Don't want to freeze your buns off this winter but want to save money? You may want to look into buying a high efficiency wood stove, fireplace or fireplace insert.In fact, U.S. homeowners can get a 30 percent tax credit of up to $1,500 for purchasing a qualifying heating systems, which also includes pellet stoves and inserts, before Dec. 31, 2010.
Many people have discovered the benefits to heating all or part of their home with wood, particularly if they have access to free or inexpensive cord wood. "Financial benefits are derived for years to come with significantly reduced heating costs," says Karen Smeltz, brand manager for Hearth & Home Technologies, maker of Quadra-Fire and Harman stoves. "Burning wood in a high efficiency stove also has environmental benefits. In addition to producing low air particulate matter, it is considered carbon neutral since the same amount of carbon is released into the air when burnt as during the growing and decomposition process in the forest."
However, old-school fireplaces can be one of the more inefficient heating systems around. According to the EPA, a lot of the warm air is lost in the chimney with only 10 to 20 percent actually coming from traditional wood logs.
An eco-friendly alternative? Try artificial products like java logs made from coffee grounds, vegetable paraffin and petroleum-based binders. Also, make sure the fireplace is updated with the latest heat-retaining features including blowers, intake tubes, radiant grates and inserts.
Most important, close the flue damper when the fireplace isn't in use. This will save you an estimated $190 a year, and 1650 pounds of CO2.
