Hopefully by now I’ve convinced you to be conscious of your carbon footprint. You’ll notice I’m not telling you to stop showering or encouraging you to run around in a hemp sack either. I’m just trying to make you a little greener without turning you into an ascetic.

I’d never ask you to give up beer, for example. I’d just hope you would be open to decreasing your environmental impact while killing brain cells. There are a number of earth-friendly beers on the market, and by supporting companies with a commitment to the environment, your money is sending a strong message of support for their practices.

There are a couple of breweries like the Anderson Valley Brewing Company and the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company employing solar panels to power their plants. Sierra Nevada also has a carbon dioxide recovery system, as well as a heat recovery system -- and a whole host of other fancy, green practices too complicated to go into.

Another notable brewery taking earth-friendly action is the New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins, Colorado. They make Fat Tire, and they do it by reusing steam to decrease the energy required for the process. They buy the remainder of necessary electricity from a nearby wind farm, and they are also developing a process to reuse their carbon dioxide emissions as well.

These beers may cost a little more than the swill you’re used to, but they taste a lot better, and they also make you look like you have a discerning palate. Chicks dig that sort of thing. Trust me.