Environmental Impact of Homebrewing

[MississippiSlim]

Its greener than cooking meth.

 

[Jersh]

Not totally related, but I recently read an article about the Dogfish Head brewery in Milton, DE. Apparently, as the brewery grew, and thus their amount of waste water grew, the bacteria used in the municipal waste water treatment plant were being overwhelmed by the yeast in the waste water from Dogfish, so now the brewery collects all their waste water and they truck it out to local farms that use it to water their crops.

 

[Catt22]

The real problem is the third world countries that are rapidly becoming more industrialized and their populations are growing at a much faster rate than the developed countries. Try telling them they should cut back while they watch us continue to consume the bulk of the resources. Ain't gonna happen. Hopefully, the space aliens will arrive soon and show us how we can save our butts. OTOH, they may simply eat us if they are protein based critters.

 

[Parker36]

The real problem is the third world countries that are rapidly becoming more industrialized and their populations are growing at a much faster rate than the developed countries. Try telling them they should cut back while they watch us continue to consume the bulk of the resources. Ain't gonna happen. Hopefully, the space aliens will arrive soon and show us how we can save our butts. OTOH, they may simply eat us if they are protein based critters.

It may be true that the third world countries are growing population faster than the rest of the world and that their industries are often less environmentally friendly, but it is the industrialized nations (US included) that are producing WAY more waste and greenhouse gases than the rest of the world.

 

[Catt22]

It may be true that the third world countries are growing population faster than the rest of the world and that their industries are often less environmentally friendly, but it is the industrialized nations (US included) that are producing WAY more waste and greenhouse gases than the rest of the world.

I absolutely agree, but the rest of the world is gaining on us in that respect. We are not only producing way more waste and greenhouse gas, but we are consuming most of the worlds resources in the process and many of these are non-renewable such as petroleum and coal. We've set up a non-sustainable system and eventually we will pay for it. Fortunately, I probably won't be around when things start to get really nasty. Maybe none of us will.

 

[ThickHead]

We've set up a non-sustainable system and eventually we will pay for it. Fortunately, I probably won't be around when things start to get really nasty. Maybe none of us will.

We'll be mining the oceans of Titan before you know it.

 

[Scimmia]

As someone involved in the agricultural industry, I'll say the more CO2 in the air the better. CO2 makes plants grow better, which means more food for everyone. How can that be a bad thing? Especially since there's no objective proof it has an impact on the climate one way or the other.

 

[ThickHead]

As someone involved in the agricultural industry, I'll say the more CO2 in the air the better. CO2 makes plants grow better, which means more food for everyone. How can that be a bad thing? Especially since there's no objective proof it has an impact on the climate one way or the other.

You're kidding right?

 

[Scimmia]

You're kidding right?

Maybe a little, but nothing I said was false.

 

[ThickHead]

Maybe a little, but nothing I said was false.

"...the more CO2 in the air the better." is certainly false in my opinion. There would be no need whatsoever for an agricultural industry if CO2 levels were high enough to kill anyone needing those agricultural products of hypercapnia.

 

[Scimmia]

"...the more CO2 in the air the better." is certainly false in my opinion. There would be no need whatsoever for an agricultural industry if CO2 levels were high enough to kill anyone needing those agricultural products of hypercapnia.

That was an opinion, and one meant to be taken slightly in jest, more as hyperbole. The facts, on the other hand, are not false.

 

[ThickHead]

That was an opinion, and one meant to be taken slightly in jest. The facts, on the other hand, are not false.

I know, that's why I asked if your were kidding and gave the . And i didn't take issue with your facts, just the statement of opinion. Now we're clear.....as mud. lol

 

[Pappers_]

Another option is to brew with organic ingredients. If you're interested in learning more, see 7 Bridges Cooperative at www.breworganic.com

I buy organic grain malt at the Chicago warehouse for MidCountry Malts.

 

[Poolplayer]

They say it takes 5 gallons of water to make one gallon of ethanol. But it takes 5 1/2 gallons of water to make 5 gallons of beer. I think we're waaaaay ahead of Al Gore on this one. Now where the hell is my Nobel Peace Prize?!

Cheers

Aaron

 

[lowlife]

edit ... My response wasnt contributing anything. Deleted....

 

[TipsyDragon]

the answer is obvious. grow your own hops and grain..... but then you have to malt and roast the grain. and bugs will eat your hops if your not careful. best douse them with pesticides. oh wait that will pollute the environment can't do that. cant really use yeast to ferment your wart because of all the CO2 they put out. green house gas and all.

really we are all just wrecking the planet.

 

[GuitarBob]

I absolutely agree, but the rest of the world is gaining on us in that respect. We are not only producing way more waste and greenhouse gas, but we are consuming most of the worlds resources in the process and many of these are non-renewable such as petroleum and coal. We've set up a non-sustainable system and eventually we will pay for it. Fortunately, I probably won't be around when things start to get really nasty. Maybe none of us will.

It's the first world nations that are buying the world's resources thusly creating jobs for people in the 3rd world so they can buy food, shelter, etc.

People have existed for centuries claiming that the world is growing too fast, that there isn't enough resources, and that the world is going to go to hell in a handbasket. They have always been proven wrong in the past, and they will be proven wrong in the future.

 

[Pappers_]

the answer is obvious. grow your own hops and grain.....

There are many folks here who grow their own hops and even a subforum devoted to the topic https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f92/

I thought this spring that I would get into that, but decided I just don't have the right space for it - lots of room but not enough sun throughout the day.

I would love to make a beer with locally grown hops - I know the disadvantages of not knowing exact AA% etc., but it would be great to brew a local hops beer. Anyone in Chicago want to sell me some of your homegrown hops? LOL!

 

[Pappers_]

I think its great that there's a thread for people who want to chat about how to brew beer with an eye towards conservation, ecology and sustainability.

You're not interested in it, great. Why not just move on and let others who do want to talk about it post?

 

[iparks81]

Shouldn't this whole thread be in politics and debate as environmentalism is simply a crisis to empower politicians?

Serously, growing your own ingredients? Isn't their some soft of economy of scale to the polution from farm equipment and pesticides? I mean, once I douse my hops with enough malothinene (spelling?) to keep the bugs out, who am I helping?

Maybe trade the 4-wheel cage for a small displacement motorcycle and forgo air conditioning? While I may come accross as a politicizing ass, I happen to think that brewing a batch of beer makes about the diffrence of a sparrow farting in a hurricane when it comes to the environment.

wow, couldnt have said it better myself

 

[Pappers_]

Here's another idea . . .

A pub here in Chicago that I'm fond of does not recycle their bottles - just throws them away. They carry a great selection of craft beers, so not all the bottles have the threaded tops. The folks at this bar like me, so if I remind them to save some for me for a couple of days, they do. I like the notion of not buying new bottles and reusing some of these bottles that were headed to the landfill. Even if they were going to recycle (I have no idea why they don't), reuse is better than recycle in many ways.

 

[katja]

Here is a serious suggestion....when you are brewing, RDWHAHB and wait to flush the toilet until you are done brewing. Especially you who do it standing and leave the seat up. Drink locally, flush seldom...

 

[jbambuti]

I think this thread can be divided into two groups: those that are interested in how their activities (brewing and otherwise) might be done in a more environmentally-friendly manner, and those that don't really care one way or the other. Unsurprisingly, the more disparaging comments come from those who don't care.

I'm always surprised at the negative comments some have against environmentalism. You might be a huge polluter, but I don't understand how you could be opposed to polluting less, using less energy, and generally trying to have as little negative effect on the planet as possible. Saying that pollution is happening anyway and that there's no reason to worry about my activities is kind of like saying that donating to a charity that feeds people is useless because your donation can't stop world hunger.

I'm not the greenest person I know, but I do what I can to reduce my negative impact on the environment. Some posters figure that, since their lineage will end soon, who cares? Well, I'd like my son to grow up in a world that isn't worse (even in a very small way) due to my personal choices. Yeah, it might be somewhat of a pipe dream right now, but if everyone did just a little bit, then the overall impact would be much greater.

Maybe someone from the other perspective can explain to me how my environmentalism is so backward and threatening. I just don't get it.

 

[BeerCrazy]

As for me and my brewery...

I use electric as I don't have natural gas available. Stainless immersion heaters. This is cheaper, and greener. It would be greener if we used nuclear power but the Chicken Littles and the NIMBYs are too scared of it.

My chill water is recirculated with ice coming in once the delta t of the chill water drops too much. The waste water is used to clean the bird droppings from my deck as it seems to hot to water a plant with and storing it would just be a stupid waste of labor.

My spent grain is stacked up outside to "compost" next to my annoying neighbors property line. I co-mingled herbivore manure from the zoo as well.

My yeast farts are negligible to my own after a night of drinking and eating manly foods while burning firewood in my back yard. In the grand scheme, I think my green pinewood fire is much worse than my entire day of brewing.

 

[Pappers_]

This is now the third time this evening I've made the common sense suggestion that this thread was started by the OP for brewers to share ideas about tips and ways of brewing that encourage conservation, ecology and sustainability. All other posts are Off Topic, imho.

All of the off topic posts make the on topic discussion very difficult. Start your own threads to talk about the politics or complaining about environmentalism. Those posts don't respond to the OP and are off-topic here.

I'll burn one for you. Agree 100%, but don't forget... the political animal doesn't even believe the garbage they throw at the masses. It is simply a campaign tool to retain their power.

 

[Yooper]

Keep the name calling, wise cracks, insults and other OT stuff out of here. If you want to talk politics, go to the debate forum.

If you continue namecalling (and yes, words like "retarded" are namecalling), and personal attacks, you can find a new place to discuss brewing as well.

 

[GrizlyGarou]

Maybe someone from the other perspective can explain to me how my environmentalism is so backward and threatening. I just don't get it.

Perhaps they're not willing to try to change their way of being?

I'm on the fence as far as changing things go. On the one hand, we're part of the eco-system, and whatever we do is on one level or another natural and part of nature. On the other hand, we really have begun to remove ourselves from what nature really is. Either way, there's no point in debating with anyone who feels strongly about something. They're not going to change their mind just because someone else has an opinion that differs unless they're already questioning their own opinion.

I'm not about to go and dump paint thinner in the local pond, but I'm also too lazy to start riding my bike instead of driving my car. I do feel a little weird dumping a bunch of sanitizer down the drain into my septic tank, though. I also know it's not worth my energy to try to convince anybody to change their ways.

Let's just discuss what we think we can do (personally) to reduce our own personal waste like the OP was talking about, huh?

 

[jbambuti]

]
Let's just discuss what we think we can do (personally) to reduce our own personal waste like the OP was talking about, huh?

That was exactly my point if you read my previous posts in the thread. Unfortunately, the thread was diverted and somehow politicized. It required a reply.

So let's get back on topic.

 

[BeerCrazy]

Keep the name calling, wise cracks, insults and other OT stuff out of here. If you want to talk politics, go to the debate forum.

If you continue namecalling (and yes, words like "retarded" are namecalling), and personal attacks, you can find a new place to discuss brewing as well.

The pig post was quite on point. Also, their is nothing wrong with speeding the ascent of the grain past a few trophic layers. One poster speaks of making cookies. I just suggested making bacon. I haven't implemented this yet because of our draconian zoning laws forbidding barn yard animals.

Most conservation is choosing one resource over another. For example, in areas with a surplus of potable water cloth diapers help while in a dessert disposable are better.

Also, if emissions from transportation are a legitimate concern. Consider the drives made to home brew events. Maybe a web cam competition would be the green future, but at the very least carpool. I for one have made multi-day drives alone because of last minute planning and not working out a carpool.

By the way... huge improvement in efficiency can come from brewing outside and keeping a lid on during boil. You can even ignore the boil over as you don't have to clean outside. Significant heat loss comes from boiling with the lid off.

 

[riverfrontbrewer]

CO2 is not political its factual, but WTF ever.