Project Name: Endive Farms Cold Storage Facility
Project Location: Rio Vista, California
Client: California Endive Farms
Design: Integrated Structures, Inc.
Engineering: Integrated Structures, Inc.
Contractor: Modern Building Company, Chico CA.
Category: Cold Storage
DESCRIPTION
Located in Rio Visa California, the California Endive Farms’ cold storage facility, built with Energy Mass™ design, provides 29 °F freezer storage for chicory root and Belgian endive. The R-100 walls are 38 feet tall and the facility contains 16,800sf of storage space. The system is now part of a large-scale agriculture operation that ranks as the world’s second largest supplier of Belgian (red) endive and the only endive supplier in the United States. By reducing the amount of energy used annually and shifting load to off-peak pricing, it will take California Endive Farms about four years to recover the additional upfront costs.
Located in Rio Vista California, the California Endive Farms’ cold storage facility, built with Energy Mass™ wall system, was completed in 2011 and became the most efficient cold storage building in America. The building provides a constant 29 °F (+- ½ degree) freezer storage for chicory roots. The cold storage simulates a forced winter, After several months at below freezing temperatures, the roots are then moved to an adjacent warehouse where they are warmed and fertilized to sprout a secondary leafy growth, The endive are packaged and sold to produce distributors and large chains like Trader Joes. The Energy Mass™ R-100 walls are 38 feet tall and the facility contains 19,000 sf of storage space. California Endive Farms remains the largest American producer and a leading worldwide innovator in improving the complex process of growing high-quality endives.
Speaking at the grand opening, Richard Collins, President of the business, quoted Peter Garforth when he said, “Companies base their energy efficiency investment decisions on the lowest initial cost.” They overestimate the risk of change and underestimate the benefits, making the status quo the most attractive option.” “California Endive Farms decided to stray from the status quo, he said, recalling that the name of the company he co-founded with his wife in 1980 was ‘Rebel Farms.’”
By reducing the amount of energy used annually and shifting loads to off-peak pricing. California Endive Farms recovered the upfront construction costs in just over four years.
“The first year’s energy bills are in. Even though we were only able to shut down one of the five months during the peak energy windows we realized significant energy cost savings.” California Endive Farms captured a 20% savings over the aggressive, internal energy budget and a 63% cost savings over PG&E’s initial estimates1 for the facility.”
1 PG&E initial energy estimate = $250,000.00 per year.
Richard Collins President, California Endive Farms