I recently had the privilege of attending the 2010 Southwest Build-it-Green Expo and Conference in Phoenix, AZ. The expo itself showcased a collection of hundreds of Southwest-based green-centric businesses, and so many were creating innovative products that it made my head spin. Sorting through the green interior design booths, I couldn’t help but be attracted to one in particular, Look at My Fire, a Scottsdale, AZ-based eco-fireplace company making some seriously creative, über modern fireplaces. Yes, they are top-of-the-line, ultra-swanky flames, but they’re incredibly eco-friendly to boot. Look at My Fire offers an “alternative to toxic wood, propane or natural gas fires that is truly a revolutionary product you can burn in your home or business, inside or outside, all day long without the hassles of smoke, soot, ash or flying embers.” The fireplaces use bio-ethanol fuel made from corn and other plant sources, meaning the burn is substantially cleaner than a traditional wood ember. Just as importantly, the fuel is a renewable resource, saving precious trees and clean air. Does it seem too good to be true? Here are some benefits:

• while burning, no smoke or unpleasant smell is produced
• burning byproducts: water vapor, CO₂ (as in the air exhaled by people)
• complete burning without any residue, soot, ashes or harmful substances
• no need for additional ventilation

Even still, the fireplaces themselves are made from durable, long-lasting materials like sustainable hardwoods, steel and stone. In addition, the National Institute of Hygiene has approved the bio-ethanol, dubbed Fanola, as safe for human use. Fire away!