I'm ALL for green devices, but C'Mon Man!

I don't get it.  I don't even manually flush a regular urinal.  What am I missing?

If you count the environmental impact from cradle to grave the Hybrid car makes no sense and other cars can get just as good gas mileage for less $. To me most of the people have Hybrids are just to say they have one.

That's an urban myth.  When the entire life-cycle environmental cost is computed alternative fuel cars still beat out conventional cars.  Right now hybrids and plug-in electrics are about even - when an electric gets about 50% or more of it's electricity from renewables it moves ahead.  And ahead of both of those are hydrogen fuel cells.

Next week I will be relocating to a just built net-zero energy building.  It will have the toilets you mention as well as just about any proven "green" technology available.  Not only will the building be net-zero energy, it was built with many recycled materials, including old gas pipes, beatle-kill pine, reclaimed steel, as well as other recycled materials.  I've visted the building and other than losing a closed office for an open work-station, I am looking forward to it.

To get back to frustrations with green technology...yes, it's different and it's not what we are accustomed to.  However, oil and gas supplies are limited and other energy sources need to be developed or our kids and grandkids are going to suffer for our short-sightedness.  I'm willing to compromise, or be inconvenienced with developing technologies that are going to benefit future generations.

If it is a bacterial breeding ground this is a little more than being inconvenienced it is an issue, if you don't believe me go back and look at the middle ages.

We have these in our urinals at work and they work fine and do not stink.  YMMV.

I would also like to know how this kind of toilet help future generations?

The people I know who have hybrids have it only for the gas mileage and they are touting some crazy efficient numbers. They are not doing it for the environmental impact whatsoever.

Are they factoring in the cost of charging the batteries?

In 1991 Honda had the CRX HF series which was a nice looking 2-seater that got 54 mpg highway.  Why is that technology not here anymore?  Safety requirements causing weight to go up thus reducing mileage?  I had a '87 CRX and could drive from Central CA to LA on half a tank!

Most facilities that I've been to that have waterless urinals require more maintenance.  So yes, there's water conservation going on but some additional water is required for cleaning purposes.  And the maintenance staff is a little busier trying to keep things clean and odor free.

These are people driving Prius's; I don't know.

well, from what I see in most public bathrooms most guys seem to go a pretty good job getting their whiz on the floor as well as the toity.  So much for bacteria getting flushed down...

yes it is.  and it is cool!

The prius gets about 40 to 50 mpg normally and if you REALY drive just to get mpg then you can go a little bit over that. Other compact vehicle with GDI engines can get 40 to 48 mpg and cost about 8k less than the prius. Depending how long they own the car (doubt they will have it longer then the warrantee because the cost to maintain will be astronomical) but I wonder how much gas they could have bought with the 8k. Where with the other compact cars they could have the car for say 15 years and the overall from gas and maintenance they would have spent less then they spent on the prius.

I agree with that, it's even worse at my work then a normal gas station bathroom and that fact perplexes me.

Ok so back to my question how does that kind of urinal help future generations compared to a normal low flow automatic urinal?

I wasn't expecting every word to be questioned and I am far from a waste stream expert. but think about it...you live in Southern CA.  What's your most valuable resource?  Water?  Sure, water is treated and recycled but where do all those spent chemicals go?  How much more water will be needed for growing future generations?  What if Colorado shut off the supply of water that heads west of the continental divide? that happen you may never worry about flushing for #1 again. 

Sorry, now I'm the one with questions. 

Another thing -- they reduce urban smog because when they're sitting in bumper-to-bumper, stop lights, etc... the engine is completely off.

I think we'll see a lot of improvement in battery technology.  Internal combustion engines have almost a century of refinement behind them.  Electric cars will get better.