the beginning of the Green Generation Campaign. This two-year initiative will culminate with the 40th anniversary of Earth Day in 2010. With negotiations for the new global climate agreement coming up in December, Earth Day 2009 must be a day of action and civic participation similar to that of the original Earth Day Event nearly 40 years ago.

The Green Generation Campaign seeks to promote the following core principles:

• A carbon-free future based on renewable energy that will end our common dependency on fossil fuels, including coal.
• An individual’s commitment to responsible, sustainable consumption.
• Creation of a new green economy that lifts people out of poverty by creating millions of quality green jobs and transports the global education system into a green one.

What can I do NOW to reduce my ECO-FOOTPRINT?
The environmental problems currently facing the world are enormous. But each of use has the power through our daily decisions and lifestyle choices to make our homes and communities healthier, and create more beautiful places to live and work both now and in the future.

Your Home:

• Change your light bulbs to highly efficient compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) that last longer, produce more light, and use 1/3 the energy of regular bulbs.42% of household energy costs go to heating and cooling.
• Replace older heating and cooling systems with new efficient models. Tune up your heating system, clean vents, close unused vents, and change filters.
• Buy a programmable thermostat, make sure windows and doors are sealed.

Use ceiling fans: they require 80% less energy to operate than air conditioning.

Your Food:

• Go organic: When chemical pesticides are used to kill pests, they can also kill microorganisms that keep carbon contained in the soil. When these are gone, carbon is released into the atmosphere as CO2, the soil is no longer naturally fertile and chemical fertilizers become a necessity.
• Eat locally grown food. If the food doesn’t have to travel far, there is less CO2 from the trucks that ship it. Eating fruits and vegetables in season saves enormous transportation costs. Better yet, plant your own vegetable garden!

Your Car:

• Drive less: leaving your car home 2 days per week reduces your CO2 emissions by 1590 pounds per year. Each gallon of fuel releases 20 pounds of CO2 into the air.
• Drive differently: Slow down – don’t race your engine. Turn off your car if you expect to idle for more than 30 seconds.
• Don’t Drive at all: Telecommute, use public transportation, carpool, bike, or walk when possible.
• Drive Smart: Getting a tune up will improve fuel efficiency by as much as 10-20%.

Your Stuff:

• Buy recycled: It takes less energy to manufacture a recycled product than a brand new one. Check to see if the packaging can be recycled. Recycled paper requires 64% less energy than making paper form virgin wood, recycled cans takes 90% less energy than new one.
• Buy in bulk or concentrates: less packaging = less energy. Each person throws away approximately 4 pounds of garbage per day, much of it unnecessary packaging materials.
• Be a minimalist: Buy less. Every time you buy something, energy has gone into getting that product to you. Buying less things, some of which you just don’t need, changes the energy equation across the board.
• Donate clothing and other items you don’t need. Make it a rule to donate one item for each new item you purchase.