Blyth, Ontario-based Cowbell Brewing Co has recently broken ground on its brewery, restaurant, and event venue, the first carbon neutral operation of its kind.

Due to open in Spring/Summer next year, the company will offset 100% of its greenhouse gas emissions, which include all energy consumed in the brewing and facility operations.

Cowbell has commissioned lead architect, Jason Morgan of Allan Avis Architects, Goderich, ON to realise the goals of the project, something that is being tacked in three stages.

Morgan explained: “The first step in minimizing the environmental impact of the main brewery and restaurant building is reducing energy consumption using smart building enclosure systems, equipment, lighting, dramatically reducing water consumption in the brewing process, and providing systems that are derived from the building’s conceptual inspiration.”

According to Morgan, the facility is inspired by “grand old barn” designs taken from its rural surroundings in the heart of Huron County.

Lofty interior spaces use rooftop cupolas, equipped with remote control windows, as an effective, traditional means of ventilation.

The building’s orientation on the property is designed to effectively reduce the energy required for heating and cooling.

Cowbell has opted for brewing equipment and design from Newlands Systems Inc. (NSI) of Abbotsford, BC.

“The entire system is designed with a comprehensive approach to energy conservation and avoidance,” explained Christian Riemerschmid von der Heide, NSI COO.

Key features of the equipment setup include electrical components equipped with variable frequency drives to reduce unnecessary electrical draw, internal rotating jets that reduce water consumption as they clean.

In addition, a low­ energy brew kettle boiling design reduces primary energy by 50%,
evaporation water by up to 80%, and enables remaining vapour to be condensed and used to generate hot water.

The brewery is also operating a carbon sequestration program that is achieved on-­site through a 29 ­acre reforestation project.

It is also working in conjunction with Allan Avis Architects and Golder Associates of London, ON, to complete the detailed analysis necessary to validate, certify and achieve carbon neutral accreditation.