[Greenbuilding] Compost issues

[Speireag Alden]

Sgrìobh Bob Korves:

>Michael Reynolds uses a solar-direct boosted septic tank followed by
>contained wetlands post-treatment for his Earthships.  They claim excellent
>control of microorganisms, better than the municipal treatment plant (which
>may not be saying much!).  My concern is whether retention time is long
>enough for every bit to make the system reliably effective and also whether
>it would work in other than high desert climates.

      Making it work near Seattle, or other cloudy climates, would 
require evacuated tube solar collectors to add heat, I would guess.

>We stopped at Reynolds' Earthship community near Taos, NM in September and
>looked around.  I was not competely pleased with the detail workmanship of
>his models, but found the concept interesting.  They use plenty of portland
>cement and lots of aluminum cans with their building style, which I also
>think could be changed to more earth-friendly materials.  I never found out
>more about the black water system as their spokesperson was constantly busy
>while we were there...

     I have not seen it myself, but I have heard mixed reviews.

     If you're going to produce sludge, then solar heat is potentially 
the best way to treat it.  I prefer to avoid sludge production 
entirely.

-Speireag.

-- 
A wise man will make haste to forgive, because he knows the true 
value of time, and will not suffer it to pass away in unnecessary 
pain.
--Samuel Johnson, lexicographer (1709-1784)