Corn-fed heat

Compared with other heating sources, such as wood, corn burns clear and relatively cleanly, industry officials said. Its exhaust, vented outside the home, often smells like roasted corn.

Burning corn, rather than oil or coal, is a more sustainable energy source because it's renewable, said Brad Garmon, land programs director for the Michigan Environmental Council.

By burning corn, consumers are taking advantage of a local source of energy, which helps reduce the pollution associated with energy transportation and production.