If Ogden Nash were writing this poem today, he might want to add a line or two. In the new millennium, both ends of our bovine friends are under scrutiny — but for very different reasons.
While governments are trying to figure out how to control cow burping, a significant factor in global warming, cow manure is gaining popularity as one of Earth's greenest sources of electricity.
Many United States farmers already know the meaning of "cow power." They collect the methane given off by fermenting cow manure and use it to generate electricity. The procedure is relatively simple: manure is stored in huge tanks — anaerobic digesters — which are deprived of oxygen and kept at temperatures of 100°F. The conditions are designed to let anaerobic bacteria thrive and do the work of breaking the manure down. The large volume of "biogas" released — which contains about 90% methane — is piped to an engine which burns the gas and uses the heat energy to generate electricity. The leftover manure is compressed; fluid is drained away and used as fertilizer; and the solids are dried out and used as bedding for the herd and compost.
The method offers a neat solution to the manure waste problem. America's 100 million cattle produce their fair share of manure — on Tinedale Farm, in Milwaukee, the 1800 Holsteins produce about 48,000 pounds per day, much of which is processed to generate electricity. By using manure in this way, farmers are transforming problematic waste into new, useable commodities: electricity, compost, and fertilizer.
According to Environomics, a company that manufactures manure-digesters, 32 farms in the United States are using the digesters for electricity-generation. The technology has not been more widely adopted because the systems are expensive to install, costing from $200,000 to $1,000,000 each, depending on the size of the herd. To encourage farmers to generate their own electricity, the state of California's Energy Commission is making $10 million in funding available to support farmers' initiatives. It is currently reviewing about 30 applications for grants and plans to install several digesters by this summer.
While governments are trying to figure out how to control cow burping, a significant factor in global warming, cow manure is gaining popularity as one of Earth's greenest sources of electricity.
Many United States farmers already know the meaning of "cow power." They collect the methane given off by fermenting cow manure and use it to generate electricity. The procedure is relatively simple: manure is stored in huge tanks — anaerobic digesters — which are deprived of oxygen and kept at temperatures of 100°F. The conditions are designed to let anaerobic bacteria thrive and do the work of breaking the manure down. The large volume of "biogas" released — which contains about 90% methane — is piped to an engine which burns the gas and uses the heat energy to generate electricity. The leftover manure is compressed; fluid is drained away and used as fertilizer; and the solids are dried out and used as bedding for the herd and compost.
The method offers a neat solution to the manure waste problem. America's 100 million cattle produce their fair share of manure — on Tinedale Farm, in Milwaukee, the 1800 Holsteins produce about 48,000 pounds per day, much of which is processed to generate electricity. By using manure in this way, farmers are transforming problematic waste into new, useable commodities: electricity, compost, and fertilizer.
According to Environomics, a company that manufactures manure-digesters, 32 farms in the United States are using the digesters for electricity-generation. The technology has not been more widely adopted because the systems are expensive to install, costing from $200,000 to $1,000,000 each, depending on the size of the herd. To encourage farmers to generate their own electricity, the state of California's Energy Commission is making $10 million in funding available to support farmers' initiatives. It is currently reviewing about 30 applications for grants and plans to install several digesters by this summer.
In many parts of the developing world, cow dung is used as a fertilizer and fuel. Caked and dried cow dung is used as a fuel to cook food in many parts of Asia and Africa. Especially in India where it is known as gobar, cow dung is also used as manure.
In recent times, the dung is collected and used as biogas used to generate electricity and heat. The gas is a rich source of methane and is used in rural areas of India to provide a renewable and stable source of electricity.
Cow dung is also used to line the floor and walls of buildings owing to its insect repellent properties. In cold places, cow dung is used to line the walls of rustic houses as is a cheap thermal insulator. Cow dung has an excellent mosquito repellent property and is used by many companies to produce repellents.
It was also used extensively on Indian Railways to seal smokeboxes on steam locomotives.
Cow dung is also an optional ingredient in the manufacture of adobe mud brick housing depending on the availability of materials at hand.
In recent times, the dung is collected and used as biogas used to generate electricity and heat. The gas is a rich source of methane and is used in rural areas of India to provide a renewable and stable source of electricity.
Cow dung is also used to line the floor and walls of buildings owing to its insect repellent properties. In cold places, cow dung is used to line the walls of rustic houses as is a cheap thermal insulator. Cow dung has an excellent mosquito repellent property and is used by many companies to produce repellents.
It was also used extensively on Indian Railways to seal smokeboxes on steam locomotives.
Cow dung is also an optional ingredient in the manufacture of adobe mud brick housing depending on the availability of materials at hand.
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