We transitioned to an induction forge for more than 50% of our production. Induction uses electro-magnetism. An alternating electric current can create a magnetic field which produces heat in steel and iron which equals a very hot piece of metal ready to work under a blacksmith’s hammer.

Metal is normally heated in a propane forge, which looks like a miniature cave with a narrow mouth, and removed when hot to be worked on the anvil (the iconic hunk of metal that the blacksmith places hot metal on to hammer it into different shapes). Meanwhile, the propane forge is burning, consuming fuel. The induction forge, on the other hand, is only drawing electricity when there is steel being heated, otherwise it is in a standby mode.

Erik the blacksmith shapes copper tubes that allow various sizes of steel to go inside, or right up against. Copper heats quickly with the power of induction. It’s amazing to watch a cold piece of metal go from cold to white hot within 45 seconds. A propane forge takes several minutes to heat the same piece of steel.
The induction forge for us is also the perfect method because our electricity is produced with hydro-electric dams. Still, producing electricity isn’t perfect. The dams are on the Columbia river, which has seen a massive decline in wild salmon populations since the development of over 60 dams along the watershed of the Columbia river. Dams cause numerous problems to fish, including being a physical barrier for migrating fish to get through, heating the water to unsafe temperatures, chopping up fish in massive turbines…the list goes on.
The best answer is to use less, buy less, do less as a society and as individuals.