"I had only ever thought that feces are dirty, but now it is a treasure of great value to me," one user says.
A university in South Korea is rewarding students in crypto — every time they use the toilet.
In an attempt to reduce water use, a professor at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology has developed eco-friendly toilets that reduce water use — and transform excrement into methane that serves as a source of energy for the building.
This can then be used to power everything from gas stoves to hot water boilers.
According to Reuters, the typical person defecates about 500g a day — enough to create 50 liters of methane gas. This can generate 0.5kWh of electricity, enough to drive a car for three quarters of a mile.
Where Cryptocurrency Comes In
If creating an environmentally conscious loo wasn’t enough, Professor Cho Jae-weon has also designed a virtual currency — and people who use his eco-friendly toilet can earn 10 Ggool a day.
This can then be used to purchase everything from fresh coffee to noodles, fruit and books.
One student, Heo Hui-jin, is especially impressed with the invention. They said:
“I had only ever thought that feces are dirty, but now it is a treasure of great value to me. I even talk about faeces during mealtimes to think about buying any book I want.”
