News
NEWS ALERT: Groundwork Installs High-Efficiency Solar Panels at Roasting Facility
Groundwork Coffee LLC is proud to announce it has installed more than 100 high efficiency solar panels at the company’s North Hollywood, CA roasting facility.
The Sunpower PV modules are the most efficient panels commercially available and will generate more than 52,000 kilowatts of clean, solar energy each year. Jeff Chean, Groundwork’s director of roasting operations, estimates the panels, which are specially designed to work efficiently even on cloudy days, will power more than 80% of Groundwork’s electrical demands. “On slow roasting days, or weekends, our electric meter will actually spin backwards as the panels push more energy into the grid than we are using,” Chean said.
The new solar array covers most of the exposed roof at Groundwork’s 4,500 sq. ft. roastery, which it shares with its affiliated companies, The Supreme Bean and Joe to Go. The installation marks another step in Groundwork’s efforts to achieve sustainability and energy efficiency throughout its supply chain.
In late 2011, the company installed a unique hybrid/gas electric coffee roaster that utilizes an ultra-low NOx power burner. This allow for the roaster and catalytic oxidizer to be heated by electrical elements tied directly from the power generated by the solar panels. The result is Groundwork’s roaster has one of the smallest carbon footprints in the entire coffee industry.
Groundwork Coffee LLC is a Los Angeles-based super premium coffee roaster specializing in 100% organic coffee and tea. The company’s mission calls for full economic and environmental sustainability throughout its supply chain. From farm to cup, Groundwork, which was established in 1990 by L.A. natives, is dedicated to the welfare of the producers of its products as well as consumers. The company operates 6 retail stores throughout Los Angeles and a wholesale distribution network.
NEWS ALERT: Groundwork Indie Garage Series Promotes Local Artists
On March 14, 2012, Groundwork's new collaboration with The Nation of Artists "Indie Garage Art Series" was featured on the Arts for L.A. website. Our curator Elliot Kotek's call for artists is ongoing and if you're a local L.A. based painter or photographer, don't hesitate to get in touch at elliot@thenationofartists.com.
http://www.artsforla.org/forum/call-artists-indie-garage
NEWS ALERT: GW Partnership with Nika Bottled Water Helps To Tackle Water Crisis
NEWS ALERT: GW Q Grader Jeff Chean a Star Cupper at Rainforest Alliance Cupping Event
According
to Maya Albanese, Coordinator for Rainforest Alliance North America,
"Top coffee cuppers from all across North America convened this week at
the SCAA offices in Long Beach, CA to participate in the Rainforest
Alliance Cupping for Quality. The event showcases top specialty coffees
and illustrates the link between environmental, social and economic
sustainability and high quality in the coffee industry.
The cupper group represented coffee importers, roasters and retailers large and small. Each cupper will now have the opportunity to purchase their favorite coffees sampled at the event from the Rainforest Alliance certified farms. All samples were kindly roasted to SCAA protocol by Ted Vautrinot, Andrew Phillips and Rocky Rhodes at the Kean Roasting facility.
The cuppers tasted a variety of coffees from certified producers in Indonesia, India, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Brazil, Kenya, Tanzania and Hawaii. The final results of the judges' scorecards will be publicly announced in a Rainforest Alliance press release in the second week of January 2012. The winning producers and cuppers from the competition will be honored at the Rainforest Alliance breakfast event at the SCAA conference in April of 2012!"
The Rainforest Alliance is heavily involved with sustainability education and works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. Their cuppings take place twice each year.
