7 Places Poo Will Power the Future (Slideshow)

By Tracy Staedter, Discovery Channel

Everybody poops. But why should it just stop there? Feces — human or other — contains methane, hydrogen and nitrogen that can be converted into energy. And while it may seem a little gross as first, converting waste into power is generally cheap and reduces greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. In the not-so-distant future, don’t be surprised if you find poo providing energy in any of these places.

Explore how we will change the way we make and use energy, from basic day-to-day changes to dramatic, state-of-the-art technology.

1. Dog Parks (above)

Dog parks around the country could benefit from this prototype invention developed in Cambridge, Mass., by Artist Matthew Mazzotta. He created Park Spark, which runs park lights using dog waste. It’s simple and convenient. A dog owner uses a biodegradable bag provided to pick up her pet’s excrement. She tosses the bag into a tube, which leads to an underground digester. Microorganisms break down the organic material, and in doing so, give off methane. Next, the dog owner turns a crank, which mixes the organic material and causes the methane gas to rise up. The methane can be captured and used to produce power.

Photo Credit: Park Spark Project

1 of 7

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Marti W.

2:04AM PST on Nov 12, 2012

That could be a real breakthrough for inner city dog parks.Some might even be more inspired to Actually clean up after their pet. But are these Park Sparks going to be safe from wandering hooligans?

November 12
send a green star

Terry V.

2:59PM PDT on Sep 19, 2012

EARTH CRY video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jppmMcjgWS0

September 19
send a green star

Lady A.

8:17AM PDT on Aug 27, 2012

sometimes dog owners don't bother picking up after their dogs, great idea especially in nyc...hopefully one day they can build conversion areas like litter boxes in the sidewalk where dogs go to poo.

August 27
send a green star

Joan M.

9:26PM PDT on Aug 24, 2012

Some innovative ideas, like the idea in the dog park. Thanks for haring

August 24
send a green star

Jennifer C.

5:27PM PDT on Aug 23, 2012

Thank you.

August 23
send a green star

Danuta W.

12:44AM PDT on Aug 23, 2012

Thank you for the interesting post.

Sammstein M.

4:13PM PDT on Aug 22, 2012

cool

August 22
send a green star

Michael C.

9:48AM PDT on Aug 22, 2012

This morn, it is raining and it seems that Care2 will be for me, my momentary relief form the dreary weather.

I sit here with my original copy of Ram Bux Singh's Bio-Gas Plant, "Generating Methane from Organic Waste." I have had this book for 37 years, I will never let it go.

We are always trying to reduce costs for heating our 3 greenhouses, last winter was horrific as per cost for propane. A Bio-gas Unit will be a perfect fit.
Solar Modules and our Wind Turbine provide our electricity, and Solar Panels provide much of our heating.

I have built many Bio-Gas units in the past, so building a new one should be easy and fun.

Recently, I finished my ethanol distiller. While I will not run either one of my mint condition, Suzuki Samurai's entirely on this fuel, I will run 50/50 blend. So, I can save all the methane produced to be used for the greenhouses.

Since gasoline is currently priced at about $3.50/gallon, this production will bring it down to about $2.00/gallon.

If current events continue, you may well have to join us in seeking your own sense of energy independence.