Energy efficiency is becoming an essential part of the way we think about heating our homes, and fireplaces are no exception. With rising fuel costs, and the damage that carbon emissions can cause to the environment, it is clearly in everyone’s interest to use appliances and heating systems that waste as little energy as possible. As with all appliances and systems, when it comes to understanding the energy efficiency of fireplaces there are two things that should be considered: how efficient is the fireplace in terms of its use of energy, and how much does it cost to run. A fireplace with a high energy efficiency will prove inefficient in the long run if its fuel is very expensive. The ideal scenario is a fireplace with a high energy efficiency and low cost of fuel. So what options are available to us?
What kind of fireplaces are energy efficient?
As a general rule, glass fronted fireplaces and stoves are more energy efficient than open flame fires. This is for the obvious reason that less heat can escape through the chimney and into the room when the fire is not being used. If you do have a open fire, make sure to keep the damper closed when it is not in use, or buy a chimney balloon, to prevent the warm air escaping upwards.
Which fuel is the most energy efficient?
Electric fireplaces tend to have the highest energy efficiency, usually upwards of 90%. However, electricity is far more expensive to run; it costs approximately 15 pence per kw of heat energy. Gas is considered the cheapest fuel, and costs around 5 pence per kw. Glass fronted modern gas fires, such as the Gazco 2 670 5.1 kw Cassette, have an efficiency rating of 75%. All of the gas fires available at Manor House have a B rating, which means its energy efficiency is between 70 and 89%. The same is true of the multi-fuel stoves and wood burning stoves at Manor House Fireplaces.
Carbon neutral fireplaces
It can be difficult to calculate exactly how much it costs to run a wood-burning stove. This is because it depends where you can get the wood from, and the type of wood you use. However, a general rule of thumb is that a wood-burning stove costs around 10 pence per kw, placing this type of fuel as halfway between gas and electricity in terms of cost. One of the great benefits of using a wood-burning stove is that it is considered a carbon neutral method of providing your home with heating. This means that the carbon dioxide produced by the fire is offset by the oxygen produced by the tree as it was growing – making it an energy efficient fireplace in terms of both cost and impact on the environment.
Article provided by gratefireplace.co.uk
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Image Courtesy of gratefireplace.co.uk
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