Energy and Climate Change

We’re serious about tackling the energy issue. We’re working hard to reduce our carbon emissions and the amount of money we spend on energy.

We’ve set worthy goals. We’re investing in alternative energy. We’re continually replacing and upgrading equipment and systems to improve energy efficiency. Our emissions meet or beat federal standards. And we’re urging our work teams and our people to change the ways they work and live, so that we’re all contributing.
 
 

Carbon Footprint

Our business strategy calls for continually seeking cost-effective improvements in our operations that result in more efficient use of energy, reducing our emission of greenhouse gases and increasing the percentage of our renewable energy use. We’ve committed to the EPA Climate Leaders program and continue to strive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and we are developing a carbon footprint methodology that will help us understand and manage the impact of our entire supply chain.

 
 
 

Energy Use Initiatives

We’ve embarked on lighting upgrades at most breweries and corporate facilities, installing energy-efficient fixtures, controls and sensors—a move that will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 9,000 tons. We reduced brewery energy use by 16 percent per barrel of beer in the past two years at our Golden and Shenandoah operations. We annually produce millions of gallons of ethanol from waste beer. We also have energy conservation teams exploring how to employ alternative energy sources, including biomass energy production, biogas from waste treatment plants, biofuel fleets, and solar energy.

 
 
 

Equipment Optimization

Operating brewery equipment more efficiently and effectively can translate into major reductions in energy use. An example: In Texas, added boiler controls gave the brewery the ability to operate the plant on two large boilers alone, cutting natural gas consumption substantially. Other breweries are examining equipment use, including systems for refrigeration, burners, air compression, boilers and temperature transmitters.

 
 
 

Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources

We're seeking ways to tap into alternative sources of energy. It’s actually a tradition: 2008 marks the tenth year since the installation of an anaerobic wastewater treatment facility in Texas. In Wisconsin, we purchase the equivalent of 100,000 kilowatt hours of wind power a month from the local utility. In California, a wastewater treatment plant generates enough electricity each hour to power 50 average California homes.

 

We produce 2 million gallons of renewable fuel – ethanol – from our waste beer every year.