January 25 2021

Sustainability

Methane Kilns

This ceramic pot was made using a methane kiln; a product in which uses waste gas produced from a nearby landfill as an energy source for firing ceramics. ‘EnergyXchange’ is company based in the black mountains of North Carolina dedicated to making renewable and sustainable energy plants. In 1994 when the local landfill site was closed, the company began researching how they can use this local resource to create sustainable energy sources; Their research showed that landfills produce large numbers of waste gas, 40-60% of which is methane. Since the year 2000, EnergyXchange have provided over 20 rental glass blowing and ceramic studios that use the nearby landfills as an energy and fuel source whereas normal gas kilns run off of propane, consuming approximately 45-50 gallons of propane gas per cone 10 firing. The advantage of using landfill gases for these kilns is that the company are getting rid of harmful greenhouse gasses that are already being produced rather than buying fuel from a company that adds to global warming whilst collecting the gas. EnergyXchange also have studios with wood-fired soda kilns that use discarded wooden pallets as a fuel source, consuming 100-120 pallets per cone 10 firing, this too is an innovative use of local waste materials.

 

Bibliography 

Harrison, R., 2021. Two Kiln Designs That Make Smart Use Of Waste. [online] Ceramic Arts Network. Available at: <https://ceramicartsnetwork.org/daily/clay-tools/ceramic-kilns/two-kiln-designs-make-smart-use-waste/> [Accessed 25 January 2021].

 

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