You could huff and puff, but it'll take a lot more to blow this straw bale house down.

David Gray is not your typical environmentalist, "I've worked in the oil industry for 15 years. You get to see a lot of things that are totally opposite to my thoughts which get greener the more I go and see overseas, environmental degradation is a big issue in many countries."

When it came time to build a new house, David decided to try something different, "straw bale always interested me, we spent ten years in Western Australia where that type of technology is taking off. Moving back to Queensland, we looked for a good property to promote environmentally friendly issues; tree plantations and a straw bale house of course."

Article & Picture © John Stokes

The EcoSmart® Fire is an Australian innovation - an environmentally friendly open fireplace. Flue less and easily transportable, the EcoSmart® Fire does not require any installation or utility connection for fuel supply, which makes it ideal for apartment and city living. Fuelled by a renewable energy (Denatured Ethanol), it burns clean and is virtually maintenance free.

The fuel is housed in a stainless steel chamber called the EcoSmart® Burner. The built-in regulatory mechanism allows you to regulate and extinguish the flame which means you can manipulate the amount of heat being generated and the quantity of fuel used. The life of the fire is determined by the amount of fuel in the burner. Once the fuel is burnt there is nothing to clean or clear.

Article & Picture © EcoSmart Fire

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