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For most of history, the multifunctional fire was the only source of energy in the household. It served as a cookstove, toaster, heating device, lighting source, hot water boiler, clothes dryer, and refrigerator, among other functions. During the twentieth century, the fire was replaced by a wide range of appliances plugged into central infrastructures.
In this series of articles, LOW←TECH MAGAZINE critically examines the efficiency, sustainability, health, and safety of the fire and its flame- and smoke-free modern alternatives. What are we saying when we argue that electrical appliances are “better” than a traditional fire?
Contents table
- Too Much Combustion, Too Little Fire
- Thermo-electric Stoves: Ditch the Solar Panels?
- How to Make Biomass Energy Sustainable Again
- Well-Tended Fires Outperform Modern Cooking Stoves
- If We Insulate Our Houses, Why Not Our Cooking Pots?
- Wood Gas Vehicles: Firewood in the Fuel Tank
- Medieval Smokestacks: Fossil Fuels in Pre-industrial Times
Available in our bookshop
Patrons get free access to ebooks, as well as early access to new print books at a reduced price.
Other books in the series
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How to build a low-tech internet?, Kris De Decker, Roel Roscam Abbing, Marie Otsuka, 2023. Ebook edition.
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How to downsize a transport network?, Kris De Decker, 2023. Ebook edition.
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Heating people not spaces, Kris De Decker, 2024. Ebook edition
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How circular is the circular economy?, Kris De Decker, 2025. Ebook edition
The Low-tech Magazine archives are also available as a chronological series consisting of four volumes.