By Dave Nemeth
There are a lot of things to consider when buying a fireplace, with a strong focus on both the environment and energy efficiency.
There is nothing more appealing than the ambience created by a good old open wood-burning fire; these, however, have to be built in, and require a chimney. They also take a lot of effort: there has to be a constant, good supply of wood, and then there’s the cleaning. They can also be somewhat of a hazard with small children.
For a more contemporary approach, the answer may be a combustion fireplace. Every fireplace requires air to burn, but closed combustion fireplaces have a distinct advantage: you control the amount of air that enters the firebox, which means that you determine both the heat output and the consumption of wood. So you decide when to turn up the heat, or tone it down if the room is sufficiently warm.
Another popular choice at the moment is the gas fireplace, which offers you a safe and affordable way of heating your living spaces without having to use wood. Energy-efficient and easy to use, built-in and freestanding gas fireplaces are an excellent alternative to electric heating methods. The downside is that there is an initial odour emitted, and the portable version tends to be quite cumbersome.
The latest trend in fireplaces, and certainly one of the most attractive, uses biofuels. In South African variants, these fireplaces burn ethanol, which creates a clean-burning flame that is both smokeless and odourless. These, however, are not as effective at warming large spaces as the other options; larger biofuel fireplaces can warm a room of about 30m². In many new homes; these beautifully designed fireplaces are used in conjunction with underfloor heating, and as an attractive accessory and creative element too.
There is a vast variety of options on the market, so make sure that you get one that suits your space and your pocket. But most importantly, make sure you stay warm this winter.
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