Due to the overwhelming popularity of Mike's whiskey post, I thought I'd share this article about a bunch of distillers in Scotland (including those that make Chivas Regal as shown) that are turning their waste into energy in the form of a new power plant. Waste that includes "wood chips, ...a solid grain product removed from the mash during fermentation called 'draff', and a high protein residue left in the still called 'pot ale'" The plant will produce enough energy to power 9,000 homes. I've always dreamed of the day when we can generate power with our trash, a la Mr. Fusion, so this kind of news makes me excited that we may be seeing more things like this in the future. What other industries can think of creative ways to use their byproducts?
Bottled water, which barely existed 20 years ago, is now a huge industry whose products are responsible for tons and tons of unnecessary waste. This is one of those issues that is discussed and debated everywhere, so I'll assume that everyone can agree that bottled water costs a ton more than tap water, creates more waste and may or may not taste better. That being said, how would you feel about a ban on bottled water? Would this reduce the amount of waste, or would people switch to drinking soda? The freakonomics blog discusses why they think there would be substitution to another bottled form of refreshment. I know that when we used to drink bottled water I wouldn't drink it at home, but it was convenient to grab one on the way out the door. We quit drinking it mainly for the cost savings. What do you think? Do you think that the government should stay out of the matter all together, or do you think that this is a great way to reduce unnecessary waste?
Whiskey & Water
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11 comments:
Ah yes, Trevor, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The whiskey theme is always popular.
Anyways, I don't think the government should ban anything. But, any business activity should be coupled w/ its true cost (including the cost to the environment). This eliminates the substitution factor that the Freakonomics blog references.
BTW, way to go Chivas Regal and the rest of those wily Scots who are greening up their distilling processes. I may have to mix in some Scotch w/ my Maker's Mark from time to time.
Trevor,
The Mr. Fusion is a reality! I came across this article last year:
http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/26/news/international/kahn_biogas.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2008022704
An Indian plastics/textile company is attempting to solve India's energy AND sanitary problems at once.
We just need the processor from the Back to the Future DeLorean to become a reality.
Lol, just realized that you already mentioned Mr. Fusion.... What a great name.
Thanks goodness for Mr. Fusion, or we'd all be trying to get our 1.21 gigawatts from lightning bolts and such. Much easier to toss a banana peel and a beer pinger into Mr. Fusion and get on down the road. Of course, what would Pat do? I don't see him pouring any beer away for any reason. He'd have to have a lot of banana peals.
Thanks for the info Ryno. I think that's more Mr. Gasification, but we're splitting hairs.
Mike - Don't forget the egg carton.
Mike - I guess I agree that the government should not regulate what a company sells, but what else can be done? These companies are obviously making a profit selling bottled water. Consumers obviously want the product, but it's inherently wasteful and unnecessary.
Consumers also watch American Idol religiously, which is at least as harmful to the human race as all those empty water bottles in the landfill. Maybe giving the customer what they want doesn't work if the customer doesn't really understand what they want.
Being busy and simple people, most of us consumers just go w/ what's easy and cheap. That's why we should properly price convenience that relies upon exploiting the environment.
Mr. Fusion just sounded better.
How do we properly price convenience without getting the government involved?
Bring back deposits on bottles.
As disgusting as the waste it creates is, it's hard to get away from the convenience of bottled water or any other 'drink and trash' beverage.
Perhaps bottled water companies could have their own station next to the soda fountains and market the idea of reusing bottles. This though losses much of the convenience factor. Consumers hate to plan, even something as essential to life as daily water consumption. They want to be able to go, "I'm hungry right this moment, I'll pull into McDonald's" and "I'm parched, I'll buy a bottle of water."
Keeping with the Sci-fi theme, perhaps an organic bottle that rapidly decomposes into some benign (or better yet, useful) material shortly after all the water is consumed. The water acting as an agent keeping the bottle solid.
When I was living in Colorado I remember seeing BIOTA Spring Water. They have bottles that biodegrade in 80 days (that's rapid compared to the 1,000 years it would take a traditional plastic bottle).
Nice find. Even though it's made from corn, that's better than the petroleum that goes into other plastic bottles.
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