You can also zone the location for your home heating system or hot water heater to provide heat to your composter. Think of it as heating a small room in your house. Fuel Used Heat (BTUs) Kilowatt hour of electricity 3,412 Liquid gallon propane 91,600 Gallon fuel oil 136,000 Square foot of sunshine/hour 429.2 Cord… Continue Reading

For solar heating, you have to have available solar energy, such as a clear, unobstructed south-by-southeast opening, not blocked by trees or other buildings. In most North American communities, 8-12 square feet of solar hot air collection area all year long will sufficiently warm a composter in a heated home. Contact your state solar energy… Continue Reading

Look for cheap or free heat, such as wasted heat. Some composters have convenient air intakes that can be connected to a warm air source, such as: An insulating fire proof box with an incandescent light bulb in it A heat exchanger connected to the exhaust system of a generator or the flue from a… Continue Reading

Locate your composter in an interior heated room, such as just under the second floor bathroom. Then you do not need to insulate the composter. Keep the ambient temperature at a minimum of 65°F (18.33°C). Or locate your composter near a South-facing window. Or next to a boiler, furnace, clothes washing machine, dryer, or water… Continue Reading

As you know, composting happens faster when it is warm. Too-low temperatures will slow down the process. (Some composters are also heated to evaporate leachate.) That means that composters might need to be heated where ambient temperatures are too low for active composting, such as northern USA, Canada, Scandinavia and most of Europe Because faster… Continue Reading