There's an ancient Egyptian hieroglyph that translates to "beer has dispelled the illness which was within me."

While it may not be used as an elixir nowadays, brewskis still seem to have a magical quality about them. Recipes and ingredients are typically shrouded in secrecy, and unless you've personally brewed any beer, you have little to no idea how the stuff is made.

You also probably don't realize how much energy it takes to make those delicious suds.

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Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon is very much aware of how much they use — according to the EPA, it's about 5.6 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy each year. That’s roughly the same amount of energy needed to power an entire college campus.

"It seems that the craft brewing industry in general is self-aware of their environmental impacts and consciously doing more to lower their footprint," explains Serena Dietrich, the sustainability project manager at Deschutes. "Whether they are offsetting their energy use, or putting up alternative energy options like solar, many are doing what they can."

Deschutes employees participating in Beers Made by Walking, a nonprofit that organizes nature hikes to inspire local brewers.

Recently, Deschutes won the Oregon Sustainability Award for 2015, proving that Dietrich and her team know what they're doing. They employ eco-friendly processes like recycling hot air discharge from air compressors to heat cellars in the winter, fertilizing local farming with leftover yeast and hop material and using 70% recycled glass to manufacture bottles.

Thanks to this, and purchasing RECs from verified sources, the brewery uses over 116% green energy. That means that Deschutes obtained more green energy that was needed for the year, making the company a "Champion" in the eyes of Pacific Power's Blue Sky renewable energy program.

While the brewery's founder and president, Gary Fish, has focused on keeping Deschutes on the green path since its inception in 1988, they've had to adapt to evolving technologies, equipment and regulations over the years. But, according to Dietrich, the entire team is committed to doing the right thing, no matter how hard it might be at the time.

"There is always something to consider, and that can be an overwhelming experience," says Dietrich. "I have found it best to stay current on innovations, renewable energy, recycling opportunities, and industry practices. It puts things in perspective and allows for taking projects one step at a time."

Fans of Deschutes might love its Black Butte Porter or Chainbreaker White IPA, but how do they feel about all this green energy the brewery uses?

"Based on my experience, our fans tend to be excited to hear about the work we are doing," says Dietrich, who, along with her colleagues, is considered a co-owner through Deschutes' employee stock ownership program. "Overall, we are modest in our story telling about our commitment to the environment. As a co-owner, it is a fun story to tell, one that brings excitement and a show of pride to be part of an engaging company."