Freezing in the Dark

Back in the 70s, when it became apparent that the fossil fuels were finite, a generation raised with frugality and social responsibility started looking at alternative ways of doing things, so as to conserve resources for future generations.

I distinctly remember that some people were composting using a system that harvested the methane produced for cooking purposes. Heating was usually a matter of passive solar building and insulation, combined with putting on a sweater.

Then along came the Evil Reagan, announcing to Americans that there was no way they would have to freeze to death in the dark. Instead, Americans should embark on an orgy of consumption back then, and screw future generations.

Oil use has doubled since then, and electricity use has also gone up, (but I don't know the percentage).

Frackers spent the last 15 years flaring off natural gas, as they went for oil instead. North Dakota and New Mexico were lit up at night for years, as they burned off all that natural gas into the atmosphere.

Anyway, here we are in the future, getting ready to freeze to death in the dark. Thanks, Reagan.

Does anyone know how to make one of those methane-capturing compost devices?