To the New Belgium Brewing Company, which, according to this post on Treehugger, “[uses] 40% less energy per barrel of output than the average American brewer.”
How do they do it? By being smart: They are aggressively targeting reduction of energy use through conservation and efficiency and getting the most out of what other less eco-savvy businesses would consider only waste. A $5 million system collects methane from the brewing wastewater and uses it to fire a 290-kilowatt electric generator. “When the generator is running – typically 10 to 15 hours a day – it supplies up to 60 percent of the brewery’s power. New Belgium saves $2,500 to $3,000 a month by generating its own electricity. But the system’s biggest savings came from avoiding the steep fees that would be assessed by the city of Fort Collins [CO] to treat the brewery’s nutrient-rich wastewater.”
I’m a big fan of New Belgium’s Fat Tire Amber Ale (which I always, of course, enjoy in moderation), so I’m glad to hear this company takes its environmental impact seriously. Curt at Alternative Energy~Renewable Energy also comments on New Belgium’s eco-friendly brewing.
Technorati tags: beer, sustainability, business