At DelftUniversity of Technology in the Netherlands, researchers are working on a
novel, albeit somewhat distasteful, alternative to fossil fuels. They've
developed a state-of-the-art toilet for use in developing countries that
employs microwaves to chemically alter human waste into syngas, a mixture of
carbon monoxide and hydrogen. This syngas can then be used in stacks of fuel
cells to generate electricity. Hypothetically, one toilet could generate enough
juice to power several village households, freeing them from dependence on coal
or oil.
At firstglance, Delft's scheme to turn poop into power may seem a bit daft. But drastic
times call for drastic measures, and many people categorize the state of our
environment as drastic. We live on a planet of finite resources -- some of
which are crucial to our survival, and others that harm the environment every
time we use them.
Rather than
wait for the oil wells to run dry and coastal cities to disappear beneath
rising sea levels, many people are looking ahead to cleaner alternative sources
of energy. Some of these energy sources, like solar power, hybrid-electric
vehicles and small, hand-powered gadgets have already caught on. Others,
however, like feces-fueled water heaters, may take a little getting used to.
Here, for
your reading enjoyment, are 10 of the wackier ideas for alternative energy.
Some of them are already available; others need a few more trial runs before
they hit the market. Either way, if you're reading this during a self-imposed
Earth Hour, hand-crank your flashlight and prepare to be surprised -- or even
amused.
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