Solar Powered Roaster

Posted on: 2016-05-24 5:32 PM

 
Kickapoo Coffee in small town Viroqua, Wisconsin began in 2005.
 
Owner T.J. Semanchin said the idea to switch to 100 percent solar power originated from the farmers they receive their coffee beans from.
 
"When we started talking to our farmers and going on trips to coffee farm regions, we realized that climate change, right now, today impacting the growers that we buy from," said Semanchin.
 
In July of 2015, they made the switch to solar, installing 80 photovoltaic or light sensitive panels.
 
"Our intention when we installed the  panels was that this was going to supply all of our electricity needs for the year. So that we would be buying off the grid, net zero kilowatts of energy a year," added Semanchin.
 
On a sunny day, the panels produce a surplus of energy that is then distributed to the conventional grid, or all the electricity lines in the community. Thus, allowing the power to be used by area businesses and residents.
 
Vice versa, on a cloudy day, energy is pulled from the grid into Kickapoo Coffee.
 
Co-Owner Caleb Nicholes said its a way to be conscious of not only their products, but their surroundings and the people in the community.
 
"Where we see really great potential for us is where there's an amazing organization of small farmers that have collected and organized some ideals around producing quality coffee. As well as creating a business and a community that benefits all the members of the community," said Nicholes.
 
Kickapoo Coffee outsources grounds from 100,000 farmers around the world including: Latin America, Central America, and Africa. They said the solar panels are just one way they're working to reduce their carbon footprint, in the midst of their daily grind.
 
Twenty-five kilowatts of sun power, that provide light, energy, and products at Kickapoo Coffee.
 
"It's not that complicated, it's not that hard to actually do this. So we want to be an example for other businesses and other roasteries in the coffee industry that you can do this, you can talk to a local solar installer and find a way to get electricity from the sun," added Semanchin.
 
It hasn't been a full year quite yet, but Semanchin said at the end of the summer, they will know if the panels actually produced all the electricity they needed.