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Peat briquettes remain a domestic fuel for many because they are economical, slow-burning, emit great heat and little smoke. They are widely used in Ireland and Scotland where peat is abundant, however many people suggest that peat briquettes are not environmentally friendly and their continued use should be closely monitored.
In many parts of Ireland and throughout the UK, peat briquettes are used to light and keep a fire in the home, as well as for barbecues and other outdoor fires. They are sold as solid fuel and, as the name suggests, are stacked on fire and layered like a brick wall to create a solid source of slow-burning heat. Producers dry the shredded peat and then compact it into a solid brick which burns slowly with a slight flame and in some cases with a pleasant smell when ignited.
This domestic fuel is often marketed as environmentally friendly and safer as it is usually low in ash and sulfur. Modern production methods mean that toxins are extracted, making brick emissions safe for the environment. It also means that they are carbon neutral fuel. They do not contribute to or reduce the amount of carbon that enters the atmosphere.
However, there is a strong opinion that suggests that not all of them are environmentally friendly. Some binders and additives used in the production of peat briquettes mean that they are not all carbon neutral. Some manufacturers claim that their range is completely carbon neutral, but this will not always be the case.
As the popularity of this domestic fuel continues to grow, peat bogs are declining, some say; faster pace than the Amazon rainforest. If this rate is maintained without aggressive replenishment, natural peatlands could disappear from parts of Ireland and Scotland in the next 25 years. Ecologists say that peatlands are home to important species of organisms as well as other plants, and that the destruction of this habitat has a big impact on native wildlife.
The sense of social responsibility of many producers and suppliers of peat briquettes is growing, and the awareness and application of environmentally friendly practices is becoming more and more common. It is headed by Bord na Mona, the largest producer of peat briquettes in Ireland, partly owned by the Irish Government. They invest in the production of mixed peat briquettes, in which 40% sawdust and 60% peat create a 100% natural product with a highly reduced carbon content.
So peat briquettes are not always 100% environmentally friendly, but if produced sustainably, they are a much more attractive and safe domestic fuel. As Bord na Mona is a leader with an environmentally friendly approach to production, the future of this domestic staple fuel looks brighter.
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Source by Damian Carvill