Project urgreenhomes : study on commercial viability of portable bio-digesters for usage in urban homes / Eduardo B. Vilar

Year : 2009

Number of Pages : 25 leaves

Adviser : Prof. Glen A. Imbang

Executive Summary

The effects of global warming are now common consequences and may even grow to more alarming levels if man's activities that have impact on the environment are left unabated. Recognizing the seriousness of the problem, the United Nations leading many countries has ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its upgrade, the Kyoto Protocol. The main purpose of these agreements is to reduce carbon emissions of developed countries and give incentives to environment-friendly projects. Individual countries are doing their share to combat global warming. The Philippines has enacted several laws to preserve the environment. Some of these laws are Republic Act (RA) 8749 or the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999, RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, and most recently, RA 9513 or Renewable Energy Act of 2008. Government agencies have been tasked to implement, and even, fast-track the implementation of these laws. Environmentalist groups are very active in promoting the preservation of the environment and in supporting government programs such as the Zero Basura Olympics. In spite of these efforts, problems still persist. There is still large volume of garbage being collected and dumped. Individuals have to do their share in proper disposal of their domestic trashes. In Metro Manila, a study shows that 45 percent of the total volume of garbage is composed of food and kitchen wastes. Organic wastes produce methane gas that is 21 percent more potent than carbon dioxide in trapping heat. The present situation the world is facing about climate change has made all sectors of society to find ways and means to fight global warming and mitigate its effects. One solution to reduce emission of greenhouse gas due to organic wastes of households is by using portable bio-digesters developed by the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Organic kitchen wastes can be used as feedstock to the bio-digester, which will decompose the wastes and produce methane gas or biogas that can then be used for cooking. The other by-product, effluent, can be used as fertilizer. Biogas production in the Philippines is already a mature technology-being introduced in 1965. Initial installations were for hog and poultry farms. Smaller and less expensive types followed, such as the DOST-ITDI portable bio-digesters. Commercialization of the bio-digester for Metro Manila's household usage faces the main challenge of influencing change in individual behavior or habit in waste's disposal. This project study recommends a technology roadmap to commercialize the bio-digesters to penetrate the urban market.