Sunday, December 11, 2011

Burning Energy

A crematorium in England wants to install turbines in two of its burners which would use the heat generated during cremation to provide enough electricity to power 1500 televisions.

I was quite shocked when I first read this article in the newspaper, but on further reading I could actually see the sense of it.

As they said, they have all this energy being produced that could be better used elsewhere and for them to conserve energy.
Apparently it is the burner itself that creates the energy not the body, so don't suddenly think it is the human body they are powering off of!
According to the article, this one crematorium has up to 2100 cremations per year, and further more about 75% of the dead are cremated

Apparently one of the biggest problems with cremation is the amount of mercury, from fillings in teeth, that accumalates in the air. About 16% of mercury in the air comes from crematoriums, so they are all trying to sort out their burners so they half such emissions by next year and eliminate it totally by the end of the decade.
Some have already fitted systems which use the heat from the burners to heat their offices, nearby offices and also a swimming pool.

It seems a morbid thing to talk about, but at the end of the day it is a business and they need to conserve energy just like all other business's, it is just that it is a sensitive area for all to consider.

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