Eco-friendly Tips on How to Green Your Fireplace

With winter coming around the corner, many of us are planning for the cold weather. And while bundling up and sipping hot chocolate are great ways to stay warm, many of us are resorting to fireplaces in our homes to keep things toasty and cozy. What numerous people don't know is that fireplaces can be extremely problematic to the environment. Just think about it. Fireplaces cause unnecessary combustion that can put carbon into the atmosphere. Although the greenest option is to never use your fireplace, I'm sure almost all of us are unwilling to do that, especially since having a fireplace in our homes is considered somewhat of a luxury. So instead of giving up that toasty and cozy feeling, you can simply make greener choices when it comes to utilizing your fireplace. Here are some great green tips you can use the next time you use your fireplace.

Gas vs. Wood

The greenest option for a fireplace is ultimately having one that burns natural gas instead of wood. Natural gas is substantially more clean-burning than a wood fireplace and it's also a cheaper option too since you don't have to constantly buy firewood. Another good thing about gas-burning fireplaces is that they have energy efficiency ratings that make buying one easier. A good tip is that the higher the energy efficiency rating, the more energy efficient it is. And while a more efficient fireplace may be more expensive at first, you'll end up saving money in the long run on your gas bill (not to mention you'll be making the environment a little happier too!).

Choose Firewood Wisely

If buying a gas fireplace isn't an option, the next best thing is wisely choosing the type of wood you burn. It may seem easy and cheap to just burn anything that's available. However, if you burn wood randomly, you are probably doing more harm than good. While some wood is cheap, it can burn extremely quickly and not produce a lot of heat. Your best option is to burn hardwoods that are dried out. Also, remember to buy local. Buying local is beneficial for a variety of different reasons, including price, supporting local businesses, and preventing invasive species outbreaks. Luckily, if you live a rural area it may be easier to buy the best firewood. But if you live in a more suburban or urban area, remember to shop around.

Don't Use Constantly

It may be tempting to constantly use your fireplace all winter. But the fact is that it's best to only use your fireplace every once in a while, like for special occasions such as Christmas or especially chilly nights. Whether you're using a wood or gas-burning fireplace, you're still producing emissions. The best way to cut back on these emissions is to use your fireplace less frequently.

Insulation

Fireplaces can produce a good amount of heat, but if your living room walls aren't insulated properly or efficiently, you may be losing that heat just as fast as it's being created. In order to prevent or fix this problem, make sure the walls of your living room, or the room your fireplace is in, is insulted with a green and efficient insulation. This will make things much warmer when you use your fireplace and you'll also be saving a good amount of money too!