BERLIN, Conn. -- A Connecticut man's creation may help some people save money in home-heating costs this winter.

Tom Engel created BioBricks as an alternative to fuel oil.

"I decided I wanted to do something meaningful with my career and attack global warming," Engel said.

The bricks are made from 100 percent wood and cost less than buying oil fuel. Engel said the bricks do not emit harmful greenhouse gas.

Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Katy Zachry reported the bricks are mass-produced in a Berlin warehouse, where they assemble the bricks out of hardwood sawdust from local mills.

Engel said they're heating homes all over the Northeast and the bricks have even replaced regular firewood.

"It's the most consistent product on the weekend, it just goes out the door," he said.

John Tarquinio's stove store in Hebron was the first in the country to carry BioBricks. He said customers prefer them to cordwood because the bricks give off less smoke and produce less ash.

"The potential for creosote is reduced dramatically," Tarquinio said.

As a result, the bricks have less of a chance to cause a chimney fire.

BioBricks cost slightly more than cordwood, but the buyers Eyewitness News spoke with said they believe it's worth the difference.

For more information about BioBricks, you can visit the company's Web site.

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