Saving energy and enjoying a summer pint of beer

As EiD readers planning to head for the pub during these summer days will be pleased to learn that many local pubs are taking action to save energy.

Defra promises drinkers the UK’s first energy-saving pint

By BusinessGreen

09 Jul 2012

Drinkers could soon be supping on a more sustainable pint thanks to new energy-saving technology developed with backing from the government.

UK’s  Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced on July 9^th that it had awarded a total of £500,000 to 21 small businesses working on the development of green food technologies, including a firm that has developed a drinks cooling system that cuts the amount of energy needed to pour a pint of beer.

Huddersfield-based Brewfitt is planning to develop an on-tap cooling system, which according to the company could save pubs £700 a year in reduced energy bills and £2,000 in wasted drinks.

Instead of cooling beer in the pub’s cellar, allowing it to be warmed as it is pumped to the bar, and then cooling it again, the company said the new system would cool drinks on demand, improving the energy efficiency of the whole process.

Brewfitt is one of 21 companies to receive grants worth up to £25,000, with other successful projects including plans for a new local food-purchasing digital hub, research into new water efficient irrigation systems, and studies into reducing potato disease without using pesticide.

Food and Farming Minister Jim Paice said the awards were part of a £15.5m government-backed funding programme to accelerate the development of technologies and business models that can aid the production of more sustainable food.

“Britain’s at the forefront of innovation and at a time of soaring world population growth, harnessing this talent for the food and farming industry will create significant economic growth and improve the environment,” he said. “That’s why the government is investing more than £15m in this research.

“I want to congratulate every award winner for their passion and ideas. I believe these projects could make a huge impact on the industry and, in time, the environment.”

The news comes ahead of the announcement in the autumn of the results of a wider funding programme, which will deliver £15m for businesses to invest in projects that increase the efficiency, sustainability and competitiveness of food processing and manufacturing.