Shower Computer/Toilet Koozie

[SturdyBegger]

Hello all,

I joined to share an idea that includes a passive control. Passive controls are like the fins underneath a semi tractor trailer that reduce aerodrag and improve fuel efficiency. I had the idea to insulate the tank on the toilet. This would prevent the water in the tank from absorbing thermal energy from inside of the home and then being flushed down into the sewer. The amount of energy adds up to humongous amounts that I measure in atomic bombs per minute or atomic bombs per second, depending on the size of the community. This made me wonder what would be the net effect if this technology were massively deployed. I do not have the means to build a sensor network to measure the amount of water that is evaporated from inside the sewers. I suspect that it would be many millions of gallons per day and we would have to tread carefully on the Mississippi/Missouri River Watersheds.

This is why I designed active controls for the bathroom; the shower computer. The shower computer can take many forms. It could easily be an egg timer. It could be an at-mini that receives updates of current models and adjusts the flow rate, volume, and temperature accordingly. This would be like a virtual smart grid.

It would be cool to make an "As Seen on TV" Shower Computer that comes with not 1 but 2 free toilet koozies. My endgame is to actually help improve ecosystems that are vulnerable to thermal pollution and to prevent evaporation in regions where water scarcity is a problem. Test markets where massive deployment would be readily adopted would be; Hawaii, Finger Lakes, NY., Las Vegas, California, etc.

Let me know what you think,
SturdyBegger

 

[SturdyBegger]

https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/heat-pump-water-heaters

 

[jimisbell]

https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/heat-pump-water-heaters

why not take the refrigerator radiator and plumb it to the water heater and make both more efficient?

 

[Papa]

I had the idea to insulate the tank on the toilet. This would prevent the water in the tank from absorbing thermal energy from inside of the home and then being flushed down into the sewer.

My home has NO.typical flush toilet and NO sewer. I use an estimated óne pint of water/daily (via rain water) for converting my feces into valuable fertilizer.

Humanure Handbook - by Joseph Jenkins

 

[jimisbell]

My home has NO toilet and NO sewer. I use an estimated óne pint of water/daily (via rain water) for converting my feces into valuable fertilizer.

Humanure Handbook - by Joseph Jenkins

no thank you!

 

[marty]

My home has NO.tupical flush toilet and NO sewer. I use an estimated óne pint of water/daily (via rain water) for converting my feces into valuable fertilizer.

Humanure Handbook - by Joseph Jenkins

I be stupid in my house. Flush toilet with massive amounts of water. Water leaves house in a pipe using gravity. Water comes into house with a pipe under pressure. I drink that water.

 

[Papa]

Normally, I forgo the following, but maybe... Just maybe, there's others among us that, well., give a shit.

My process differs slightly from Mr. Jenkin''s, but the end results is pretty much identical.

I use 5 gallon containers - from start to fertilizer. After each single deposit (human or food scraps, a thin layer of sawdust, grass or leaves is sprinkled over. This creates a multi-layered mixture omitting the need to stir each container during the composting. I typically fill a single 5 gallon container in about 3-1/2 wéeks

Once filled... it's goes inside the secure composting shack, and stays there 12 months, or longer if necessary.


Temperature is continuously monitored in each container. I like to see temps between 95 to 135f which is preferred to kill any potential pathogens or harmful parasites.


Container "A" (Image below) is about one week old. Container "B" is about 5 months old...

 

[Zambam]

Astronauts use vacuum toilets in space to dispose of solid waste and urine:

• Solid waste
  Astronauts use a vacuum to suck solid waste into garbage bags, which are then placed in airtight containers. The bags also contain toilet paper, wipes, and gloves. The containers are compacted and placed in a removable fecal storage canister. The canister is then loaded into a cargo ship that brings supplies to the space station. When the ship returns to Earth, it's dropped back into the atmosphere and burns up, permanently disposing of the waste. A small amount of solid waste is sometimes freeze-dried and returned to Earth for testing or evaluation by scientists.
  
  
  
• Urine
  Urine is collected in a tube and sent through a system that mixes it with chemicals. The urine is then processed into drinking water.

 

[jimisbell]

I guess that is another reason why I am not an astronaut....LOL

 

[marty]

I typically fill a single 5 gallon container in about 3-1/2 wéeks

Do you store buckets outside while you filling them?

Why is there a whisker on the first e in wéeks? éééééé

 

[Papa]

Do you store buckets outside while you filling them?

Why is there a whisker on the first e in wéeks? éééééé

One container is always inside the cabin for convince (especially during winters). No different than a flush toilet in your home.

Filled containers are immediately transported to, and stored inside the compost shack (shown above). Nothing is left outside during composting.
The compost shack is insulated and a thermal double pane window facing south. This boost Inside temperatures to accelerate the composting.

 

[Diggs]

I live in rural Wisconsin. I have a well and septic. Basically, all water (99%+) pumped returns to the septic system and eventually to the water table below to be reused. The solids in the septic are removed every three years and spread on the local corn/bean fields to provide fertilizer. In the summer the cold well water is appreciated in the toilet tank to help cool while in the winter it's warm enough to keep things from freezing. A simple and effective system.

I'm sure city life has different issues and problems but I can't see sewer evaporation being one of them. Millions of gallons a day? Seems unlikely as almost everything sewer related is enclosed or covered more for odor issues than evaporation. Storm drains would be a bit more open if that is what you're thinking.