Stories & features

Revered Vernon brewery chases efficiencies and looks to move away from fossil fuels 

Part of a series on BC Hydro Clean Energy Champions: businesses, homes, and institutions – large and small – recognized for reducing their reliance on fossil fuels.

In his final year of engineering studies at the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO), Chris Dougherty developed a strong interest in renewable energy and aimed to work at a BC Hydro dam. When that didn't materialize, he explored opportunities in the Okanagan and found a great fit at a well-known brewery in Vernon – Okanagan Spring – where his passion for clean energy and sustainability could thrive. 

"While I didn't end up at the dam, I'm still working closely with BC Hydro through energy efficiency initiatives," says Dougherty, now senior project manager at Okanagan Spring, which has been operating in Vernon since 1985.

Before the craft beer boom, Okanagan Spring built a reputation for quality beers using the finest all natural ingredients and staying pure to the craft. That pioneering spirit was one of the reasons Ontario's Sleeman Brewing and Malting – which has also acquired microbreweries in Quebec and Alberta – acquired the Vernon brewery to become Sleeman Breweries Ltd. in 1996.

Dougherty brought a focus on reducing energy waste. And in just four years, his energy team's conservation focus on cost-saving ideas – often boosted by BC Hydro consultation and incentives – helped him on his path in the engineering department.

What they've done and what's to come

Since October 2020, Dougherty and his team have identified dozens of energy conservation measures. They implemented 14 of them – notably two major lighting retrofit projects and a waste heat recovery vaporizer project – that in 2023 yielded an 8.9% plant-wide reduction in energy use. A compressed air leak project discovered 76 leaks and 10 improvements to deliver 45,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) savings per year. 

Dougherty has fostered a cross departmental team that actively seeks ways to improve energy efficiency across the brewery. For his leadership, he was awarded Sleeman's "Better Beer, Better People" award, a company-wide recognition.

"It's like an employee of the year award," says Dougherty. "It's presented to those exemplifying company values such as leadership, teamwork, and continuous improvement and it reflects the strategic thinking of our team and our passion for energy reduction projects."

Their work as an energy team has created excitement across the company, which is a sign they're making a real difference. The quest for savings at Okanagan Spring continues, including: 

• Air compressor/dryer upgrade: Coming this fall and expected to deliver a 14% reduction in the equipment's annual electricity use, to the tune of 51,000 kWh per year in savings. 
• Solar feasibility: Exploration of adding solar panels to the flat roof of the brewery, through the joint efforts of the brewery, Prism Engineering and BC Hydro. The preliminary savings is estimate 87,550 kWh per year.
• Boiler electrification: Studying how they could electrify the boilers and other equipment and which could be used in the brewing process to cut carbon emissions.
• Energy sub-metering: To further reduce energy usage in the brewery – coordinated alongside our demand-response program.

Dougherty says he's particularly excited about a big-ticket item on the list, a possible switch from gas to electricity in the brewery's boilers. Alternative scenarios include electrifying select end uses where steam is no longer the best solution for heating. He says that while the initial capital costs would be high, it's the primary path to cutting carbon emissions at a brewery. 

"In the most optimistic scenario, it would basically be a full decarbonization of that process for heating in the brewhouse and cleaning processes across the brewery," he says. "The technology is out there, but it's relatively new at scale and at industrial size. It's exciting to be looking at it, because there aren't many case studies of it being done outside Europe."

Strategic energy management program was 'the backbone of what we’re doing'

Building a culture of energy conservation wasn't easy, especially when day-to-day operations are demanding. Dougherty credits our strategic energy management (SEM) cohort for helping him form a nine-person energy team at Okanagan Spring. The team identified numerous energy conservation measures through a comprehensive opportunity register.

"That experience was transformational for me," he says. "It not only changed my professional approach, but it also sparked a cultural shift at Okanagan Spring. The support and excitement from our team have been incredible, and it's now the backbone of our energy efforts. I can't thank BC Hydro enough for their continued support."

Extending ideas Sleeman-wide and beyond 

The innovations at Okanagan Spring could inspire broader energy-saving initiatives across Sleeman Breweries and its parent company, Sapporo. Sapporo's 2019 Environmental Vision 2050 aims for decarbonization, energy savings, and renewable energy use. Okanagan Spring is positioning itself as a leader in these efforts.

“Sapporo is setting greenhouse gas reduction targets, and we want to lead the way,” says Dougherty. “We see what’s happening with climate action, and we want to get Okanagan Spring ahead of the curve. I believe we’re energy champions, thanks in part to BC Hydro’s support.”