Crematorium to Use Burning Corpses to Create Energy
- Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:27pm by
Liz Klimas
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Many industries are seeking out alternative energies to help cut costs and emissions, and crematoriums are no different. According to The Telegraph, crematoriums are required by U.K. regulatory agencies to cut emissions in half by next year, nixing them all together by 2020.
One crematorium is dead set on making the most of the resources available to it to achieve these emission-cutting requirements — literally. The Durham Crematorium wants use the heat generated by burning corpses to spin turbines and create enough electricity to power 1,500 televisions per cremation process, according to the Telegraph. And it isn’t the first crematorium to take on this efficiency endeavor. The Telegraph reports that other crematoria already have systems in place to generate energy for heating the building, offices and, it states in one case, a swimming pool at a sports center.
(Photo: Durham Crematorium)
The Telegraph states that the project will take place in two phases:
The first phase, due to be completed early next year, will see a “heat recovery system” fitted to one burner to provide heating for the building.
A second phase is planned which then see the installation of turbines on the other two burners to generate electricity. A series of open days are planned, in an effort to get public support for the scheme.
The crematorium’s superintendent, Alan José, is reported as saying the building will probably have energy to spare that they will contribute to “the grid”:
“Apart from it being common sense for us to try to conserve energy, it also enables us to keep the fees down.”
José does point out that the crematorium doesn’t want to be labeled as a power plant though, already turning down the idea of solar panels.
The Telegraph reports that in the U.K., 75 percent of the dead are cremated, and Durham Crematorium estimates they have more than 2,000 services a year. With this opportunity for savings, John Troyer from Bath University’s Centre for Death and Society (CDAS) is reported as saying the process will probably continue to gain popularity, but it is important to take time implementing so as not to seem “too glib, insensitive or utilitarian.”
[H/T Treehugger]
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Comments (143)
dadadadio
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:22pmMaybe they can get a $525 mil grant from the Energy Dept. You know, ‘green jobs’.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:58pmAs they are in the UK, that seems unlikely. Or perhaps they have an analogous program?
Report Post »Atomicstorm
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 4:09pmHave you been sleeping? European banks got the bulk of TARP… a Finland company got a grant to build efficiency vehicles…. it would be no shocker if a company like this got an energy grant from the US.
Although, what happens when we reach peak people? (IE. peak oil)
Report Post »RightThinking1
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 4:20pmAh! Lets see…, ‘green’ jobs…, Solyndra,…., ‘green’ body burning. What next….? Soylent Green?
More seriously though, am I the only one that finds this macabre? Something about using the captured heat for swimming pools seems especially weird. I think I recall an item a while back about someone offering to dissolve your loved ones body in a tank of alkali solution. I’m still trying to digest that.
Report Post »TH30PH1LUS
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 5:23pmLeave it to once-great Britain to turn the human body into a glorified battery for their heating and air conditioning. Socialism always lowers humanity.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 5:43pmOK! Now all they need is an endless line of bodies….oh thats coming and soon.
Report Post »rs9
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 5:50pmsoylent green anyone?
Report Post »Ookspay
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 6:14pmWhen you have one problem you got a problem. But when you have 2 problems they often cancel each other out and you have no problem.
Problem one: We need more energy.
Report Post »Problem two: What to do with all of the conservative instigators’ bodies after the purge.
since1629
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 7:34pmRightthinking1, you stole my thunder with the exception of a reference to “biomass”
Report Post »TheCoffinMaker
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 8:49pm…I love the smell of burnt carcasses in the morning.
Report Post »jzs
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 9:34pmThat’s a little deceptive. The human body is somewhere between 50% and 75% water, which absorbs heat, and then is released as steam. Somebody correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think there is anyway you can net energy during cremation.
But I imagine they can recover some or a lot of the unused heat and the steam from the gas flame used in the cremation process to run a generator. But as far as I can tell, turning a human body into ashes absorbs more energy than it releases.
Sorry for the geek moment.
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:46pmSeems like a good thing to do if you ask me.
Report Post »eagle275
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 12:56amHey, didn‘t the Nazi’s perfect this in WW2?
Report Post »caveman74
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 11:23amsoylant green really IS people O.O
Report Post »welloddyfriggindah
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:20pmI had to cancel my GBTV because I was charged $44.95 on 11/17/11 and service was shut off 11/22/11…don’t know why. I’ve called and emailed a few times each, had my case ‘escalated’ 3 times, and been told I’d get a call soon. NO CALL…it’s 12/2/11.
I don‘t know what’s up, but I don’t like GBTV taking advantage of me. So, I feel I have no choice but to cancel.
ANYBODY ELSE having a problem with this??
Report Post »RavenGlenn
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:53pmUmmm…wrong website? Try their forums.
Report Post »Atomicstorm
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 4:07pmYou -> (Trollface)
Let me guess this right, other than putting this in the wrong place, you cancelled your service BECAUSE you were charged the regularly scheduled rate on 11/17. You cancelled your service 5 days later. Your statement is terribly contradicting and I am sensing intentionally dishonest.
You had a choice to cancel…. BEFORE your regularly scheduled payment and if I am not mistaken, they send out an email to notify you of the pending charge a few days in advance. Are they taking advantage of you? No. I would throw in some lack of intelligence comment in there somewhere but I think your statement speaks for itself.
Report Post »yanki161
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 4:54pmTry contacting them here:
877-MUSIC77 [877-687-4277]
Report Post »949-333-4820 (Outside US)
M-Th 9am – 12am EST | Fri 9am – 8pm EST
charleyrocks
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 5:32pmI had a problem once when I first signed up, and got great service when I called the toll free number. I was really content with the walk through with them. And the fella was nice.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 5:45pmCall BR5429. Ask for Monty Slim.
Report Post »Bronco II
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 7:55pmI had one issue last week and I emailed and recieved an answer within a half hour and the problem was resolved.I‘m not saying your telling a tall tale but anytime I’ve had any problems with GBTV or GlennBeck.com with purchases or subscriptions they were always great in helping me and resoving the problem no it won’t always be when YOU want it to be fixed your not the only one in the world and think you are well you need to rethink that.I will stick up for them everytime they are graciouse and very respectful and even if it takes a day or so they stay in touch to find out if anything they have told me to do has worked and if not please let us know and one way or another have always resolved any issues I had and most of them were on my part but they were still very patient and respectful and I also took the time to thank them for helping me and great job and wonderful staff. SO QUIT BEING A POOR ME BABY AND THINKING THE WORLD OWES YOU.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 8:22amNO, I have not had any issues. However, this is not the place to complain.
Report Post »paperpushermj
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:19pmThis is Brilliant. Think of all the Greens that could make the ultimate gesture for their Cause. My Goodness this place would have the dead and some not lined up around the block for their chance to serve their fellow man. Sort of an updated take on Soylent Green..
Report Post »Tennessee Veteran
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 12:13pmThey could start with Al Gore. That should provide heat to the building for at least a month.
Report Post »JimL
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:11pmStacked and sundried prior to combustion? If not, then another net subsidy “business”.
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 6:54pmAhhh, Sun-dried raisin-corpse! Yummy!
Report Post »Old_Bones
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:10pmAshes to ashes, dust to electrons. Strange but if it works…..
Report Post »On The Bayou
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:01pmThe human body is body will not burn on it`s own. They may create energy while the bodies are being burned. It takes a fuel gas to get the job done.
Report Post »paperpushermj
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:21pmKeep in mind that today people are 62% fat there by all they will need is a match to get going. YUK
Report Post »corbecket
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 6:47pmI don’t buy the 62% figure for the average, so I guess I’d like to challenge you on that. People are getting fatter, but I’d be terribly surprised if the average Joe/Jill is more than half blubber.
If you’re correct, I’m going on a diet immediately!
Report Post »Ampleforth
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 7:45pmRead the laws of thermodynamics. Energy is neither created nor destroyed only transferred. If there’s energy stored in a human body, then it is released when it is incinerated. Yes, it requires energy to ignite a corpse and requires it to sustain its burn, but a corpse will release energy as it does so. I’m sure that a lot of the energy required to combust a corpse is wasted, so why not harness the wasted energy and utilize the energy transferred as it burns?
Do they teach chemistry in high school anymore? Knowledge of the Laws of Thermodynamics should be fundamental to people’s lives just like any other discipline. I find such terrible ignorance on the subject, especially among the green energy people.
I always contend that the use of fossil fuels harnesses solar energy. It is stored solar energy. The energy from the sun produced those life forms. They died and became coal or oil, and that long ago energy is stored under the surface of the earth. We release stored solar energy by using fossil fuels.
Ultimately, it is as green as any other energy.
Report Post »eagle275
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 12:58amHitler tried this, didn’t he?
Report Post »caveman74
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 11:42amampleforth think entropy. energy is imabalance and the universe hates the lack of balance hence the second law of thermodynamics. Fauna being, 2/3 water on this planet, when lifeless reaches entropy rapidly. You have to overcome the massive heat sink of all that water. Human flesh needs to reach around 1400 degrees f to ignite. One of the reasons we don‘t combust well is because we don’t store a whole lot of energy, we consume it. That is why we have to eat constantly. Unused energy is expelled as heat through our skin. While we do store small amounts of energy as an emergency back up that is no where near enough to produce 1400 degree heat when burned. That is why we have to continue to apply energy to the body even once it starts to burn. This is why you can find corpses in house fires. Outer layers of skin dry up and burn but there just isn’t any fuel in the body to overcome all the water.
Report Post »PJL
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:58pmJust creepy (shiver)
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:46pmyes I would much rather be lights out powerless of grid living than use that as my power source. vomit!
Report Post »Krazy_Kreepy_Ketchup
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 5:43pmBodies for fuel…horses approved for food in the USA.. It’s all creeping me out. It is like politicians are holding up a sign showing us what the near future is like.
Introduce crazy ideas in a press release and it’s already in our head. Lithium in drinking water is a great example. Four years ago this idea was nuts. Now it is the slogan for the future of suicide prevention (like fluoride for cavity prevention).
It’s all getting to creepy.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 5:46pmI think they’ll be expanding soon when the Islamists completely take over the UK.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 6:04pmYou don’t realize how creepy until you read agenda 21 and see all the talk about biomass.
Biomass, as a renewable energy source, is biological material from living, or recently living organisms.[1] As an energy source, biomass can either be used directly, or converted into other energy products such as biofuel.
Can you say Soylent Green?
Report Post »Searchingforthelight
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:56pmI put on a holocaust reminder pin one day. I laid down for a nap at lunch, and
Report Post »I woke up to this horrific smell. After a minute or two it went away. The body is such a sacred thing.
Sacred as a temple. I don’t think a vessel should be treated that way. It is not firewood, it is sacred.
rock-n-roll-rebel
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:53pmThis story made me think of the Matrix movie.
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:08pmIt has hints of Soylent Green to it.
Report Post »Steev
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:14pmAvengerk, that was the first thing to go through my mind too !
Report Post »slvrserfr
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:51pmMaybe if Chicago did this, they could consider this as a cost effective alternative to not being able to afford to bury their dead citizens. But then again, as long as the left is in control of the state, their budget will always be in a vice grip as a result of massive reckless and bloated government spending to compensate themselves with 6 figure salaries while their taxpayers continue to suffer.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:51pmThere is just something icky about this idea. I’m so sick of the green movement that I could scream and now this. What’s next? Maybe they could take the remains of the aborted babies and throw them into the fire too. How about limbs and organs removed during surgery.
Or the homeless, heck, why not, we all do need to have electricity and heat. Nevermind the oil that is still underground that the greenies want to stay there.
arrrggg……
Report Post »JRook
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 4:28pmWell glad you got your daily ration of feed the angry mob….No pun intended. The crematorium is heated up to approx. 1,600 degrees which would mean it kicks off a lot more heat and energy needed to burn the body. Using this heat to create steam that might produce electricity would seem reasonable. Again, I doubt the burning body itself puts off much energy. Actually, not withstanding the question of abortion itself, it seems much more reasonable and rational to utilize aborted fetuses for stem cell research and therapies.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 4:57pmNo angry mob here JROOK, just one sickened woman. You have your views and I have mine. My view is that with every passing day civilized cultures are becoming uncivilized. What used to be taboo is now OK in the name of expediency, social engineering or “saving the planet”.
We are on a slippery slope and the ride downhill is getting faster each day.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on December 4, 2011 at 9:39amI know they‘ll use the argument that it’s no different than keeping the oven door open after you take something out in the winter, or venting your dryer into the house during the winter, but to me it’s a slippery slope. Look up biomass….it’s getting fuel from living or recently living materials. It has the potential of abuse. Who is to say how recently living? And what if they do it to cover up crimes so as to not perform autopsies? Sorry, too late for an autopsy, we already burned the body to heat a couple houses.
Report Post »Harry Assenback
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:48pmCouldn’t you just throw a log on the fire and generate the same thing???? Just sayin…….
Report Post »jakartaman
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:43pmThe Brits are over the top on PC -BS
Report Post »Next year they may have a lot of extra energy – when the depression/food shortage hits
Jackie Rogers, Jr.
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:43pmWhat if the Nazis had thought of this?
Report Post »Restored One
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:57pmI am sure that Al Gore is thinking how the US could mock this. It kind of gives me the creeps with way the world is going. “Need more bodies to keep the turbines going.”
Report Post »trevthomp
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 8:41pmThey either created, or had plans for something similar, which would dry out and burn 800 bodies a day over a 4 day period and use the emissions to power the gas in the chambers. It was very efficient and disgusting. I believe it was for Sobibor, but I’m not a historian or anything. This story just reminded me of it.
Report Post »REPUB1
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:43pmQuestion: are they going to pay the families for their loved ones??
Report Post »REPUB1
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:41pmGOING GREEN Yea!!
Report Post »Soldier_FORTHERECORD
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:41pmI hope they’re paying the family for the fuel materials…
Report Post »Firebrand
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:40pmWaste not, want not.
Report Post »SacredHonor1776
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:39pmThen when they are done, the ash can be used to make Soylent Green…
Energy for people!
Report Post »RLTW
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:52pmThought the same, just watched it the other day, great movie. We sure could use some of those scoopers down at OWS.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:39pmI appreciate the attempts to make the reports here edgy, but this one is so lame that it should get an award at the blaze holiday party. I’m pretty sure it is a matter of using the heat generated by the fire necessary to burn the corpse, more so than using the heat from the corpse itself. It would be a simple co-generation situation that is used routinely. Generating electricity from steam created by the same heat that is used to burn the body. Doubt the heat given off by the burning body is additive to the process.
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:07pmWell of course JROOK…let’s take a solemn occasion like a furneral and help the planet from warming up at the some time right? And honestly…it wont’ be long till meat becomes expensive over there…why not add some Barbecue Sauce and let’s enjoy granny with some potato salad..that way in few hours we can create some compost too? Yes indeed..let’s reduce humanity and any dignity in death to alternative energy sources. No wonder you liberals love abortions so much. And of course..let’s not forget that the latest alarmist canard is “overpopulation” (except polar bears..we need more of those apparently) so helping granny into that furnace a little quicker than her time might be something to consider also…yes? That way you address overpopulation AND alternative energy.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:57pm@AvengerK Seriously, you need to lighten up. I am neither a liberal nor a conservative. I actually evaluate issues, think them through and determine a rational response. I neither filter what I read nor watch through an ideological filter which would insure I remain ignorant. I’m not pro abortion, I am pro a woman’s right to privacy and reasonable control of her reproductive rights. And you think it was reasonable for Miss. legislature to consider a bill that would have outlawed contraception? Seriously you should actually read what I wrote The crematorium is heated up to approx. 1,600 degrees which would mean it kicks off a lot more heat and energy needed to burn the body. Using this heat to create steam that might produce electricity would seem reasonable. Again, I doubt the burning body itself puts off much energy. Also, pretty sure it is the funeral service where the solemn part takes place. Save the labels sir.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:59pm@AvengerK Are you actually saying you don’t think there are too many people on the planet? If so, please be on your way as rational discussion is beyond you.
Report Post »sodacrackers2
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:11pmJRook, no matter how many times you repeat your “brilliant” analysis, we still can see that you are a relativist. Some things are just not up for negotiation. Evil exists. The end does not justify the means.
Report Post »randy
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:38pmCool! does Obama know about this technology. seems it would be right up his, Soros’s and Holders alley.
What the heII is this world coming to
Report Post »CatB
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:48pmHistory is about to repeat itself … I fear.
TEA!
Report Post »Ron Staiger
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:38pmWhy not boil down the bodies to make soap and then cremate them? Don’t forget to pull their gold fillings and cut off their hair, ala Dachau, and if they could set up a Warsaw-like ghetto to “concentrate” the chosen ones, they could be assured of a continuous supply.
Report Post »REPUB1
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:42pmGOOD one!!!
Report Post »Stu D. Baker-Hawk
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:23pmJust what I was thinking. And wait, this is only the beginning. When the anti-Christ finally makes his presence known, these horrors and much, much worse will be commonplace throughout the planet.
Report Post »HumbleCitizen
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 10:18amDon’t forget to make soap out of the fats and lampshades/bookcovers out of the skins like th enazi’s did.
I do NOT want to cook my steak over someone elses (loved ones) dead body…literally. There is no low “too low” for evil.
Report Post »AngelAuthor
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:35pmKudos to them for innovation! This is what I call recycling at its finest. :)
Report Post »BetsyRoss1513
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 4:38pmA constantly renewing energy source.
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:35pmSoylent Green Energy is people!!!!!
Report Post »Bonnieblue2A
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:48pmThe world is becoming more and more creepy. To think this from a country that centuries ago burned women at the stake for accusations of witchcraft. Maybe they could start burning corpses with those Marxists in the House of Lords?
Report Post »V-MAN MACE
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:24pmHow convenient, and just in time for the National Defense Authorization Act giving the military power for warrantless, trialless, secret citizen arrests to commence!
And they already have the burnable FEMA COFFINS lined up for the incinerator! Soylent Green Energy!
I’M NOT GOING WILLINGLY!!!!
***WARNING***
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 3:26pmSoylent Green Energy is people!
People!
Report Post »V-MAN MACE
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 4:35pmThis is The Matrix!
Report Post »ginger100
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 2:33pmReminds me of the Matrix.
Report Post »