The Denver Zoo's Poo-Powered Rickshaw Denver Zoo
Teddy Roosevelt famously said “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” The folks at the Denver Zoo must have thought he was talking crap. The zoo happens to have a lot of animal dung on hand where it is, and via its own patent-pending gasification tech it is doing what it can, introducing a poo-powered rickshaw that turns animal waste and human trash into mobility.
The rickshaw was purchased from Thailand and modified to run on gasified pellets created by the zoo’s own technology. Those pellets, composed of animal waste and garbage generated by human visitors and zoo staff, aren’t just powering the rickshaw, but will be used to generate power at the zoo’s upcoming 10-acre elephant exhibit. Eventually, the zoo thinks it will be able to turn 90 percent of its waste into energy, making use not only of the copious amounts of animal poo it has on hand but also eliminating some 1.5 million pounds of annual garbage waste that previously went into landfills.
The gasification technology was designed by three full-time zoo employees working with a little help here and there from the National Renewable Energy Lab in nearby Boulder, as well as a few other companies and agencies. So it’s a home-grown, DIY system that could presumably be exported to other zoos and anywhere else animal waste is in abundance and energy is needed. This particular rickshaw has already been exported, landing at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in Palm Desert, Calif., this week.
I think it is funny that they made this tech for animal waste but also quite smart. The technology would probably stink if they use the waste for gas in the engine coming from the exhaust. The great thing about this idea is that we can cut down on waste of the world by a lot because almost everything poops so this is a great idea to use this waste.
ReplyDeleteI find it cool, that they are turning waste into energy!! I find it a very good idea actually.. it could probably help prevent the energy problems that world will have in future years. and help with all the landfills and garbage we have in Louisville. if we start finding useful more reusable ways to make energy we wont have such huge garbage fills taking up space.
ReplyDeleteThis would be great for pollution purposes! This is an amazing idea. You could use waste for energy, you can use this idea when there is an emergency, or anything. I guess waste does serve a better purpose. This could help cut down on a lot of stuff as well.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very good idea to turn waste into power for it. Even though its a good idea it would not smell very good so people probably would not want to ride it. If that makes people not want to ride it. So they would have to find a way to eliminate the smell.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea because there coming up with new ways to make the earth way better now then what it was. Its unique that there turning waste into useful power now for humans. This can definitely cut down a lot of things that have to do with trash.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good idea to turn waste into power. People are coming up with ways to help the Earth everyday. I wouldn't never thought about making waste into energy. This will help out zoo's all over the world and more attractions.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing on my mind was ew poop , but this is actually a smart idea. This helps with pollution a lot and helps slow down global warming. I wonder if they can do this with real human wastes . I think this idea should be spread worldwide because it would make a change.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is a very cool experiment because I mean come on, we are using waste to make energy which is awesome. but I thik it is weird at the same time because I think that is very disgusting but very experimental to around the world. it cold help the world from wasting energy and try to save it.
ReplyDeleteThis idea is very interesting. Who would of ever thought you can use animal waste to make a vehicle move? This idea could possibly change a lot in the future. This will make more room at landfills, cut down on gas prices, pollution in are air, and there is no harm being done to the animals. Hopefully animal waste isn't the only thing scientist find that can run cars, this opens up a lot of new ideas for scientist.
ReplyDeletethis is every cool and it is smart idea because not many people wouldn't think Of this. it is a good source because all the composed of animal waste and garbage generated by human visitors and zoo staff will be used to generate power at the zoo’s it says that making use not only of the copious amounts of animal poo it has on hand but also eliminating some 1.5 million pounds of annual garbage waste that previously went into landfills. which is good because it takes a lot of land
ReplyDeleteWow, I didn't think you could turn animal waste into energy. But, of course, people always find a way to make it happen. It's actually pretty smart when you think about it in general. Landfills probably have a lot more space now & will continue to once this is a consistent thing.
ReplyDeleteI never thought you could use animal waste for energy, thats cool and nasty at the same time. This will change alot in the way we use waste , just imagine how much less waste there would be to put into land fills . This is more space filled with less waste .
ReplyDeleteWOW I would never think in a million years that waste would be useful. Just off the simple fact that we make waste because that's the stuff we DON'T need.This is kinda cool and very nasty at the same time. But I guess everything meant to be bad could also be good with something else!
ReplyDeleteI think this is a cool fact because I never thought you could use waste anything. But now I know that you can use waste for energy. But that's also nasty because why would anybody want to use waste. If waste can help or save energy I really don't care if waste is nasty.
ReplyDeleteI think it is cool they are turning waste into power. This is making the world a better place. finding different ways to make power is fascinating.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a wonderful idea! This can help with waste all over the world. this could be the next big thing.
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