There is a lot of talk out there about going green and different ways to do it, whether that is installing a solar array or bicycling to work. One of the less talked about things is water usage, which can be just as important. This is especially important in the brewing process, which is very water intensive, and its more than just the water in your beer. It is also the water used for cleaning, cooling, and steam production. Given the need to reduce water usage, Anheuser-Busch InBev announced yesterday its plans to reduce water usage by 30% by 2012.
By meeting this goal, the company says it could fill 25,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools with saved water. Based on American Water Works Association statistics, that’s also enough to meet one year’s indoor water needs for more than half a million U.S. residents living in typical single-family homes.
Although they are planning on using some pretty low-tech methods in most of their breweries, it has already started to show results in places like Cartersville, GA. In the recent three year drought experienced in the south, AB InBev drastically reduced water usage by recycling cooling and cleaning water and has already cut usage below their 2012 goal. The full article is over at the New York Times.
What really got to me is when the article mentioned 1.1 billion people still lack access to clean drinking water. This is often viewed as a shortage problem, though it has equally as much to do with distribution, especially in rural areas. Given that staggering statistic, next time to sit down for a frothy cool beverage, don’t take it for granted and be thankful that we are able to drink fine craft beers.
I’ve been talking about the ecological benefits of growlers for years, and lately they have been getting a lot of press. Well during my daily reading today, I found a great article today that actually talks about the energy used to make cans and bottles (both new and recycled) versus the ease of just refilling your growler.
Recycled content (and recyclability) is a key environmental attribute when making purchasing decisions, but reusability gives growlers the green advantage in this debate. How long an item can be reused should be as much a concern when choosing containers as it is when buying tools or clothes. Using a growler means you won’t need to purchase more bottles or cans, which don’t have be manufactured and won’t need to be melted back for reuse.
More and more breweries these days are going green. New Belgium Brewing Company in Fort Collins, CO is at the forefront of green brewing, utilizing solar and wind power, treating their own waste water, and donating 1% of revenue to environmental non profits. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Chico, CA is also utilizing solar energy, treating their own water, recycling everything possible, and working on reducing emissions until they are generating 100% of their power. Head north to Hood River, OR and you will find Full Sail Brewing Company working on green initiatives, including a 4 day work week!
Central Waters Brewery in Amherst, Wisc., has been able to double its beer production without spending any more on natural gas after installing a solar water heater, reports Central Wisconsin Hub.
The solar water heating system is projected to meet 18 percent of the brewery’s hot water needs and save $1.4 million over its 30-year life span.
Not only is this great for the environment, but it’s also a great sign that a brewery can make more money and more beer while still remaining green. Some of the other methods for making a brewery more environmentally efficient aren’t exactly the cheapest, and it should be said that Central Waters got the help of a state grant for 25% of the funding, but that Central Waters is actually saving money while making more beer creates quite a precedent about the need and benefit of operating with solar power. Cheers to Central Waters Brewery for doing something that hopefully starts an avalanche of copy-cat procedures.
There is a lot of talk out there about going green and different ways to do it, whether that is installing a solar array or bicycling to work. One of the less talked about things is water usage, which can be just as important. This is especially important in the brewing process, which is very water intensive, and its more than just the water in your beer. It is also the water used for cleaning, cooling, and steam production. Given the need to reduce water usage, Anheuser-Busch InBev announced yesterday its plans to reduce water usage by 30% by 2012.
I’ve been talking about the ecological benefits of 
