Is burning styrofoam for heat a great alternative to expensive things like oil and electricity?

Answer 1

You're joking, I think. Burning styrofoam give off a slew of toxic gases. Not a good idea

Answer 2

Well...It is an alternative, but I wouldn't call it a great one. It gives off a nasty black smoke which contains respiratory irritants. So you probably don't want to use it in your fireplace. And it returns CO2 to the atmosphere, so it contributes to global warming in the same way as oil or coal-based electricity generation. But you could use it as a fuel in an incinerator that has proper scrubbing technology to clean out waste products that are unhealthy. This is done in many places that have a garbage incinerator rather than only a landfill...it saves on landfill space and generates electricity at the same time.

"Upon burning the product generates dense black smoke with small amounts of hydrogen bromide, -chloride, and -fluoride. Studies have shown that the products of combustion of this foam are not more acutely toxic than the products of combustion of common building materials such as wood."

Answer 3

And, it's not very efficient. Styrofoam is made from oil. It takes energy to do this. It's much more efficient to burn the oil directly.

Answer 4

Styrofoam sure is hot but its an even worse pollutant than oil.

Not to mention itx noxious, toxic fumes.

Answer 5

instead of boiling water with nuclear energy the city dump could boil water and alot less toxic than your Humvee in L.A.

Answer 6

You aren't funny. Burning that is one of the worste things you can do.