Purpose Energy. Worth a Look.

BioDigestion - A Little Shaky but Getting its Footing

Magic Hat is working it out w. this technology - and TreeHugger did a great piece on it here. I've been emailing Fitch (owner, Purpose Energy) about more details on the this ever-emergent technology, trying to get an interview and see how it's all coming together.

I think bio-digestion has a lot of potential - from onsite applications to tying in w. existing infrastructure (gas pipelines). In this nascent period, onsite seems most practical (for preheating boils and onsite heating, etc.), but in the future, if gases can be captured and filtered, they can contribute to an overall energy portfolio. While I detest burning fuels, I detest much more concentrated power. If we can decouple and make sustainable energy production as part of overall processes, we can become more efficient and more in touch w. our impacts...

If you love uncomfortable synthesizer beats and Euro bedazzlement, check out this video on some additional sustainable technologies in the making.

Central Waters - One of My Favorites on the Green Tip

I haven't tried their beer, but I really like what they are doing. This is a great format for those looking to get up on Sustainability. Enjoy.

Micro Loans and the Importance of Reinvesting Capital Locally

Bringing Finance Back Down to Reality

One of the most important aspects of Sustainability, as I've noted over and over again, is the idea of cooperation, favoring the better face of humanity and the benefits of high social affiliation and mutualism. Samuel Adams has teamed up with ACCION USA in Brewing The American Dream to provide microloans to hospitality and microbrewery entrepreneurs. The program has been around for four years, and with almost $1MM distributed through loans of $500 to $25,000, it has a 2.3% default rate -- lower than that of the government’s Small Business Administration Loan program. In addition, Sam Adams employees give free seminars and mentoring for these business owners to ensure they have proper support along the way.

While we usually get swept up in solar panels and corn cups, deepening our commitments to our communities and the world moves us toward real sustainability. 

It's All About Transparency

Again, Sustainability starts at choice.

"For companies that had weathered the economic downturn, it seemed that adversity had acted as a catalyst for critical thinking, and, at the same time, people started promoting eco-efficiency training as a way to reduce costs in areas like energy, water, and waste."

Read the Full Story

"Crafty Carton" - Biodegradable, But Really ?

She's Crafty...

Ok - Here it is. Crafty Carton has shaken me to the marrow. When I see this, the last thing I'm thinking is beer. While it is touted as a way toward driving additional sales, as "earth friendly," and as a great way to get an additional 2 pints in you before day's end, I wonder just how welcomed this item will be? Click the link and tell us what you think.

Can U.S. farms compete without renewables?

Great story here on the inevitably of adopting renewable energy to help get our food to our mouths

140 Year Old Hotelier, Brewery and Wine Merchant Talks Sustainability

Adnams won the sustainable development award after impressing Queen’s Awards judges with its “values-based approach to business management”. Andy Wood, Chief Executive, seems to understand perfectly that sustainability is sound all around, especially when it comes to making the right choices and thinking of the much needed transformation of the mental economy. 


Speaking on what it means to be on the sustainability journey: “That means developing an exceptional working culture at Adnams, managing our social and environmental impacts to deliver positive improvements and achieving better business results, on a consistent basis. It is about doing things right and being seen to do so. Our values drive our success.”


It's all about people and choice, people. Making a commitment to cooperate, coevolve, acknowledge and decrease risk, and move us all forward. 

Full story here

Beer Festivals - The Link Between Sustainable Brewers and Sustainable Humans

Can we just think about this? 

Yes, GABF has taken us up the ethical and sustainable ladder, showing everyone that more is better when it comes focusing on sustainability. How, you ask?

1. Waste diversion strategies
2. Be cognizant and executing when it comes to footprints, be it water, carbon, or ecological impact
3. Actually having a focus on sustainability - making it part of the fun, a teachable moment that does more to illuminate our frivolous behavior and the obvious solutions. 
4. Banning styrofoam
5. Offsetting carbon through wind purchase credits
6. Bulk condiments, compostable utensils, and full recycling and composting (are you seeing the the closing of the loop here?)
7. Encouraging and rewarding positive, sustainable behavior through infrastructure of provision (AKA, doing it sustainably, having a plan, and having a measurable, aggressive, and smart strategy that can be compared over time)
8. Teaming up w. experts in sustainability, affording everyone a learning opportunity and validation of their efforts

What's next? A bike valet? Locally sourced snacks? Discounts for sustainable behavior (riding a bike/using alternative transportation/not acting like a tool by slamming your glass down and babbling, "whatever you got")?

Harpoon's Sustainability Wins the Prize

"It's an honor to receive this recognition from Mayor Menino. Not only are we are passionate about making great beer, it is part of our mission to be good neighbors within our community. Sustainability is important to us and we do whatever we can to reduce waste and increase efficiency," said Warren Dibble, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Harpoon. "Demand response is part of our mix; our employees know that it helps the larger energy grid and are completely supportive of it."

Full Story

WisBusiness: Capital Brewery boosts sustainability to grab Green Tier designation from DNR

"The first step was cultural, getting us to change our mindset. But our industry is getting smarter as well as greener, and it's paying off." 

Read the rest...

My favorite church keys

I came like water, and like wind I go - Edward Fitzgerald

On the Importance of Water... and the Coolest Thing in Wind Energy Since the Dutch

Check out Eole Water. Their technology pulls moisture from the air using a self-sustaining turbine system. Imagine the implications. Upwards of 300 gallons of water a day - out of thin air, literally. Infrastructure-free water.
How many 1/2 barrels is that? Five different filters further clean the water as the condensed moisture travels across stainless steel. Works differently depending on where it's at, say a coastal area or desert - but either way, it gets the water. The company has already partnered with some giants like Siemens, so I'm sure we'll have giant turbines robbing the sky of clouds.


Check out your own water foot print: Water Foot Print Network analysis.


You won't believe it."There are 7 billion people to feed on the planet today and another 2 billion are expected to join by 2050. Statistics say that each of us drinks from 2 to 4 litres of water every day, however most of the water we ‘drink’ is embedded in the food we eat: producing 1 kilo of beef for example consumes 15,000 litres of water while 1 kilo of wheat ’drinks up’ 1,500 liters" (World Water Day, 2012). Gotta check out the facts and how we can be smarter about this thing that we are:

World Water Day 2012 campaign (   )