The newest generation of home heating stoves, which burn fuel pellets instead of firewood, can be a great choice for fending off winter’s chilly temperatures.  Pellet stoves are available in a wide range of styles and designs, and they can provide an extremely fuel-efficient source of heat.

Forget about comparing these high-tech models to old-fashioned open fireplaces.  Traditional fireplace designs don’t allow wood to burn very efficiently, causing unnecessary pollution while much of their heat gets wasted up the chimney.  Modern pellet stoves, on the other hand, are 75-90% efficient with particulate emissions up to 5 times lower than even EPA-certified wood stoves.  A cubic foot of pellets also provides up to 5 times more heat output (measured in BTUs) compared to an equal amount of cordwood.

But what about the carbon footprint of all that burning?  Well, any wood you burn that would have otherwise decomposed is essentially a wash, since all the carbon sequestered in wood is emitted as it decomposes anyway.  The carbon in other fuels like petroleum, however, would simply stay put if it wasn’t burned for fuel.

Pellets contain much less moisture than cordwood, which means they burn hotter and they are lighter to transport.  Homeowners can further reduce their embodied energy by using locally produced pellets whenever possible.  As a bonus, bags of pellets are also generally much more convenient to handle than piles of logs.

A Pellet Fuel Stove From Harman Stoves

Pellets can be produced from a variety of sources like sawdust, agricultural waste, and even paper waste; some manufacturers only use source wood that has already been killed by disease or pests.  For example, Colorado-based New Earth Pellets manufactures their fuel from pine trees damaged by the invasive Mountain Pine Beetle.

Pellet stoves aren’t perfect for everyone; they are generally more expensive than traditional stoves, and they often require electricity for their circulating fans.  But they can usually be installed with a simple vent (instead of an expensive chimney), and there are pellet stoves to match any room size or decor.  Homeowners may also qualify for rebates or other incentives to help offset the cost of installation, like Vermont’s $500 credit for switching from oil to pellet stove heating.

You can find more information at The Department of Energy’s EnergySavers website.

(via ModernEnviro)

The Best Toaster Ovens

What are the best toaster ovens? Toaster ovens are efficient devices for cooking small meals. They typically use two 750 watts heating elements and draw a total 1500 watts, whereas electric ranges draw about 3000 watts (and thus require a 240 volt electric socket).

Toaster ovens also heat up more quickly, due to their smaller size. But the most efficient toaster ovens are those that incorporate a convection fan and good insulation into their design. The fan blows heated air continuously around the food being cooked, thus reducing required temperature and cooking times. On average, they cut energy use by about 20%, and cooking time is reduced by about 30%.

Food also tends to cook better because of the more even temperatures in the oven. Some owners complain that convection fans are noisy, but others say the noise is exaggerated. One reviewer on Amazon says:

There is a hum from the convection fan but it is no louder than the sound of my refrigerator compressor or my microwave when in use.

Here is our round-up of the best toaster ovens:

The Krups FBC2 Convection Toaster Oven

The Krups FBC2 Convection Toaster Oven: The Best Rated

The best sources for ratings of toaster ovens are Consumer Reports, Cook’s Illustrated, Real Simple, and Good Housekeeping. According to the reviews, the convection toaster oven with the best rating overall was the Krups FBC2 toaster oven. Not only does this oven include a convection fan, it also sports more heating elements other toaster ovens.

The toaster has a special function where it will alternate between powering each of its quartz heating elements. Each element is brought to its full 1600 watts power, so that radiant heat is maximized. Reviewers also say this oven is easy to use and cleans up easily.

You can get it from Amazon for around $160. Amazon reviewers give it 4 out of 5 stars (168 reviewers.)

T-Fal Avante Elite Convection Toaster Oven

T-Fal Avante Elite Convection Toaster Oven : Best Rated

Avanté Elite by T-Fal is another toaster oven that was highly rated in reviews. Many reviewers commented that this compact toaster cooks very evenly due to its convection fan.

It also has a roomy interior: you can fit a 12″ pizza inside or 6 pieces of toast inside. Avanté Elite also preheats quickly — it takes about 3 minutes for the oven to preheat to 350 degrees.

You can get it from Amazon for around $100.

Here’s a pizza oven that costs $89 and reportedly cooks pizzas using less electricity than a regular oven. The PizzaMax Pizza Oven. is made from commercial- grade polished stainless steel and has an automatic timer. Review via Kitchen Contraptions

This new cooktop from Wolf uses induction to cook food efficiently, while the cooking surface stays cool to the touch. You must use a pan made of a magnetic material like stainless steel or cast iron. Induction stovetops are about 85-90% energy efficient, compared electric elements which are only 65-85% efficient. The manufacturer also claims that the rate of heat adjustment is 50% faster than gas or electric.

How does it work? The electricity flows through a coil to produce a magnetic field under the ceramic cooktop. When an iron or magnetic stainless pan is placed on the ceramic surface, currents are induced in the cooking utensil and instant heat is generated due to the resistance of the pan. Induction cooktops are a relatively new phenomenon in the U.S., but this type of stove has been popular in Europe for a number of years. Diva and Kuppersbuch also make induction stovetops.

Via productdose.

This grill from Tammock Trading in Switzerland can barbecue fish, chicken, vegetables and steaks. The Solar-Grill has a flexible mirror, which focuses the sun beams on the self-contained barbecue cup, allowing it to heat up. Your meal is heated evenly from all sides, without direct irradiation by sunlight. The price is 180 Euros, which is about $217 US dollars.

Via KitchenContraptions

Ecoflame is a cooking fuel made out of sugar cane.

Apparently it burns cleaner, hotter and more efficiently than petroluem-based fuels. It’s an ethanol-based fuel made from natural sugar cane alcohol.

Sugar cane is a renewable resource, but it does require a lot of water to grow. Still, most other heating fuel products are poisonous and derivatives of petroleum and coal.

This product is certified under Canada’s Environmental Choice Program. It is non-toxic, non-explosive, has no harmful emissions, is safe for use indoors and outdoors, is smokeless and odor free and is easy to light and relight It can be used for buffets, room service, fondues, picnics and camping.

Ecoflame is available from Recyclaholics

Manufacturer Notes:
Beware of new stoves with a 500
watt electric glow bar pilot in the oven that runs orange hot all the time
the oven is in use, consuming power rapidly. Peerless Premier kitchen stoves
offer convenient electronic spark to light the burners automatically, and
to ignite a gas pilot light in the oven only when the oven is used. Spark
ignition uses only 2 watts of AC power. Any inverter will do it, or plain
pilot light models are available. Or a match can light either one.

Premier offers 33 models including their line of stainless
steel front (24, 30 & 36 inch) units. Porcelain units in
white, almond, or black. Widths of 20, 24, 30, or 36 inches. The 30 and
36 inch cook-tops are 4, 5, or 6 burners, or built in griddle with cover.
Sealed burners on some models have one piece top. One model has battery
operated clock/timer. White or glass oven door with window & light.
Continuous cleaning oven optional. Top burners have a lifetime warranty.
Completely insulated oven saves gas.

20″ Gas Range with Gas Pilots, 4″ Porcelain Backguard, and Lifetime Guaranteed
Top Burners, easy conversion from Natural Gas to LP.

Home Page: Peerless
Best price: Alternative
Energy Store ($281.00)