The new economy of excrement

Properly managed, the center of a pile of composting manure hits about 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

I heat my livestock watering troughs/tanks (goat, horse, poultry) in the Winter with passive solar panels on the south face of each trough/tank and heat from composting manure on the North, East, and West sides of each trough/tank. It saves me about $40-$50 per month per trough for December, January, and February and the first half of March.

I also have a 14'x30'x8' ventilated manure pit in each barn that uses heat exchangers from composting manure to keep each barn at about 40 degrees during the winter, even when outside temperatures are around 0 degrees Fahrenheit. I have looked into methane recapture, but I'm pretty sure my operation just isn't big enough to get the economies of scale that would generate a significant revenue stream or savings to depreciation benefit

I then sell composted manure off my farm yard to local gardeners and nurseries in the spring as soil amendments.

I agree. I think this is a untapped energy resource. Very innovative especially for poorer third world nations.

I think poorer third world nations would be far better off with a regular abundant supply of coal.

SSgt Christopher Brose - I agree, but see what resources are available!

CDR (Join to see) - My Brother was the civil engineer who managed the City of Tucson landfills. Tucson has been conducting methane extraction from its landfills for 30+ years.