Bells’ Brewery, Comstock, Mich., was honored by the Environmental Protection Agency for reducing Bell’s energy per barrel packaged by 10.35% over the last two years.
The three projects that yielded significant reductions were:
- Compressed air leak detection: small holes or cracks develop over time in compressed air tubing. Using an ultrasonic device, Bell’s found and fixed worn pneumatic gaskets and tubing which saved the equivalent of 151,000 kilowatt-hours or enough electricity to power 14 homes for one year.
- LED retrofitting: By replacing fluorescent bulbs at the brewery with LEDs, Bell’s saved the equivalent of 127,000 KWH per year or enough electricity to power 12 homes for one year.
- Glycol heated CO2 vaporizer: two separate systems (fermentation and CO2 vaporization) were combined into one efficient system to save 190,000 KWH per year or enough electricity to power 17 homes for one year.
The brewery partnered with Consumers Energy to make energy efficiency upgrades at its main brewery in Comstock, Mich., near Kalamazoo.
The work at Bell’s also supports Consumers Energy’s Clean Energy Plan – a road map for protecting the environment and embracing innovative, affordable energy solutions. By 2040, Consumers plans to achieve net zero carbon emissions and meet 90 percent of Michigan’s energy needs with clean resources.