September 22, 2009, marks
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, most of us will admit that our 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.
Conventional Fireplaces
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.
Electric Fireplaces
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.
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