Ending firewood burning: alternative solutions to consider

Calory Bricks: The Eco-Friendly Firewood Solution

Firewood still represents the only available source for cooking and heating for many people.
However, wood is one of the most polluting fuels and should be replaced with greener alternatives.
In Chile, the issue of pollution is particularly serious, with 8 out of the 10 most polluted cities in South America being Chilean.
The heavy use of firewood is undeniably responsible for the increase in pollution, accounting for 87% of PM2.5 emissions at a national level.

To address this problem, two Chilean students studying Industrial Civil Engineering came up with an innovative solution.
After participating in the Green Tournament IncubaUdeC initiative, where over 100 students gathered to search for sustainable solutions to business problems, the students focused on finding a way to utilize forest waste effectively.

They conceptualized Calory Bricks, which are eco-friendly bricks made from forest waste to replace traditional firewood.
These bricks have proven to be significantly less polluting, reducing particulate emissions by 99.4% compared to regular firewood.
Additionally, they offer superior efficiency and cost advantages, with a calorific power 18.5% higher and a 30% longer burning time.

From an economic standpoint, Calory Bricks are competitively priced compared to firewood and can be conveniently sold in supermarkets.
The initial idea was to produce pellets from the forest waste, but the focus shifted to a solution that could seamlessly replace traditional firewood without requiring major infrastructural changes in Chilean households still using old wood stoves.

The development of Calory Bricks involved meticulous analysis and several steps, including problem identification, product conceptualization, validation, laboratory testing, and certification.
While the concept is solid, its full-scale implementation requires support.

Thus, the students formed a joint venture with companies in the forestry sector and are actively raising capital.
The firewood market in Chile is substantial, with an annual value of 115 billion pesos and nearly 2 million households using approximately 18 m³ of firewood per day.
The students even traveled to Boston to showcase their eco-friendly firewood to potential investors, who showed great interest.

For a further glance into heating solutions, read also: Pellet Stove vs Wood Burning Stove: Which One Is More Convenient?