Spanish Town Putting the Dead to Work Generating Solar Power

Sean Fallon — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:45:00 EST

The phrase "I'll rest when I'm dead" doesn't apply to those living in Santa Coloma de Gramenet, a small town outside of Barcelona. You see, open land is scarce in the area so the local government has put the dead to work, so to speak, by installing solar panels on the top of their mausoleums. So far, a total of 462 panels produces enough energy to power 60 homes for a year (and 95 percent of the cemetery's surface area has yet to be utilized). According to a representative from the company that runs the project, "the best tribute we can pay to our ancestors, whatever your religion may be, is to generate clean energy for new generations." Of course they would say that—but why stop there? Why not dig em' up and use their bones as a cheap material to create the world's most macabre wind turbine? [Huffington Post]

Automated Japanese Mausoleum Delivers Loved Ones While You Wait

Jack Loftus — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:30:00 EDT

The aging Japanese population presents a troubling problem when it comes burying loved ones. There's simply not enough room, and the room that is available costs about $20,000, according to Trends in Japan. So leave it to the Japanese to figure out a way to address the problem with a technological twist. Like a data tape-retrieving robot, Nichiryoku's interactive family plot system retrieves cremated remains from an underground vault and displays them to you in a private prayer area, courtesy of an RFID key. And yes, there's a series of promotional videos, complete with voices beyond the grave. Only in Japan, but unsurprising given the fact that QC codes adorn traditional grave stones already.

[Trends in Japan]

Gizmodo: mausoleum

Spanish Town Putting the Dead to Work Generating Solar Power

Automated Japanese Mausoleum Delivers Loved Ones While You Wait