Green Roof Installed at MillerCoors Milwaukee Campus

MillerCoors reinforced its commitment to local environmental sustainability issues with its recent green roof installation at 4000 W. State Street, representing 8,184 square feet. This initiative, completed at one of the Milwaukee brewery buildings, will reduce stormwater runoff on the brewery’s campus as well as heating and cooling costs by adding to the insulation on the roof and will extend the life of the roof overall.

The brewery was awarded one of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District’s (MMSD) 2009 Stormwater Best Management Practice Grants to help fund the project, which cost more than $150,000 in total. The green roof is made from recycled plastic trays filled with soil and sedum varietals, allowing rainwater that falls onto the new roof to either evaporate or absorb into the soil. The reduction in rainwater runoff will help fulfill one of the goals of the project: to reduce sewer overflows and storm water pollution into the Menomonee River.

“We are constantly looking for ways we can improve efficiencies at our Milwaukee brewery,” says Andrew Moschea, brewery vice president at MillerCoors. “Installing the green roof is another great example of the emphasis we place on environmental sustainability, especially in relation to water stewardship for our community.”

In addition to its newly-installed green roof, the Milwaukee brewery has other ongoing initiatives that positively impact stormwater runoff reduction including its creation and maintenance of a rain garden and bio-retention swale and use of rain barrels.

MillerCoors will use the green roof to educate visitors on its popular Milwaukee Brewery tour about the relevance of clean water for communities, as well as inspire them to help reduce storm water volume and pollutants. Each year, the Milwaukee Brewery is visited by more than 100,000 visitors, who will now be able to view the new green roof and gain insight on the project’s environmental impact through permanent signage along the tour and at the final stop in the beer garden. Additionally, the green roof on 4000 South St. will be visible to MillerCoors corporate offices.

MillerCoors has designated water conservation as one of its key sustainable development priorities. Its breweries constantly strive to reduce the amount of water used to brew its beer and have implemented changes in operations in order to better conserve water. Specific examples of brewery efforts to reduce and reuse water, along with the company’s progress and goals for the future are outlined in a Sustainable Development Report, released earlier this year entitled, “From Grain to Glass.” This report is available on the company’s Web site at www.millercoors.com.

About MillerCoors
Built on a foundation of great beer brands and more than 288 years of brewing heritage, MillerCoors continues the commitment of its founders to brew the highest quality beers. MillerCoors is the second largest beer company in America, capturing nearly 30 percent of U.S. beer sales. Led by two of the best-selling beers in the industry, MillerCoors has a broad portfolio of highly complementary brands across every major industry segment. Miller Lite is the great tasting beer that established the American light beer category in 1975, and Coors Light is the brand that introduced consumers to refreshment as cold as the Rockies. MGD 64 completes the company’s premium light beer portfolio, offering consumers fresh, crisp taste at just 64 calories. MillerCoors brews premium beers Coors Banquet and Miller Genuine Draft; and economy brands Miller High Life and Keystone Light. The company also imports Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Pilsner Urquell, Grolsch and Molson Canadian and offers innovative products such as Miller Chill and Sparks. MillerCoors features craft brews from the Jacob Leinenkugel Company, Blue Moon Brewing Company and the Blitz-Weinhard Brewing Company. MillerCoors operates eight major breweries in the U.S., as well as the Leinenkugel’s craft brewery in Chippewa Falls, WI and two microbreweries, the 10th Street Brewery in Milwaukee and the Blue Moon Brewing Company at Coors Field in Denver. MillerCoors vision is to create America’s best beer company by driving profitable industry growth. MillerCoors insists on building its brands the right way through brewing quality, responsible marketing and environmental and community impact. MillerCoors is a joint venture of SABMiller plc and Molson Coors Brewing Company.