Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


 ANALYSIS 
3

Human Waste Helps Oslo's Carbon Footprint

Buses in Norway's capital will run on methane distilled from feces

Share

(Newser) – Norwegian officials have hit on a novel, if gassy, alternative to carbon-spewing gasoline, Dave Demerjian writes in Wired. Starting in September, Oslo will capture methane, a byproduct of the process at its sewage treatment plants, and use it to power city buses. Norway hopes to use the gaseous human contribution as part of its plan to become carbon-neutral by 2050.

Eighty buses will be powered by methane produced at Oslo’s two plants, which was previously burned off, boosting carbon emissions and helping no one. “Using biomethane makes sense,” an official said. “The reduction … will go a long way to achieving our carbon-neutral target.” The gas is 50 cents cheaper than diesel, and will result in 44 fewer tons of CO2 per bus per year.

Graphic shows increase levels in methane and nitrogen trifluoride gases.
Graphic shows increase levels in methane and nitrogen trifluoride gases.   (AP Photo)
A methane gas collection pipe in New Jersey.
A methane gas collection pipe in New Jersey.   (AP Photo)
A methane gas collection pipe sticks out of a landfill.
A methane gas collection pipe sticks out of a landfill.   (AP Photo)
An Oslo street.
An Oslo street.   (©maxf)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.6.09
Galleon Scandal: Shocked, Shocked by Insider Trading
11.5.09
Rupert Murdoch Is Mad but Cute
3 comments
VIEWING:
 
Newser001
Feb 2, 09 6:13 PM CST
Brilliant! Makes absolute sense! Why can't we do the same? We certainly produce more sh!t than they do! Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
PosterNutbag
Feb 2, 09 7:11 PM CST
"Carbon-neutral target." What do our leaders say? we will have 1990 emissions levels by 2025, or something like that...Carbon-neutral sounds better, doesn't it? Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
riffran
Feb 2, 09 11:03 PM CST
so would that be going green or brown?...rofl.....don't know why it han't been done a long time ago Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

59 Stories

 Biofuel Laws Make No Sense: Scientists 

Kyoto Protocols actually encourage harming the environment

Oct 23, 09 10:18 AM CDT
(Newser) - Biofuel laws around the world actually encourage harming the environment, prominent scientists argue in the latest issue of Science. Under the Kyoto Treaty, in laws throughout Europe, and in the bill that passed the US House, biofuels count as carbon-neutral, on the theory that the plants the fuel is... More »

MORE ABOUT:
climate change • environment • trees • biofuel • Kyoto Protocol • deforestation • carbon emissions

COPENHAGEN SUMMIT

 5 Years Until Climate 
 Disaster, Warns WWF 

Checking global warming requires 'green revolution'

Oct 19, 09 5:46 AM CDT
(Newser) - Disastrous climate change is inevitable unless the world begins cutting carbon emissions within the next five years, the World Wildlife Fund warns in a new report. Ahead of December's clutch Copenhagen summit, meant to forge a successor to the Kyoto Protocol, the fund repeats that global temperature rises could stay... More »

MORE ABOUT:
climate change • environment • global warming • Gordon Brown • World Wildlife Fund • WWF • carbon emissions • Copenhagen climate change conference

OPINION

Climate Activists Torqued By Obama Nobel

With US the biggest obstacle to action, they hope prize acts as stick

Oct 14, 09 10:14 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Taliban and conservative commentators in the US aren’t the only ones steamed by  Barack Obama's Nobel Peace Prize. “It’s hard for me to emphasize enough the thickness of the international resentment towards America at the climate negotiation level,” Ben Jervey writes. The argument is simple:... More »

MORE ABOUT:
climate change • Oslo • Nobel Peace Prize • carbon emissions • environmentalists • President Obama • committee • Copenhagen climate change conference

 Save the Planet:  
 Use a Condom 

Studies point to environmental toll of each kid

Sep 15, 09 1:02 PM CDT
(Newser) - You’ve got your hybrid, your low-watt bulbs, and your solar panels: what’s the next step to saving the planet? Try a pack of condoms. New studies point to the hefty environmental toll of each child, particularly in America, the Washington Post reports. Every kid born in the US... More »

MORE ABOUT:
climate change • environment • parenting • study • children • birth control • research • population control • carbon emissions

(Newser) - Wal-Mart plans to begin asking suppliers to provide info on the environmental impact of their operations so the store can put so-called green rating labels on its products, the Wall Street Journal reports.The first cards probably won't appear for a few years, but given Wal-Mart's clout as the world's... More »

MORE ABOUT:
climate change • environment • retail • consumer products • label • Wal-Mart • greenhouse-gas emissions • carbon-neutral

59 Stories


More on methane, 22 times more potent than CO2
International Herald Tribune

On a novel way to store and transport the gas
The Green Optimistic

What does methane on Mars mean?
BBC


World  •  Business  •  Science & Health  •  Technology 
TwitterFollow @NewserWorld on Twitter

 
environment • Norway • methane • Oslo • public transportation • alternative fuels • carbon emissions • carbon-neutral

from our news partners