Advantages

• One pallet of BioBricks(TM) delivers the same heat as a full cord of wood*
• No bugs, easier storage, less mess, makes use of leftover wood that used to be treated as waste
• BioBricks are ideally sized for wood stoves. Packing density is optimized. You can fill every corner of the stove with high density fuel and extend your burn times greatly.
• BioBricks produce 1/2 the particulates (smoke) compared with good cordwood:
• Replacing normal firewood with [densified wood] firelogs can be an effective means of reducing pollutant emissions from existing fireplaces...
• One pallet of BioBricks equals one cord of regular cord wood and takes up half the space
• BioBricks are clean of bugs (dead & alive!) bark, debris and dirt
• 100% wood with very little ash (typically below 1%) and low moisture content -> less than half the moisture content of cordwood -> much more heat makes it into your house instead of converting water into steam which is lost up the chimney.
• Twice the density of cordwood – about the same energy density as coal - extending burn-times by more than 2.5x .
• Consistent size means more complete combustion
• No sparks, pops and very low smoke
• 20 Brick packs (approximately 40 lb) at an economical price - cheaper than oil and much less mess and hassle than cordwood

Pressed wood firelogs offer the potential to lower woodstove and fireplace emissions."
Houston, James T., 1999, Louisiana State University Master's Thesis, The Development of a Firelog With Improved Air Emissions

Results show an average reduction of 52% in [Particulate Matter] grams per hour emissions overall...[Carbon Monoxide] emissions were more modestly reduced by 27%, and [Volatile Organic Compounds] were reduced 39%." "...even the worst performing firelog had only 29% of the worst wood fuel emissions and 74% of the cleanest wood fuel."
Barnett, Bighouse, 1992, OMNI Environmental Services, Inc., In-Home Demonstration of the Reduction of Woodstove Emissions from the Use of Densified Logs

"The overall average PM [particulate emissions] for all 9 stoves using cordwood were 24 g/hr. Using [densified logs] the emissions averaged 12 g/hr for an average reduction of 52%"
Hayden, Braaten, 1991, ERL/CANMET, Ottawa Ontario, Reduction of Fireplace and Woodstove Emissions Through the Use of Manufactured Firelogs

Less polluting - burning Biomass recycles carbon in the atmosphere. Oil, gas and coal pull it from the ground (where it has been for millions of years) and put it in the air - an average house creates 5 tons of new carbon per year burning fuel oil.

* Testing conducted in modern stoves with typical New England cordwood.

Here's my input on this product.

I've used this product myself and find all the claims about the clean burning consistency and quality to be true.

These products along with the True fuel Fire Logs are a clean and safe alternative to the messy dirty cord wood we're all used to and can be a real benefit to urban and suburban people who like the heat and cozy feeling they get from heating with wood but have concerns about air pollution. Not only that, the consistent nature of the product means you won't get into an argument with the fire wood guy about just how much is a cord and whether there's Poplar and Grey Birch hidden in the pile or not. These products are the same every time you order them.

Some differences between this product and the True Fuel Fire Logs are as follows:

The packaging on this product isn't as air tight and water proof as the True Fuel product so, if you order pallets or have to store the product outside then you'll have to buy a tarp and uncover it and make sure you cover it well every time you want to pull some off of the pile so it won't get wet. The plastic pallet cover it comes with when you buy full pallets is pretty good so if you take care of it and replace it every time it may be enough to keep the product dry until gone.

The Biobricks, despite the manufacturers claim of needing only on piece of newspaper to start them, are harder to start than the True Fuel Logs. Both products require you to kindle a fire under them to start them just like any fire wood but the I found that the Biobricks start more slowly and have the occasional false start and may need more of a fire to get them going. Once they get lit, they burn pretty much the same as the True Fuel logs do with one exception. Because they don't have the hole down the middle they expand when they get hot so you have to make sure there's space around them before you light them up. If you pack them tight in the stove they could expand and crack the stove. Leave a little space around them when you burn them.

The Fatwood Fire Sticks we offer pretty much guarantee a good start under any conditions. If you buy a pallet of either product you get 4 lbs of them for free.

The Biobricks burn best when you follow the stacking instructions provided here.

True Fuel fire logs are easier to light and don't require any specific arrangement in the stove to get the maximum performance from them.

Both do best in good quality, air tight wood stoves to give you the maximum heat and efficiency possible. You can burn them in and older inefficient stove if you want to but, you'll burn a lot more of the product than you might want to and possibly negate the pollution benefits the product is designed to provide.

They burn okay in fire pits, barbecue grills and fireplaces too of you just like to have a flame for aesthetic purposes.