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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Southern Oregon construction industry finds subcontractors in short supply ... Death of transportation bill costs Jackson County $10 million ... Phoenix downtown in for big changes ... Southern Oregon construction industry finds subcontractors in short supply ... Death of transportation bill costs Jackson County $10 million ... Phoenix downtown in for big changes ... STANDING STONE BREWING COMPANY Ashland's Standing Stone brew pub joins green beer coalition Several Oregon breweries among leaders in sharing sustainable practices Comment By John Darling For the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By John Darling For the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 24, 2015 at 6:10 PM By John Darling For the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 24, 2015 at 6:10 PM » Social News In a long drought such as this one, the drive for sustainability takes a different direction, one focused on water — the conservation of it and keeping natural sources of it clean, especially if you’re in the beer-making business. After a second long, dry winter and very low snowpack, 24 breweries, including Ashland’s Standing Stone Brewing Company, have joined in signing a Brewery Climate Declaration, enabling them to exchange water-saving and energy-saving ideas.  “With this drought, the price of hops has gone up 250 percent,” says Rachel Koning, Standing Stone’s Event and Social Media Director. “Hops historically have grown very well in the Northwest but they haven’t been adapting well to the climate changes of the past decade, so it’s in our best interest to keep any and all water sources thriving.”  The Stone has lived on the leading edge of sustainability for many years. Its rooftop solar collectors have been there so long, she notes, that they are fully paid off and they’re seeing a return on investment.  A newly installed heat recovery system captures excess heat from the cooling system, she adds, and that’s used to preheat water for cooking and other uses in the restaurant. That system will pay itself off in about eight years.  Drought is a driver for Ashland to raise water rates in summer and such systems allow the Stone to absorb much of that financial impact, she says.  Of the 24 breweries that have joined the Climate Declaration, eight of them, not surprisingly, are in beer-loving and environment-respecting Oregon, and that, says Koning, tells her “we live in a region where breweries focus on sustainable operations. It’s an opportunity for us to get ideas from each other.”  One system being modeled by Declaration Member O’Dell Brewery of Colorado is a triple-pump water system that allows them to save 23 million gallons of water a year, she says, adding that eventually the Stone will add that technology.  A national craft beer convention next month in Portland, she says, will have several classes on brewery sustainability.  Other practices followed by the Stone are certification that they use “salmon safe hops,” meaning none of the growing practices harm the habitat of streams. Most of their food, she says, has been organically grown for many years. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By John Darling For the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 24, 2015 at 6:10 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501