Poop Power: The Energy Emitted from Excrement

Can energy really be produced from your pet's fecal matter? Well, that depends on the pet. More precisely, all waste can produce power, but different animals produce different types and amounts of power. For instance, dog feces produce differently than cow manure. The key factors in either case are methane and oil.

Many people are aware that animals like cows and pigs produce methane. This occurs through their fecal matter and when they release excess air such as belches and well, other means. This is a common occurrence for any herbivore. Methane is a clean source of energy that can be used for cooking, heating and powering equipment. For example, one pound of cow manure has enough energy in it to provide about half the energy needs of a small family for a day. Now take that and think a little bigger. Imagine a turkey farm or processing plant. Envision thousands of birds, each one contributing to the daily output of waste. One U.S. ton of that waste can produce 600 pounds of petroleum, 100 pounds of methane and 60 pounds of other minerals. This isn't a case of what the future could hold. There is a turkey plant in Carthage, MO that is doing this right now, every day, according to Butterball Turkey, owners of the plant.

Omnivores and carnivores, like dogs, cats and ferrets also produce methane, but in smaller amounts. Just in the U.S. alone dogs and cats account for about 20 billion pounds of waste per year. Keep in mind, this amount doesn't take into consideration other types of pets, such as birds or exotics. That's a lot of animal byproduct, but how does it become fuel?