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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Local branch offices of Fidelity National Title are reimagining how they can impact the local energy-grid in a positive manner.
Encouraging employees to rethink energy-wasting habits is a simple path to a healthier bottom-line and a cleaner environment.
Add some spirited competition amongst local offices and you’re left with the ability to positively impact your company, employees and local energy-grid.
Fidelity National Title partnered with GreenTraks to implement the Kill-a-Watt Quest, an energy reduction competition.
For three months, eight branch offices of Fidelity National Title in Napa, Sonoma and Lake counties competed against each other to see who could reduce their energy usage the most by implementing just simple employee behavior changes.
The offices were encouraged to have fun with the competition by creating team names, making theme days (e.g. Tight-Watt Tuesday), wearing “green” attire, and taunting each other to get the competitive juices flowing.
The winning branch office reduced its energy consumption by an impressive 24 percent over the three-month period, just by paying attention to daily habits.
As an added benefit, employees were able to take their new energy-saving habits home to help reduce their own family’s utility bills.
To insure the competition was fair and accurate, GreenTraks monitored and measured the branches energy data using analytics that made sure reductions were real and not due to weather or other anomalies.
“We are proud of our Fidelity Green Branch certification, which recognizes Fidelity operations making a difference for the environment, but we wanted to do something even bigger, to show other local businesses that they can make a difference too. Imagine if every local business engaged in a Kill-a-Watt Quest type campaign; collectively we could reduce a lot of demand from our local power-grid,” said John Hilvka, county manager for Fidelity National Title Company.
“We provided the education and data management, but the Fidelity employees really brought their “A” game and gave it their all. We have never seen results quite this high before and we were really proud to work with such a great organization as Fidelity National Title,” said Russell Marsan, National Sales Manager for GreenTraks.
With some healthy competition, offices like those of Fidelity National Title can make a significant positive impact on their local energy grid.
To find out more about this program and how energy management helps reduce energy usage and costs, please contact GreenTraks at
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport English Inn, owned and operated by Karan and Hugh Mackey, has just been named “Business of the Quarter” by the Lakeport Main Street Association.
The bed and breakfast inn was nominated by customers and fellow businesses who commended the owners on exemplary community leadership and dedication to the protection of an historic city landmark.
The inn’s high teas and Christmas fair also were lauded for a demonstrated ability to bring out-of-town visitors to the area.
A certificate of excellence was presented to Karan Mackey at Tuesday’s Lakeport City Council meeting.
The Lakeport English Inn is located at 675 N. Main St. For more information visit www.lakeportenglishinn.com or call 707-263-4317.
The Lakeport Main Street Association is a nonprofit organization which follows the National Trust Main Street program.
The association’s mission is to improve the economic health of downtown Lakeport, preserve its historic beauty and foster its small town friendliness.
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Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-1), co-chair of the Congressional Wine Caucus, has announced Congressman Duncan Hunter (CA-50) as co-chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.
“I am excited to have Duncan as the new co-chair of the Congressional Wine Caucus,” said Thompson. “In my time serving with Duncan in Congress, I’ve found him to be a dedicated and hard-working ally on many issues. He will be a strong advocate for our wine community and the jobs it supports.”
“Mike has been a tireless leader for the wine industry and he too recognizes its significant contributions to not just the California economy, but the entire U.S. economy,” said Hunter. “My district is home to many wineries and growers, and many other businesses that support Southern California’s wine industry. I’m looking forward to working with Mike to promote our common interests and the economic benefit of wine that is produced domestically.”
Hunter replaces outgoing chair and former Rep. Dan Lungren.
The Congressional Wine Caucus was founded in 1999 by Congressmen and winegrape growers Thompson and George Radanovich (R-Fresno) to protect the interests of the vibrant wine industry. Today, the Caucus brings together more than 150 Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle.
Members of the Congressional Wine Caucus advocate on behalf of the wine industry which contributes an estimated $162 billion to the U.S. economy annually and provides the equivalent of 1.1 million full-time jobs.
In 2012, U.S. wine exports set a record of $1.43 billion in revenue with 90 percent coming from California.
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LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Six Sigma Ranch and Winery’s 2010 Reserve Pinot Noir was chosen by this year's “Pinot Noir Shootout” panel of judges to win a Gold Medal along with a 90 point score.
In this competition, also known as “The World's Best Pinot Noir Event,” famous producers of Pinot Noir submit their wines year after year in the hope of winning a gold medal.
Six Sigma was the only Lake County Winery represented, growing just two acres of Pinot Noir vines in a unique microclimate on their massive 4300 acre estate.
Historically a region not known for growing Pinot Noir, Six Sigma Ranch and Winery has proved this wrong.
This competition has a single varietal focus where each of the wines are more intensely judged than in competitions where judges have to review multiple varietals in the same day.
The tasting process took place over a three month period beginning in October and continued through the finals in December.
The judges not only recognized the 2010 Pinot Noir but they also recognized the skills of Six Sigma Ranch Winemaker, Matt Hughes.
Matt has been asked to sit on a panel titled "Winemakers to Watch." This panel will feature four talented and relatively young winemakers who the judges feel deserve proper recognition for their talents.
Each winemaker will answer roundtable questions and share a wine that demonstrates his or her own style and philosophy of winemaking.
The event is taking place at the Herbst International Exhibition Hall in The Presidio (385 Moraga Ave., San Francisco) on Saturday, March 16.
To purchase tickets, go to their Web site at http://affairsofthevine.com/ .
The 2010 Pinot Noir is very limited with only 150 cases produced and primarily sold at the historic tasting room in Lower Lake.
Visit the estate to taste the 2010 Pinot Noir and all of the Six Sigma award winning wines at Six Sigma Winery located at 13372 Spruce Grove Road, Lower Lake, CA 95457, and open 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
For more information please call 707-994-4068.