| The never ending rise in heating costs has | | | | their dry weight is this absorbed carbon. As old |
| brought about interest in alternative methods for | | | | trees die and decay, or are consumed in a forest |
| heating. There are many modern methods to | | | | fire, their carbon is again released to their as |
| extract energy from nature, but many new | | | | carbon dioxide. This nature's carbon cycle. |
| technologies such as solar (photovoltaic) panels | | | | Wood heat is also renewable heat. When firewood |
| are far from affordable for the average person. | | | | is used as an energy source, part of the natural |
| Today's high efficiency fireplaces are very | | | | carbon cycle is brought into your home to heat it. |
| efficient, producing very little emissions. The | | | | A fire in a high efficiency fireplace releases the |
| upfront cost to the homeowner is affordable, and | | | | solar energy stored by the tree as it grew. If the |
| the benefit received is well worth the investment. | | | | entire fuel cycle is considered, a clean burning |
| Similar to woodstoves, wood burning fireplaces | | | | fireplace will heat your home more efficiently and |
| can provide enough heat on a single load of wood | | | | with lower environmental impact than any other |
| to heat entire homes for the night. Many | | | | fuel option. The other fuel options oil, gas and coal |
| fireplaces are capable of 6-10 hour burn times, | | | | are fossil fuels and when they are burned, old |
| allowing the homeowner to add wood in the | | | | carbon that was buried deep within the earth is |
| morning to a fireplace that is still hot. | | | | released to the atmosphere. The rising |
| The beautiful thing about installing a high efficiency | | | | concentration of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel |
| fireplace is that not only will heat your home, but | | | | use is linked to global warming, climate change and |
| it can be built into the wall for a beautiful finished | | | | the unusual weather we have seen in recent |
| look. Some new fireplace companies have even | | | | years. |
| given the option to cover the metallic grills that | | | | High efficiency fireplaces do not contribute to |
| traditionally appear above and below the average | | | | global warming because no more carbon dioxide is |
| built-in fireplace. Watching a real wood fire in your | | | | released than the natural forest would release if |
| living room has never been more popular. | | | | left untouched. Using wood for heat means less |
| The carbon cycle is at the heart of why wood | | | | fossil fuels burned, less greenhouse gas emissions, |
| burning is so popular and practical. Using energy | | | | and a healthier environment. |
| from the sun, nature's carbon cycle goes around, | | | | Ultimately, a high efficiency wood burning fireplace |
| from the atmosphere to the forest and back. | | | | is not only an excellent investment for your |
| Here is how it works; trees absorb carbon dioxide | | | | home, but for the environment as well. |
| from the air as they grow. In fact, about half | | | | |