
The Green Brewery Project
The United States craft brewing industry has experienced a renaissance over the past thirty years, with over 1700 microbreweries and brewpubs operating in 2010.1 Among them is the Corner Brewery, located in Ypsilanti, MI, the focus of this project. With its scope limited to on-site utilization (excluding upstream and downstream inputs), a comprehensive energy and water resources audit was undertaken in early 2010. Methods and findings are described in detail. Cooling applications used approximately 80% of total facility electricity use, with the glycol chiller for fermentation vessel cooling responsible for over 30% of total facility electricity use. Brewing and space heating together comprised approximately 80% of natural gas use, split roughly evenly between the two. Brewing and domestic hot water dominated facility water use, and followed seasonal trends. Numerous options for water and energy efficiency and renewable energy generation were explored. Over a dozen different scenarios utilizing solar power were examined. Using cost-benefit analysis, and with consideration given for ecological impacts, technical feasibility, site-dependent restrictions, and financial factors, a prioritized list of recommendations was created. Aspects of an employee, customer, and community education and engagement program are described. Finally, the Corner Brewery is situated in the context of sustainable practices in the craft brewing sector and businesses in general.
Bennett, Jazmine
Diamond, Jarett
Fischer, Gary
Smithson, Kerby