Whats your carbon footprint... about beer, really.

[Dave11980]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer#Environmental_impact

"A life cycle study of one beer brand, including grain production, brewing, bottling, distribution and waste management, shows that the CO2 emissions from a 6-pack of micro-brew beer is about 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds).[150] The loss of natural habitat potential from the 6-pack of micro-brew beer is estimated to be 2.5 square meters (26 square feet).[151]"

Depending on the accuracy of wiki, I'd say I'm now against any type of carbon tax... lol. Of course, this is just one more reason to homebrew - I'm not a drunk, I'm saving the environment, one beer at a time.

 

[azscoob]

I always thought that plants and trees take in CO2 and outgas O2, sooo... wouldnt the CO2 emissions be helping the trees grow? and by helping grow trees we get more oxygen? so in a roundabout way beer is good for me and the planet right???

 

[gmtech825]

liberals need some way to get elected so they use emissions and gun control.

 

[Synovia]

I always thought that plants and trees take in CO2 and outgas O2, sooo... wouldnt the CO2 emissions be helping the trees grow? and by helping grow trees we get more oxygen? so in a roundabout way beer is good for me and the planet right???

Yeah, except if you cut down all the trees, like they're doing in south america.

 

[JetSmooth]

Pfft. That's South America. It's not like we're talking about Real America.

 

[Runyanka]

Pfft. That's South America. It's not like we're talking about Real America.

Hahaha... Hear that eagle flying?

 

[IceFisherChris]

And a human exhales over 1000 pounds of CO2 per year!

 

[Pick]

I don't wear carbon soled shoes, so I leave no carbon footprint.

 

[deviousalex]

liberals need some way to get elected so they use emissions and gun control.

And conservatives use fear mongering and tax cuts for the rich.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

So, we are only worried about CO2 emmissions?

Well then, no need to retire my 10 barrell coal fired mash tun or my 15 barrel wood fired kettle. No CO2 emmitted from those is there.

 

[sirsloop]

drink beer grow algae.

problem solved.

 

[Mad Scientist]

Hahaha... Hear that eagle flying?

Eagle????? Let's talk about the Lone Star....flys at the same height....

 

[springer]

So, we are only worried about CO2 emmissions?

Well then, no need to retire my 10 barrell coal fired mash tun or my 15 barrel wood fired kettle. No CO2 emmitted from those is there.

Actually the wood fired kettle is considered carbon neutral reason being is that the tree over its lifetime has removed CO2 from the air so its a basic cycle.

Cornell university

 

[knownikko]

Eagle????? Let's talk about the Lone Star....flys at the same height....

rofl

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Texas

It is a common urban legend that the Texas flag is the only state flag that is allowed to fly at the same height as the U.S. flag. Allegedly, Texas has this right inherently (as a former independent nation) or because it negotiated special provisions when it joined the Union (this version has been stated as fact on a PBS website).[12] However, the legend is false. Neither the Joint Resolution for Annexing Texas to the United States nor the Ordinance of Annexation[13] contain any provisions regarding flags. According to the United States Flag Code, any state flag can be flown at the same height as the U.S. flag; the U.S. flag should be on its right (the viewer's left), however. Consistent with the U.S. Flag Code, the Texas Flag Code specifies that the state flag should either be flown below the U.S. flag if on the same pole or at the same height as the U.S. flag if on separate poles.[3]

 

[Synovia]

Actually the wood fired kettle is considered carbon neutral reason being is that the tree over its lifetime has removed CO2 from the air so its a basic cycle.

Cornell university

Eh.

If they hand't cut the tree down to fire your kettle, it would still be absorbing CO2.

 

[Mad Scientist]

rofl

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Texas

Yes I am aware of a number of urban legends regarding Texas.

Another of which is that Texas can secede anytime we like, however Texas lost that right as one of the provision of rejoining the union after the civil war.

Texas is the only state to enter the union by treaty, and we were our own sovereign country prior to joining the union--not split off from another, or purchased from another, my reference applies to that history and the incredible independent spirit of Texans.

Seeing as how I directed the comment at another Texan, I do not expect anyone from California to understand that.

 

[springer]

Eh.

If they hand't cut the tree down to fire your kettle, it would still be absorbing CO2.

Its still carbon neutral. The carbon released whether the tree is cut or dies and rots is the natural cycle of C02. Now if you cut all the trees and didn't replant then you have something. But most of my wood comes from my land and when a tree is felled it makes room for a sapling to get light and then it can grow in its place.

 

[ahave]

I have wondered about the carbon footprint of the fermentation process. I have heard of a CO2 scrubbing process some breweries use to capture, clean, and reuse CO2.

Does anyone know if this offsets a substantial amount?

 

[PatientZero]

Was this really necessary? Seriously?

Double check the facts...loss of natural habitat=2.5 square meters per six pack drank. It that were the rate, NOTHING WOULD EXIST.

Someone mentioned that conservatives use fear-mongering, but liberals do it just as much with information like this. I don't want this to be political, but someone else brought it up.

I've never understood the modern environmentalist movement, and I've tried. REALLY HARD. I go to college with a load of hippie *********s who claim it's of the utmost importance. Yet they fail to understand little things like definitions.. Take litter for example: it's stuff that is placed where it doesn't belong. So who cares if I flick my cigarette butt into a lawn that is composed of grass grown from seed that was imported from China? And who cares if I toss my big gulp on the sidewalk or in the middle of the road? Do you think asphalt really belongs there? Perhaps they should stop preaching about "environment issues" and just be straight...they don't want you to do these things because it's ugly. To them.

Maybe I'm wrong. Perhaps they've got it all figured out. SO WE'D ALL BETTER STOP DRINKING BEER. RIGHT NOW! OR ELSE YOU'LL DIE!

 

[Mad Scientist]

Was this really necessary? Seriously?

Double check the facts...loss of natural habitat=2.5 square meters per six pack drank. It that were the rate, NOTHING WOULD EXIST.

Someone mentioned that conservatives use fear-mongering, but liberals do it just as much with information like this. I don't want this to be political, but someone else brought it up.

I've never understood the modern environmentalist movement, and I've tried. REALLY HARD. I go to college with a load of hippie *********s who claim it's of the utmost importance. Yet they fail to understand little things like definitions.. Take litter for example: it's stuff that is placed where it doesn't belong. So who cares if I flick my cigarette butt into a lawn that is composed of grass grown from seed that was imported from China? And who cares if I toss my big gulp on the sidewalk or in the middle of the road? Do you think asphalt really belongs there? Perhaps they should stop preaching about "environment issues" and just be straight...they don't want you to do these things because it's ugly. To them.

Maybe I'm wrong. Perhaps they've got it all figured out. SO WE'D ALL BETTER STOP DRINKING BEER. RIGHT NOW! OR ELSE YOU'LL DIE!

God bless you...I had the best chuckle reading that...I think hippie ****** bags is about the best way to characterize them, you got that completely right. I particularly like you definition of litter...really puts it into perspective.

But you'd better not let Al Gore read this or he'll track you down and bore you to death!

 

[SamJessin]

At first I was going to come up with some angry reply to what you just wrote, but you are entitled to your opinion. Also, I am too busy bringing a bowl of kitchen waste out to my ugly compost heap!

I don't consider myself a hippie *********, but I do feel that it is important for all of us here to be at least conscious of our actions.

When I was a teenager I felt the same way as you; I thought that everything we use here as humans was created here so why not just litter. It isn't as if we are adding junk to the world that didn't exist before hand.

I think a little differently now. For myself I have realized that if I throw away my non-compostable items so they make it to the dump and let everything else rot on the ground I will be greatly reducing my part of the trash problem.

Homebrewing seems to have a small footprint. All ingredients are edible or compostable fter use. Bottles are re-used. Heck, even yeast is reused to cut back on plastic vial waste. The main thing is the heat needed for the boil and the electricity needed for the refridge!

 

[Synovia]

Its still carbon neutral. The carbon released whether the tree is cut or dies and rots is the natural cycle of C02. Now if you cut all the trees and didn't replant then you have something. But most of my wood comes from my land and when a tree is felled it makes room for a sapling to get light and then it can grow in its place.

If burning something is carbon neutral, then anything we do that doesn't involve splitting or combining atoms is carbon neutral.

 

[uechikid]

Pfft. That's South America. It's not like we're talking about Real America.

Jose can you see? Oh, sorry it's "Oh say can you see".

 

[rurounikitsune]

Yes, there is a team of shills posting this environmental impact crap all over Wikipedia. There is a huge story behind this if you care to research it.

It is politics, pure and simple.

 

[Mad Scientist]

At first I was going to come up with some angry reply to what you just wrote, but you are entitled to your opinion.

Myself or PatientZero?

I didn't say that I agreed with his comments, just that it gave me a chuckle. As a professional environmental scientist, my perspective is considerably different, and I have a better perspective on what a hippie ****** bag is. They also fall under the definition of hypocrite. They probably drive a Prius, smoke American Spirits. They have all the answers, and you are wrong, no matter what you do or think. I've had a lot of dealing with hippie ****** bags.

If you really want to discuss the subject, I'll tell the simple fact is that we've got a long way to go in a number of areas, reducing 'carbon footprints' is one of them, but I am not sure how effective that really is. The earth has more emissions from volcanic sources than anything we do. If you really want to do something that has real results you should try an stop the contamination of water, both surface water and groundwater, and shallow soils, where it impacts people, animals, and plants.

 

[uechikid]

I say, Let's just brew and try to be environmentally responsible. If we all do a little bit, it can help allot. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to save the world. I'm just doing my little part.

 

[Mad Scientist]

I say, Let's just brew and try to be environmentally responsible. If we all do a little bit, it can help allot. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to save the world. I'm just doing my little part.

Works for me...but only as long as we get to brew with Jose.....

 

[uechikid]

Works for me...but only as long as we get to brew with Jose.....

He says "Let's Brew"

 

[COLObrewer]

All I know is that I wish this "global warming" they keep talking about would kick in, it's been getting progressively colder with noticeably longer winters for about 5 years now.

That being said, shouldn't this thread be kicked to the political section (debate forum) or possibly the drunken ramblings section of the forum so I can forget about it?

 

[kidsmakeyoucrazy]

I'm not going to go all political or anything...I'm just going to propose a simple experiment to show the average person what happens to the vast majority of CO2...Take a 2 cup measure and place about 1/4 inch of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) in it. Now pour 1/2 cup of vinegar into the same container and let it sit for a minute. While you are letting it sit, go get a candle and bring it to your work area. Light said candle. Now take your cup (which is now full of CO2) and gently "pour" it onto the candle....do not let any liquid exit the measure......candle went out didn't it? Why is that?

Oh and Al Gore can eat me.