Project Description

Carbonfund.org supports the Freund’s Farm Dairy Methane Project because it helps to reduce heat-trapping methane emissions which in turn, lessen the impact of global climate change. Freund’s Farm installed a 62-foot anaerobic biodigester that receives approx 3,600 gallons of manure each day from 240 cows and reduces up to 1,200 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions each year. Biodigesters capture methane generated by manure and transform it into a clean, renewable energy source. In addition to mitigating impact on climate change and generating clean, renewable energy, the fibrous waste is used the main material to produce biodegradeable planting pots.

Methane is a greenhouse gas that is 23 times more harmful to the environment than carbon dioxide. In the United States, the largest methane emissions come from the decomposition of wastes in landfills, ruminant digestion and manure management associated with domestic livestock, natural gas and oil systems, and coal mining.

Unlike other greenhouse gases, methane can be used to produce energy as it is the major component (95 percent) of natural gas. Consequently, for many methane sources, opportunities exist to reduce emissions cost-effectively or at low cost by capturing the methane and using it as fuel.