• Welcome
  • Community
  • Blogs
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Join
  • Log in
Follow MNN    
MNN - Mother Nature Network - Envrionmental News
improve your world

 

Saturday, May 26, 2012
  • Earth Matters

    Browse All » Animals Weather Energy Politics Space Translating Uncle Sam Wilderness & Resources

  • Health

    Browse All » Allergies Fitness & Well-Being Healthy Spaces

  • Lifestyle

    Browse All » Arts & Culture Travel Natural Beauty & Fashion Recycling Responsible Living

  • GREEN TECH

    Browse All » Computers Gadgets & Electronics Research & Innovations Transportation

  • Eco-Biz & Money

    Browse All » Green Workplace Personal Finance Sustainable Business Practices

  • Food & Drink

    Browse All » Beverages Healthy Eating Recipes

  • Your Home

    Browse All » At Home Organic Farming & Gardening Remodeling & Design

  • family

    Browse All » Babies & Pregnancy Family Activities Pets Protection & Safety

Tweet
Pin It
Email Bookmark and ShareShare
WorldShares lets you earn donations for your favorite nonprofit. Earn up to 20 points now.
Learn More

Earn Points
What's this?
MNN.COM›

MNN BLOGGERS

Matt Hickman

Logging on

Want to keep your home cozy while creating a nice, wintery ambiance? Consider burnin' these four less polluting fireplace logs.

Wed, Oct 21 2009 at 10:50 AM EST

Image: stuart~
There's nothing quite as satisfying as cozying up to a crackling fire after hauling in a bundle of firewood, perhaps gathered by yourself, from the cold outdoors. It's something that someone like me who lives in an apartment sans fireplace craves when the temps start to drop. It's also considered by some to be a cost- and resource-effective (although not exactly efficient) alternative to blasting the furnace on high given that wood is a renewable resource and the cost of fuel isn't exactly a bargain these days.
 
However, the air pollution — not to mention the sooty mess — generated by burning cordwood in a fireplace is less than satisfying. According to the EPA, residential wood smoke contains many of the same chemical compounds as cigarette smoke like nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, various carcinogenic VOCs, and perhaps worst of all, particulate matter — composed of tar, gases, soot, and ashes — which can take their toll on your health and on the environment. A runny nose, burning eyes, and bronchitis kind of takes the romance out of burning a fire, huh? 
 
If you must burn a traditional fire with cordwood, there are EPA-recommended steps you can take to make it more efficient and less harmful to you and the planet. But here's another idea: forgo wood completely and use cleaner burning fireplace logs made out a variety of substances like recycled cardboard, sawdust, and even coffee grounds. Although I fully understand that buying a box of manufactured firelogs at a supermarket or home goods store doesn't have the same rustic, DIY appeal as gathering wood for a fire, they're less likely to keep you and Mother Nature up hacking and wheezing all night. They're a good thing. Check these four fireplace log options out. 
 
Duraflame Crackleflame Firelog (5 lbs) @ Ace Hardware ($39.99/6 pack)
Once known for using petrochemical binders in their firelog products, Duraflame has gone au natural in the last couple of years by revamping its famous recycled sawdust-based firelogs with a "biowax" formula made from renewable plant and vegetable materials. Duraflame firelogs use 80 percent fewer resources than traditional firewood, generate 80 percent less pollutants than traditional firewood, and produce 70 percent less greenhouse gases than gas fireplaces and gas logs. The Crackleflame Firelog emits a crackling sound for added authenticity.
 
Pine Mountain Java-Logs @ Energy shift via Pine Mountain (single 3hr firelog, $3.50; case of 6 3hr firelogs, $29; case of 6 2hr firelogs, $22)
Pine Mountain Java-Logs are made from, you guessed it, recycled coffee grounds. The company diverts 12 million pounds of coffee grounds from landfills annually in the production of clean burning Java-Logs. Compared to standard cordwood, Java-Logs emit 78 percent less carbon monoxide and 66 percent less creosote when burned. And no, it won't smell like a Starbucks store has been set ablaze in your living room when using. 
 
TerraCycle Eco-Revolutionary Firelog @ ShopOnlyGreen.com ($15.99/4 pack)
From Tom Szaky's most-excellent green company, TerraCycle, comes a line of firelogs made from 100 percent recycled wax-coated cardboard boxes. They are clean burning and  long lasting — 3 hours — and can be used in indoor fireplaces, fireplace inserts, campfires, and woodstoves. 
 
 
Goodwood Firelog Bags @ Goodwood Products (case of 5 bags, $49.95; case of 8 bags, $94.95)
Made with woody biomass and mill shavings diverted from landfills, Goodwood Firelogs are free of waxes and additives and emit 25 to 50 percent less particulates compared to firewood when burned. The firelogs come in an attractive burlap starter bag made from jute that you can light on fire as well so need to unload it ... just toss it in and light. Each bag burns for up to 3 hours. 
 
 
Previous Post
E-waste goes Olympic
   Next Post
DIY fireplace-in-a-can
You might also like:
Related Topics: Forests & Trees, Green Products, Home improvement

Comments

Follow this conversation
Add your comment
View:
  • All (0)

Add your comment

Sign in with one of these accounts or just add your comment below.
    Log in or
    create an account
     
    •  
Used only for emailed comments and will not be displayed with your post
Notify me with an email when other people comment on this article.
The posting of advertisement, profanity or personal attacks is prohibited.
Click here to review our Terms of Use

EDITORS' PICKS

tease to asteroids

tease to pet facials

tease to emotional eating

ADVERTISEMENT

NEWSLETTER

Mother Nature. Delivered

CONNECT WITH MNN

Follow @twitterapi
 Tumblr
 Google +

About Matt Hickman

Eco-living expert blogs about best ways to go green at home.

RSS feedMore about Matt

Recent Posts

  • Playing Catch up: 'Til Tuesday
  • Composting that cuppa: PG Tips launches tea bag recycling initiative
  • No, you're not hallucinating: Designer unveils wooden light bulb
+ Add this to my site
From our sponsor

Calculate the amount of water you use to wash dishes

New Ziploc® VersaGlass™ Containers make saving water and time a snap! more >

Photo gallery: 6 most pesky warm weather bugs

Don’t let annoying bugs ruin your outdoor fun. Keep insects out with plant-based... more >

Play the Glade Decor Scents Fragrance Photo Hunt

Test your skills of observation by spotting all five differences in each pair of... more >

Healthy home, happy family: Facts about SC Johnson products

Being a fifth generation family business gives SC Johnson a unique perspective.... more >

What’s Inside SC Johnson: A look at our product ingredients

As a family company, SC Johnson goes beyond industry standards in creating... more >
SC Johnson: A family company since 1886

Matt's BLOGROLL

Design BoomDwell
GOODCo.Design
Jetson GreenCurbed National
Core77TreeHugger
NY Times Home & GardenL.A. at Home

ADVERTISEMENT



Quick Links

  • About Us
  • Advisory Board
  • Editors' Blog
  • Press
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms of Service
  • WorldShares

MNN Tools

  • Advice
  • Blogs
  • Day in History
  • Eco-glossary
  • Infographics
  • Lists
  • Photos
  • Videos

Connect

  • Community
  • Contact Us
  • Contests
  • Idea Lab
  • Mixed Greens
  • Newsletters
  • Polls
  • RSS

Channels

  • Earth Matters
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Green Tech
  • Eco-Biz & Money
  • Your Home
  • Family
  • State Reports

Follow MNN

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Google+
  • StumbleUpon
 

Copyright © 2012 MNN Holdings, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Website by GLICK INTERACTIVE | Powered by CIRRACORE
 
SPONSORS