Top-Selling Natural Brand of Soap to Honor Commitment to Sustainability, with an Estimated 50% of Electricity Needs Met with Solar Generated Power
VISTA, Calif., Sept. 26, 2017 — Dr. Bronner’s, family-owned maker of the top-selling natural brand of soap in North America, will host a ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil the company’s new solar power project, on Friday September 29, from 8:30am—9:30am at factory headquarters in Vista, California. Following a reception with coffee and muffins, the ribbon cutting will take place at 9:00am, with presentations by Dr. Bronner’s Strategic Advisor & CSR Manager Kris Lin-Bronner, Vista Mayor Judy Ritter, and special guests from Heliopower and Ecology Artisans. Attendees are invited to join a Garden Talk after the ceremony, to learn about drought-tolerant landscaping, and tour the Dr. Bronner’s soap factory.
“Our new 346 kilowatt solar power system will generate 572,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, accommodating about 50% of Dr. Bronner’s factory headquarters needs on an annual basis,” says Dr. Bronner’s Strategic Advisor & CSR Manager, Kris Lin-Bronner. “Our new permaculture designed drought-tolerant garden will also eliminate the need for any irrigation for 27,000 square feet of newly landscaped areas—saving more than 600,000 gallons of water annually, enough for 100 people to take a shower each day for a whole year.”
WHAT:
Dr. Bronner’s Solar Power Launch Celebration and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
WHEN:
Friday, September 29, 2017
8:30am – Reception with Muffins and Coffee
9:00am – Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Presentations
9:30am – Garden Talk and Soap Factory Tour
WHERE:
Dr. Bronner’s Factory Headquarters 1335 Park Center Drive, Vista CA
Dr. Bronner’s began researching how to construct an on-site solar generated electricity system in 2013, and soon realized that the factory building could not hold solar panels on its roof. In response to this architectural challenge, the company pursued a solar design project that would utilize all buildable areas surrounding the building, including carport structures and steel beams mounted above the loading dock. Furthermore, the design incorporates landscaping under the solar structures that integrates water conservation techniques and regenerative organic agricultural practices. This new landscaping replaces the water and chemical intensive grass lawns and bushes previously in place when Dr. Bronner’s purchased the building, and instead features indigenous drought tolerant plants and bio-swells that will channel more than 660,000 gallons of rain water into the landscape each year.
The solar power project is a concrete example of Dr. Bronner’s company vision for sustainability, which is inspired by the philosophy of company founder, Emanuel Bronner. In 1986, Emanuel was filmed expressing his vision for a solar power fueled world: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DeIlIKpnF8&feature=youtu.be.
Dr. Bronner’s is grateful to the support provided by its partners in this project: Heliopower, which designed, engineered and constructed the solar power system; Ecology Artisans, which provided landscaping design and construction; and Belvedere Equipment Financing for the project’s financing. Further gratitude is extended to the City of Vista, including Economic Development Director Kevin Ham, and Community Development Director John Conley, for their support and guidance during the permitting process.
Dr. Bronner’s is a family business committed to honoring the vision of founder Emanuel Bronner by making socially and environmentally responsible products of the highest quality, and by dedicating profits to help make a better world. Dr. Bronner’s commitment to social justice, environmental sustainability and progressive business practices is part of the company’s mission to put into practice the principles that inform the philosophy printed on the company’s iconic soap labels written by founder Emanuel Bronner. The company is the top-selling natural soap maker in North America and a major brand worldwide. Based on 2015 sales, a bottle of Dr. Bronner’s soap was sold, on average, every 3 seconds throughout the year.
Source: Dr. Bronner’s
