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September 22nd marked the autumnal equinox - the official
first day of autumn. The morning was marked with a heavy blanket of fog
over the city streets and a crisp thin veil of ice on the windows.
Fall is officially here, and not a moment too soon after an incredibly scorching summer. Shifting
gears, any eco-savvy person knows that a whole new set of rules come
into play once the season begins its cold long descent into winter.
While normally aware of Mother Nature inspired do's and don'ts, I have to admit my guilty winter
pleasure has to be the fireplace. Fireplaces are a terrible
eco-gremlin, not only using burning natural resources, but release smoke
and fumes into your home and atmosphere. Fortunately, there are a few
things we can do to make sure our fireplace use is as green as possible.
Understanding Your Fireplace
Many people think that there are ways to use a conventional fireplace so that
it's as eco-friendly as possible. Some of these so-called "green"
choice include using woods such as birch, hickory, sugar maple, and red
oak to produce more heat and less smoke.
But the truth is, switching out one type of wood for another is still use of a
natural resource that otherwise could have been spared. The act of
switching out one type of wood for another does nothing to reduce
deforestation.
The use of a conventional fireplace still leads to harmful smoke, fumes and
other indoor air pollutants - definitely something to consider if you
have pets or children. Traditional open fireplaces burn very
inefficiently and produce hundreds of chemical compounds, including
carbon monoxide, organic gases, particulates, and some of the same
cancer-causing agents found in tobacco smoke.
Minor spillage of these pollutants occurs regularly, primarily when starting
or stoking the fire. However, the larger concern is when the fire
smolders late at night, producing high levels of CO and a weak draft
that is dangerous and sometimes even fatal.
The Smart Fireplace
Whether or not you have a fireplace, you can still create the same effect with faux fireplace that
doubles as an energy-efficient heater. A fireplace heater lets you fill
your home with a mesmerizing, soft glow without the hassle of burning
ash and buying wood.
Conventional fireplace are often limited to a large home that can accommodate the
space and chimney necessary to install a traditional fireplace. With an
electric fireplace heater, it's possible to have a fireplace no
matter what size or type of home you're in.
Electric fireplace heaters are perfect if you live in a small home or apartment and prefer the
stylish addition of a fireplace. Fireplace
heaters make it possible for these types of spaces to still enjoy the
warm glow of a fireplace.
The look of an electric fireplace heater is surprisingly realistic since it includes
light bulbs to simulate the gentle smoldering of a fire down to the
glowing embers. With portable
fireplace heaters, you can get the coveted architectural element of
a fireplace, without the cost - plus its portability allows you to move
it whenever you decide to rearrange your decor.
Electric Fireplace Heaters >>
Heater Guide Main Page >>
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