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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.
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