Compost Carousel Toilet
Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 1:32 pm
The following is an email I wrote to Bob, and his reply:
At 04:08 PM 7/3/2006, you wrote:
Mr. Crosby,
I am planning to build a small cabin in rural Kentucky and have been researching options for waste management. It seems to me that the most viable option would be to use a composting toilet. The prices for commercial composting toilets are still very high, so I began to look for less expensive, do-it-yourself options. I came across your website, and was very impressed. If you have the time, I would love to get some more information from you.
I notice that your work is designed for rural Alaska. Do you think itwould be easily adaptable for the climate of southern Kentucky?
Yes. Your more benign climate should make it even easier.
I would like, if possible, to install this directly under the cabin. The rear of the cabin will be set up on concrete piers, and there would be enough space to install the enclosure directly under the toilet. I would use the "indoor outhouse" option.
Which composter are you looking at? The original? Or the newer "carousel" design. The important thing for either would be that you have a convenient way to remove the drums. The newer carousel design requires a little bigger footprint (about 5' square), but lower head height, and the smaller drums are easier to handle.
Do you think an HRV would be necessary? Winter temperatures rarely drop below 20 degrees F, summer temperatures are usually between 80 and 90 degress F.
No. But you will need a fan. Here in Alaska, HRV's are part of normal household ventilation systems anyway, so it made sense to tie it in to the existing system. The size of fan (flow rate and HP) will be determined by how much moisture you need to evaporate. If you go with the "indoor outhouse", and especially if you separate the urine from the waste, it can be very small, only enough to maintain negative pressure in the enclosure, to prevent odors from entering the house.
Also on your website, it says that complete details with step-by-step instructions, etc. will be available for sale soon. Have these become available yet, and if so, how much are they?
Alas, no. It's on a back burner, delayed but not forgotten. Other priorities intrude.
Thank you very much for your time. I am very impressed by the concept, design, and implementation of your work.
Thank you. If you build it, please share details (and pictures?) on the Forum. (And, in fact, would you mind if we moved this conversation there?)
Best,
Bob Crosby
Biorealis Systems, Inc
P.O. Box 77-2773
Eagle River, AK 99577
http://biorealis.com
At 04:08 PM 7/3/2006, you wrote:
Mr. Crosby,
I am planning to build a small cabin in rural Kentucky and have been researching options for waste management. It seems to me that the most viable option would be to use a composting toilet. The prices for commercial composting toilets are still very high, so I began to look for less expensive, do-it-yourself options. I came across your website, and was very impressed. If you have the time, I would love to get some more information from you.
I notice that your work is designed for rural Alaska. Do you think itwould be easily adaptable for the climate of southern Kentucky?
Yes. Your more benign climate should make it even easier.
I would like, if possible, to install this directly under the cabin. The rear of the cabin will be set up on concrete piers, and there would be enough space to install the enclosure directly under the toilet. I would use the "indoor outhouse" option.
Which composter are you looking at? The original? Or the newer "carousel" design. The important thing for either would be that you have a convenient way to remove the drums. The newer carousel design requires a little bigger footprint (about 5' square), but lower head height, and the smaller drums are easier to handle.
Do you think an HRV would be necessary? Winter temperatures rarely drop below 20 degrees F, summer temperatures are usually between 80 and 90 degress F.
No. But you will need a fan. Here in Alaska, HRV's are part of normal household ventilation systems anyway, so it made sense to tie it in to the existing system. The size of fan (flow rate and HP) will be determined by how much moisture you need to evaporate. If you go with the "indoor outhouse", and especially if you separate the urine from the waste, it can be very small, only enough to maintain negative pressure in the enclosure, to prevent odors from entering the house.
Also on your website, it says that complete details with step-by-step instructions, etc. will be available for sale soon. Have these become available yet, and if so, how much are they?
Alas, no. It's on a back burner, delayed but not forgotten. Other priorities intrude.
Thank you very much for your time. I am very impressed by the concept, design, and implementation of your work.
Thank you. If you build it, please share details (and pictures?) on the Forum. (And, in fact, would you mind if we moved this conversation there?)
Best,
Bob Crosby
Biorealis Systems, Inc
P.O. Box 77-2773
Eagle River, AK 99577
http://biorealis.com