Skip to main content

Poop Power

In this age of high gasoline prices and oil shortages one's mind often turns to a.s.e. - alternative sources of energy. In particular, we often hear the phrase "go green". But in this story a.s.e may well stand for ass source of energy. Read on to see how one community plans to "go brown".


In Manchester England they're tooting, make that touting, toilet power as the fuel of the future where the city's loos will help contribute to local gas supplies. Hey, mi gasa es tu gasa!

Two companies - United Utilities Group and National Grid - plan to turn a by-product of the wastewater treatment plant at Davyhulme in Manchester, northwest England into gas for the local gas network and fuel for a fleet of sludge tankers.


The companies have come up with one of the all-time greatest euphamisms for their product. In lieu of "shit" they're calling it "biomethane". Gee, next time I want to get out of doing the dinner dishes I'll say "Sorry, honey, I've just gotta run and pass some biomethane".


The companies are optimistic they'll be able to produce enough gas for about 500 homes by 2011. Hell, in college my buddies and I could produce that amount of gas just after several hours at the pub! Geez, my ex sister-in-law could heat her home all winter just by eating brussel sprouts once a week!


While the initiative is revolutionary, for some it may give new meaning to the phrase "waste not want not".



Having worked so hard to supply the raw materials, I wonder if Manchester's home-made gas suppliers will get a discount on their gas bills for their efforts.

Comments

David said…
When they get the dairy herd involved, they will be exporting biomethane world-wide.
Thinkinfyou said…
Ugh! I think I would rather inhale gasoline fumes!
DouglasDyer said…
Biomethane. I like that. OK, where do I sign up? I can power Times Square on New Year's Eve.
Surveygirl46 said…
Didn't fire come out of Cartman's ass like that on South Park?

So instead of saying i have to stop and GET gas

it's now i have to stop and GIVE gas...
nonamedufus said…
David: No kidding.

Thinkinfyou: Gas, gasoline - I think one's as bad as the other: both flammable.

Doug: It's pretty easy to get lit in Times Square New Year`s eve.

Surveygirl46: Biomethane - it`s the gift that keeps on giving.

Popular posts from this blog

My Back Pages - November

I know, I know, I know I should have reported in before now. But sometimes real life just gets in the way. I attempted 5 books in November. I say attempted because I slapped a big DNF (did not finish) on Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon. I just can't seem to get into this guy. It's the second or third of his I've given up on, Not so the other four, starting with a biography of Stephen Stills called Change Partners. This followed by a hilarious biography of the guy responsible for National Lampoon called A Stupid and Futile Gesture - How Doug Kenney and National Lampoon Changed Comedy Forever. I ended the month reading yet another biography, this one of the man behind Rolling Stone magazine,. It was called Sticky Fingers: The Life and Times of Jann Wenner and Rolling Stone Magazine. A fascinating read. So last month I hit the magic number 50 I'd imagined for myself back in January. If I roll this month into my yearly total I'm at 54 books. And I still hav...

The Polka Dot Door

A long time ago, when I was 22, my first child was born.  That kid grew up on a little Canadian kid's show called Polka Dot Door, produced by the TV Ontario network.  And Dad, more often than not, sat through those shows with his little one. Nine or so years later when a brother, and a year after that when a sister came along number one son was moving on to Knight Rider and The Dukes of Hazzard.  But there was a nice overlap where his siblings picked up where he had left off with Polka Dot Door.  And Dad was right there to welcome them. So you're looking at a Polka Dot Door veteran.  The show began in 1971 and ran to 1993.  I didn't watch the full run but I did get in my fair share.  The formula was pretty simple.  A young male and female host, which seemed to change every week, sang songs, told stories, made crafts and generally did their best stimulate little brains.  The show opened as follows... Imagination Day!  Oh boy! ...

30 Days of Photos III #4 Sour

Check out Ziva's Inferno for the rest of today's photos.