Comments on Bearded Brewing Blog: Water conservation

I deleted my initial comment because I misread wha...

2007-12-21T00:15:00.000-06:00

I deleted my initial comment because I misread what you had wrote.

I would have to fill a pot with the scalding hot water, and then carry it over to the tub or washing machine. If a thermal mashtun was cleaned out, it could go in there as a way to hold onto the hot water for a while. As for dishes, it simply runs off into the sink.

In a previous post about social responsibility, you mentioned that it is about our "attitude." I agree, it is our paradigm, and willingness to follow through on our conviction to do what is right.

Though there are probably many many more, the number of uses I listed is more than enough to utilize the water from each batch. You just need to look around the house and find all the applicable areas of using water. Its just a matter of translating a willingness to utilize it, into full action.

At the end of a brewday, do we really feel like washing down the garage floor, or doing the laundry? Probably not. But with the help of our loved ones, we can get a lot done. The utilization of that scalding hot water is the most resourceful option. Then the cooler water in jugs can be used the following days around the house.

Another way I can utilize all that water is by giving it to my neighbor. She literally has hundreds of indoor plants, and fills numerous 3-4 gallon jugs throughout the week just to quench their thirst.

I also plan to get into harvesting CO2 emissions from fermentation. There was a great site about it, but I can't seem to find it. A lot of brewers add onto their systems bigger kettles, and kegging and what not. I plan to make mine as sustainable as possible.

Sustainability in the brew-place is essential, and exciting. Again, thanks for bringing it up, and out of me.

Ted,Thanks for the feedback. How do you collect if...

2007-12-20T14:44:00.000-06:00

Ted,
Thanks for the feedback. How do you collect if its hot, to then reuse? Do you send a hose into the washer, or just into a sink?
I'm happy to have this minor conservation, but I'd love to find more uses.
As for organic, I'm happy to see such a boom in the industry. At first I ordered from Seven Bridges, but then was happy to see NB add more organic supplies over time. Thanks for checking in.

Thanks for visiting my site. You have a nice blog ...

2007-12-20T14:37:00.000-06:00

Thanks for visiting my site. You have a nice blog as well. I will definitely return.

I agree that water waste is a bigger issue than we homebrewers give attention to. I'm glad you brought it up. I'm sure we could be using it in many useful ways.

Your bulk collection provides a means to use it for many different applications (cleaning solutions, indoor plants, outdoor watering, washing the car, dog, home windows, filling carboys with a sanitizer, etc).

With full batches, I'm still chilling two pots. So I'm getting two doses of piping hot water. Currently, I use it to wash dishes. But it can definitely be used to fill the tub for a hot bubble bath, the laundry machine for a load, or applied directly to the garage floor or walkways for a scrubdown and rinse, etc.