The idea bases on using the methane gases in order to obtain energy. This is brilliant idea.

NYU Student Proposes Street Lamps Powered by Dog Poop

image © Billa via Creative Commons

Melody Kelemu, a student at NYU, wants to use the poop from the dogs of New York to power lamps in our parks. The idea dawned on the neuroscience and environmental studies student when she moved to New York from her native Ethiopia, where the lawns (and dog poop) in her neighborhood were maintained by gardeners. If awarded a grant from NYU, the dog poop convertors could power street lamps in Washington Square Park and others.

In New York, and most cities for that matter, we all try to be good dog owners, but there seems to be the one or two lazy people who turn the sidewalks into an obstacle course. Kelemu hopes the machines will provide an incentive for people to clean up after their dogs. Knowing that the waste will help provide power for New Yorkers to enjoy is inspiring and could spur even the laziest of dog owners.

Special biodegradable bags will be provided near the machines, which are methane digesters. Inside, the poop is digested by anaerobic bacteria, which releases methane which is then burned in a connected lamppost. Visitors to the park need not worry about a smell of burning feces- the digester tank is hermetically sealed.

Each day, the digester can process 200 dogs’ poop. The lamp can burn for an hour on the waste from just ten dogs, which is an easy task considering how many dogs there are in New York.

Should Kelemu be awarded a Green Grant from NYU’s Sustainability Task Force, the $20,000 will go to building the tanks (which she will do herself), and then further maintenance. The project would not only provide essentially free energy for New Yorker’s to all enjoy, but also encourage dog owners to clean up after their dogs.

Read more: NYU Student Proposes Street Lamps Powered by Dog Poop | Inhabitat New York City

This is an interesting topic which includes energy, sustainability, and art.

A Canvas For Sustainability: Generating Energy Through Land Art

Landscape architecture has a rich history of balancing the two conflicting worlds of the energy sector and art. These human activities could not be more different when it comes to their philosophies, design approaches, and general outcomes.

As a society, we are moving away from non-renewable energy resource cities – like those we see in developing countries — to more environmentally conscious living. This “green” consciousness grew out of the 1960s and ‘70s, when people started to become aware that it was no longer acceptable to develop at the expense of the environment.

Today’s Problem

But many modern-day scars of the industrial city run deep, with a decline in community affluence, a culture of car reliance, and the growth of social media. These industrial scars have plagued cities with an increase in mental illness, obesity, social depravity, exclusion, and a general loss of social capital, coinciding with the climate crisis.

Now more than ever, we are at a pivotal point in the Earth’s future. It is vital to recognize that it is no longer acceptable to develop art or energy generation with a sole purpose; both art and energy now need to make environmental, social, and economic sense. It is clear that polarized energy measures, such as a lone wind turbine — important as they are — no longer meet the mark of raising public awareness of renewable energy.These former exemplars fail to engage or interact with the public and often divide communities due to their appearance and level of efficiency.

Whats Is Being Done?

Initiatives such as the Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) promote the re-invention of energy generation through a creative acumen. The LAGI competition has become a breeding ground for advances in technology through creative thinking by artists and designers. It encourages interdisciplinary teams to take part in the internationally recognized competition, resulting in some of the most aesthetically pleasing and energy-efficient land art concepts to grace the Earth.

The competition plays a fundamental role in creating a tangible link between the energy sector and the art world, expanding the notion of sustainability with inclusive design concepts that encompass resources, the environment, and social gain. The bi-annual competition takes place in site-specific locations, such as Abu Dhabi (2010) and New York (2012).

Conclusion

Landscape architecture as a profession is founded on the basis of works of art and objects of utility that constantly mesh landscape architecture and public art. The types of land art mentioned above are heavily influenced by traditional land art and energy generation. It allows artists and landscape architects to display pieces of work that go far beyond an overly priced alien sculpture that is unrelated to its site specifics. Art and energy generation need to relate, include, and inspire the public to consider their own impact on natural resources and how they can play a part in changing energy generation.