Harnessing biomass is an extremely common form of heating and it's a fast-growing way to generate electricity.
Traditionally, energy from biomass is translated to heat by burning organic materials. This is usually done with wood stoves and, recently, wood pellet or grain-burning stoves.
Also, there is a growing movement toward capturing landfill gas as a form of electrical power generation. This technology is not likely to be suitable for a homeowner or small business application, but may be applicable for community-based waste management projects.