Extreme Toilets in France
June 26, 2009 by Kevin Phoenix · 29 Comments
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Living in France, you get used to the idea that toilet facilities are not always what you might expect. As many seasoned motorists will know, a trip down the autoroute will expose you to some of the extremes.
Now a young American designer, Viginia Gardiner, working at Design London, Imperial College, has designed a novel water-less toilet that turns human waste into a valuable commodity – energy. Originally designed for use in developing countries, the LooWatt is designed to encourage people to trade in their waste for bio-fuel, creating an urban infrastructure that encourages proper waste disposal, cuts down on the spread of water-born illnesses, and provides a reliable source of energy (so long as you’re regular).
In the video below, Virginia reviews some new ideas for enabling better sanitation in even the most remote areas of the world.
Video
In designing the LooWatt system, Virginia seeks to provide a solution for the 40% of the world’s population that does not have a toilet. In many developing countries the installation of sewage systems is impractical. Furthermore, improper waste disposal spreads devastating waterborne illnesses that afflict millions.
The LooWatt aims to solve this global sanitation crisis by creating an entirely new waste disposal infrastructure. The composting toilet is molded from 90% horse excrement and features a biodegradable lining that stores human waste in a sealed, odor-free container. Once the toilet is full, the user takes the waste package to an outdoor bio-digestor that converts the pack into a free source of gas for cooking.
In our energy depleting days, might this encourage people (even the French) to improve their facilities?
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what a great idea, waste of any type should be reused in some form.
Sounds like a great idea but I’m not sure this is for me. Sounds like this will solve the global sanitation crisis by creating this new system. I wonder how they figured that 40% of the world’s population that doesn’t have a toilet.
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Excellent idea! Here in Australia in the ‘outback’ we solve the probelm of human waste disposal with the ‘long drop’, which is essentially a deep hole in the graound which is covered in when full. Then you just move a few feet to one side and dig another hole. i think this is a better system than the one used in flushing loos in the cities. Why would youy waste perfectly good drinking water to flush a toilet and then only partially treat the effluent before pumping it out to sea? Crazy! All power to Virginia.
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Ian, Mike and Michael, thanks for your comments. The aspects that attracted me to her design are the huge potential to save “drinking” water and that the LooWatt provides an almost complete re-cycle for food… all you need is some seeds.
Man, this is so cool. Never heard about something like that. It is a great way for the poor countries to do something for their sanitation infrastructure. A small step…
I am amazed at Virginia’s ingenuity! Even the exterior of this special toilet is made of excrement – horse excrement.
That’s fantastic! I’ve heard of waterless toilets but never of this degree of recycling. The toilet itself is made from recycled waste, and the waste that goes in comes out as energy. Truly ingenious. Unfortunately, I would expect that the French and the Americans would probably be among the last to adopt these. It would certainly be helpful in the southwestern desert areas of the U.S., where I live.
I salute people like Virginia whose so brilliant in the things that they do. This invention of hers can greatly help conserve our environment. It will also be a good example of turning waste into usable energy, which most countries, especially the developing ones should do. On the other hand, developed countries should adapt it too if only to help save what is left of mother nature. Even in our own small ways, we can contribute so much to save our earth.
The true value of the new green economy is that it demonstrates that environmentally firendly solutions can be mainstream, chic, economically viable and solve at the same critical environmental challenges on a sustainable basis. That’s really a great example of thinking outside the box.
Very cool video!! I like the idea and think it can make a big contribution to our energy crisis. I suppose like anything else in this world, its our minds that needs to change in order to adopt such an idea.
Thanks.
Wow, green toilets. Here I thought I was good for installing a water efficient model. Not sure if it’s for me, but interesting concept, and may lead to innovative toilets worldwide.
Can you believe it what next. I must say I myself have had some challanges with getting use to the toilet facilities in France. I am from South Africa, so the long drop deal is the way the we do it here like the Aussies.
Talk about bizzar! What will they come up with next…
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Great post, loved the way you used France as the “toilet hell” of the Western World – my words!!
I lived in the French speaking part of Belgium for nearly 3 years, and have total empathy with your analogy!!
But the castigation of France aside – but then why not, they deserve it!! – what a great product – and that’s from an ex-military man who has been in some “uncomfortable” places in the world.
Love the environmental aspect also.
As I said – great post. That product should sure do well.
What a brilliant idea – it seems strange that no one else has thought of this before now!! Lets hope that this actually gets somewhere!
Wow! What an incredible idea, it makes so much sense!
I too have had the pleasure of the “stop and drop” French motorway toilet. Made me glad to be male! Still, this looks INFINITELY more comfortable.
Bring back the Pissoir – no not really. As a frequent traveller to France, the sanitation has improved significantly. Not sure I like the sound of “green toilets” though.
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I was looking into composting toilets for part of my portable shelter for Burning Man this year.
Considering the cost, I did not do it, but plan as I create a newer and better shelter than the one I had this year(and it was really kick-butt!)
Burning Man you ask?
Really hard to explain, better off Youtubing it…
…But I STRONGLY feel composting toilets will become much more common place.
WOW, Nice inventions but if such things are beneficial to developed countries we can use them too, for our own betterment.
Great idea for a toilet. We should bring them to America and use them. An interesting read (on the toilet)! Keep up the awesome posts!
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yes if it is for developing nation, then i m sure this will solve the problem of sanitation crisis and spread of diseases will also get reduced due to well strategy of waste products.
I lived for a year in France and these people do stuff like you described. They tend to sometimes be normal nice people and sometimes to be crazy dudes.:p
Great idea. We need to do something about all the waste generated each day. Glad someone is thinking. Thanks for the post.
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this can be a boon for the developing nations where sanitary system has not even arrived, this portable toilet will surely bring revolution for them.
There are also the notorious public restroom pods (see the photo above). The concept is a good one: you can usually find one of these all over the place. In practice, they aren’t so easy. You have to have precise change (it only takes on 10 cent piece and one 2o cent piece). They are actually cleaner than they seem, due to a massive washdown after each use. It’s a bit jarring to have the door close on you when you step inside. And, of course, maybe one out of 20 of these toilets actually works.
This is so awesome. I must admit that here in my country, sewage system costs a lot hence, not all can avail to have it installed resulting to various illnesses. Thanks for the article and the great video!Cheers to you in 2010!
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First, I think this is a really great idea for the many underdeveloped countries that need a way to combat water pollution. However, I really hope they don’t stop at gas for cooking. There has to be so many more uses for this energy that these people could truly benefit from, just a matter of finding them.
Kevin´s last blog ..How to Replace Your Toilet
Kevin, bonjour and welcome… You seem to think that it would be hard to find people who could make use of such an appliance. Why is that?
That sure is a weird toilet – I probably wouldnt know how to use it. Its not as bad as the one I used in Korea though – that one was robotic – the whole seat started moving after Id finished!