Once you start iComposteur, you need to keep it plugged 24hr-7days a week because bacteria work non-stop to decompose the food scraps, turning food scraps into humus. So you are wondering how much electricity it takes? Would that cost you too much on the energy bill?
 |
| Would iComposteur costs you a lot on energy bill? |
The power rating of iComposteur is 345 watt for 220V ; 275 watt for 110V. It means the highest power input allowed to flow through this machine. It means this machine needs 345 watt electricity to start. Also means when it is fully functioning, it uses 345 watt of electricity. But in fact, iComposteur doesn’t fully operate all the time.
iComposteur is NOT high-tech, it only does three things
Unlike many novel counter-top composters claim that they are innovations, iComposteur is just a simple machine and there are only 3 functions of it:
- Heating
- Mixing
- Exhausting
 |
| Inside iComposteur. We have a heating tank, a mixing rod and an airing system |
They alternate to work.
Because it’s the bacteria who decompose, not the machine, the machine just helps the bacteria decompose food scraps by keeping an optimum condition, including occasionally exhausting and sending fresh air, turning the pile with a rod, and heating the tank when the temperature drops. Exhausting also pushes out excessive moisture.
 |
| When bacteria decompose food scraps, they take oxygen and give out some heat |
It's the bacteria who decompose, not iComposteur
Recap the optimum condition for bacteria to decompose food most efficiently:
- The pile needs to be at temperature 60~70 degrees because we want the thermophilic bacteria to work, they are the most efficient decomposers.
- Bacteria are living cells, they constantly need oxygen.
- Some moisture for bacteria to be alive but not too much for it will expel the air out of the pile. Bacteria need oxygen.
- Right carbon to nitrogen ratio (30:1 in weight or 3:1 in volume). Bacteria take carbon for energy and nitrogen for reproduction. Nitrogen is for building more new bacteria. If nitrogen is too high, bacteria don't have enough carbon for their food, they will die. If carbon is too high, they can’t reproduce themselves so there won't be enough bacteria to decompose. Both will slow down the composting process.
The heating function is supposed to take the most electricity. However, because bacteria give out heat when they decompose food, iComposteur is insulated and only heats occasionally. For example, after you open the lid, or not adding in enough food scraps for too long.
 |
| iComposteur is holding a composting pile in it |
My experiment shows that iComposteur consumes 1.65kwh per day
In the real life scenario, I have a family of 4 people. I cook 4 meals a week plus fresh fruit everyday. The energy I use is 1.65 kwh / day in summer. In the winter, if you set iComposteur outdoors, it is supposed to use more electricity. Because the air it draws into the tank is colder so the machine will automatically heat more to keep at 60~70 degrees.
In Europe, 1kwh costs 0.30 euros, 30 days of 1.65kwh will cost you roughly 9 euros per month.
Check the "Power Rating" when you shop any appliance
And buy the thing you understand. iComposteur is still the most energy-efficient composteur in the market compared to all the other countertop composters. The rating power is a key to know how energy efficient an appliance is. Below is the rating power of several composter in the market:
| Power Rating | |
|---|---|
| iComposteur | 345 Watt |
| Lomi | 500 Watt |
| Tero | 600 Watt |
You will have endless humus for improving your soil, gardening becomes more rewarding
The humus you get from iComposteur is the best soil builder for it raises the water, air and nutrient holding capacity in the soil. It feeds earthworms, increasing the pores in the soil which loosens the soil for roots to grow better and stronger. Earthworms discharge ammonium as nitrogen sources for plants to uptake. Humus contains billions of bacteria. When they live with plants and dominate the soil, pathogens have no food and no host.
You will have no food scraps to remove out of your house every evening after cooking. No need to make a trip to the dumpster every night.
This is priceless.
0 Comments