Chestnuts Roasting
The glow of a fire in the fireplace brings a smile to my face. It’s comforting and mesmerizing to watch the flames dance. Now I see there can be even more benefits to an indoor fire.
Are we only dreamin’, or is this burning an eco-friendly flame?
The Bite
Nope, we’re wide awake. While fireplaces aren’t the most efficient sources of heat, if you wanna kick it Little House on the Prairie-style, stay warm with logs made from sustainable materials such as industrial wood scraps and even coffee. Darlin’.The Benefits
- Chart-topping eco-friendliness. Typical, store-bought burning logs contain petroleum byproducts and let off higher amounts of toxins (such as carbon monoxide) than our picks, and store-bought firewood may not come from a sustainably managed forest.
- Less fire tending. Since the eco-options burn longer, you’ll have to throw wood on the fire less often.
- If 10,000 Biters burn an eco-log instead of a similarly sized piece of wood for 1 hour, we’ll avert the amount of carbon monoxide produced by driving a car around the Earth’s equator about 67 times.
Personally Speaking
Jen recruits boys with chain saws and trucks to help her collect downed firewood from nearby national forests (after she gets a permit, of course).Wanna Try?
- Java-Log Fireplace Logs – crackling logs that burn for 3 hours. Made from coffee waste and vegetable waxes, and packaged in recycled materials. Find stores here ($32/6 logs).
- Duraflame – petroleum-free logs that burn for 3 hours and use 80% fewer resources than regular firewood. Store locator here ($26/6 logs).
- U.S. Department of Energy – tips for getting the most out of your fireplace.
- Avoid burning particleboard or treated wood – they’ll release toxic chems.