Many people graduate from college with the goal of “saving the world”, but most fall short of achieving such lofty and often unrealistic goals. One Texas- based brewery, however, has made saving the planet part of its mission and even named itself appropriately so that no one would lose sight of its long term objectives.
Save the World Brewing, a company based in Marble Falls, Texas, just west of Austin, announced it will celebrate two years of brewing beer on September 24, from 1 to 6 pm with a party at the brewery. The company is thrilled to commemorate two years in business, but part of the celebration will also be the completion of a rooftop solar powered system, recently installed by Freedom Solar Power. With 150 solar panels in place, Save the World Brewing says it will be able to offset over 80 percent of the brewery’s energy requirements. Freedom Solar Power’s Director of Sales Kyle Frazier says the system is made to last and will save the brewery a fortune over time.
“Over the 25-year guaranteed lifetime of the system, the solar array will save the brewery more than $250,000. This is money they’ll be able to use to further their philanthropic mission to save the world one beer at a time,” says Frazier.
Saving money is one reason to go solar, but there is more to it than that. The system will help cut pollution significantly, offsetting more than 1,185 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents. This is equal to recycling 376 tons of waste; taking 250 cars off of the road; or planting 9.4 acres of forest. It’s a significant difference from just a single business.
Save the World Brewing was founded by husband and wife team Dave and Quynh Rathkamp and it’s one of the few businesses in existence that operates on purely philanthropic grounds. Cutting energy usage would be commendable enough, but Save the World Brewing does much more, donating 100 percent of its proceeds to charities, among them such notable non- profits as Food for the Hungry, Meals on Wheels, and Habitat for Humanity of Highland Lakes. Quynh Rathcamp says the addition of solar panels ties in perfectly with the company’s mission.
“We’ve always wanted to have solar on the brewery, and it was just a matter of when it would become plausible. Most of our sustainability developments at the brewery have been added in the past year, and we’re excited to show off the improvements at our second anniversary celebration”, she said.
Along with the new solar panels, Save the World Brewing has taken several other measures in order to move the company in an environmentally friendly direction. Among other things, Save the World Brewing features LED lighting, instant hot water, greywater catchment, an ozonator, and an insulated cold liquor tank. Kyle Frazier sees Save the World Brewing as a community leader and commends the positive example the company has set.
“With its strong focus on charitable giving, Save the World Brewing Co. is a civic leader in its community. When other small business owners and homeowners in Marble Falls see solar panels on its roof, that makes the idea of going solar seem that much more acceptable and realistic to them. The proliferation of solar in rural towns is becoming a movement, and it’s one of many tipping points in the emerging acceptance of solar as the dominant energy source of the 21st century,” said Frazier.
Dave and Quynh Rathcamp are hopeful that their brewery will become a destination attraction and convince more people to visit the area and see what it has to offer.
“Marble Falls is a beautiful place to live or visit, and the water here is nearly identical to the water in regions of Belgium that make some of the best beer in the world,” says Quynh Rathkamp.
Save the World Brewing’s 2nd Anniversary Party is free and open to all. Part of the afternoon’s activities are brewery tours and, of course, an introduction to the many improvements that are helping to “green” the business in several important ways. Save the World is also planning the release of two new beers at the event: imperial pumpkin ale and a sour ale. Local vendors Thai Gourmet Food Truck and M’Lady’s will be on site serving food and there will be games for adults and children.
Saving the planet might seem like an unsurmountable goal but as Save the World Brewing has shown, it’s a commitment that, while requiring dedication to the cause, is achievable on various levels. Pay a visit to Save the World Brewing if you can and witness what two owners and a brewery are capable of doing while enjoying some Belgian- inspired beer in the process. And do your part to help save the world, one beer at a time.
For more information about Freedom Solar Panel, visit http://www.freedomsolarpower.com/.
To learn more about Save the World Brewing Co. visit http://www.savetheworldbrewing.com/.
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