Using Ventless Fireplaces To Keep Your House Warm

Any Western grown-up who's lived in a snowy area will know the feeling of sitting with the family around a big, warm fireplace

. We remember not just the relief from the cold provided, but the smell of the wood burning, and the sounds of the crackling and pops. But nowadays, with a great increase in environmental awareness, the idea of burning trees, one of nature's most important resources, simply to keep ourselves warm seems outdated and environmentally unsound.

There's never been a time previously in history when man has exploited nature to the extent being done now. And trees are at the forefront of nature's gifts that are being used. Despite the increased used of email in our lives, the production of paper is still at extremely high levels in everything from junk food wrappers to junk mail. With all of this going on, it can seem like needless extravagance to have a fireplace using this resource as well.

But at the same time, would we want to deny our children the happy memories we had of getting warmth from a fire? Air conditioners don't provide the same kind of ambience in a room, and aren't great for the environment in themselves. Fortunately, there are other kinds of fuels we can use in a fireplace that don't require the burning of logs. We can use artificial logs along with alternative fuels, and also recreate the smell we remember from artificial sources.

Ventless fireplaces have been around for a while and are gradually increasing popularity. "Ventless" means, essentially, these fireplaces don't require chimneys. It's possible for these fireplaces to burn propane gas, natural gas or gel fuel. These fireplaces are equipped with logs that look realistic, and generally don't cost a lot to operate and maintain. A freestanding ventless fireplace will generally cost somewhere beginning at five hundred dollars. If you want to upgrade your vented fireplace with a propane or gas insert, it's possible. This installation usually won't be too expensive, but must be done by a trained professional.

These gases still have their negative environmental impacts, however. So if you're extremely environmentally conscious, you can take the next step and purchase a fireplace that burns biofuels. These can either be bought new, or a fitting can be made into your existing fireplace. The great thing about biofuels is that there is no smoke produced, so you can have them around people with allergies without triggering any symptoms. They can even be bought in models that can be mounted on a wall.

Biofuels are produced not from trees, but agricultural crops. They are forty percent more efficient than gas, with a liter of biofuel lasting up to five hours. The biofuels give off steam and release a small amount of carbon dioxide, but not enough to have a significant effect on the creation of greenhouse gases. While these benefits are great, there is an increased cost compared to other gases, and the fireplace itself is more expensive. You can order twelve months of biofuel gas, twelve litres a month, for a little over one hundred dollars per month.

by: Wes Fernley

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