Salford-based brewer and pub owner Hydes has announced a raft of new environmental initiatives, to be introduced across the business throughout this year.
Hydes’ managing director, Adam Mayers
The family-owned independent brewery, which celebrated its 160th anniversary last year, has introduced numerous initiatives across different areas of the business, from the brewery and head office, to throughout its pub estate.
At the brewery in Salford, new environmental measures include the installation of inverter drives, which control the speed of the motors during the constant brewing process, to improve energy savings. A steam generator has also been installed which, although only used when required, such as particularly busy production periods, uses far less energy than other power sources.
The brewery has been fully lagged with insulation material to maximise energy efficiency. LED movement sensor lights have been installed throughout, and voltage optimisers added, to use electricity at 230v, enabling significant energy savings.
Further additions to the brewery operation include plant automation, reducing inefficiencies and downtime, EV charge points, and all dray vehicles being fully solar panel battery powered.
Initiatives to be implemented throughout the year include the harvesting of rainwater inside the brewery for cask washing use, and investment in an energy-efficient heat pump for heating and cooling office space.
Across the pub estate, a number of venues have installed LED sensor lighting and EV charging stations. A biomass boiler has been installed at the Stamford Bridge, in Chester, with the intention of introducing similar energy-efficient boilers to more Hydes pubs. Pubs have also committed to recycling cooking oil in kitchens and cutting wastage.
“We are focused on driving energy efficiency improvements with the brewery, production areas, and across all sites,” said Adam Mayers, managing director of Hydes.
“We are acutely aware that our brewery and pubs have a significant impact on communities and the environment, therefore we must work sustainably and responsibly to ensure we can safeguard the future of our business and protect the planet.
“To help conserve energy, a sustainability steering group has been created and meets regularly to review all energy efficiency and environmental practices. As well as making significant operational changes, it’s also about making smaller, long-term changes to the way our business runs.
“We continue to fit LED bulbs every time one is replaced and on all refurbishments. We also ensure energy is regularly monitored so targets can be set and achieved. Voltage optimisation and cellar compartmentalisation has also been incorporated at several sites, with additional rollout planned for more pubs.”
