| When choosing the location of your fireplace or | | | | heating technique, you can dramatically reduce |
| wood stove (also called siting) it is important to | | | | your energy use without sacrificing your way of |
| take into account the layout of your house and | | | | life - which translates into big savings on your fuel |
| your lifestyle - if your house is an open plan type, | | | | bill at the end of the month without having to |
| then it will be easier to heat your home with a | | | | spend all of your time in a sweater or blanket. |
| wood stove or fireplace, simply by locating it in a | | | | There are other reasons to site your stove or |
| central area on the main floor of your home. | | | | fireplace in a central, high-traffic location, such as |
| However, if your home is compartmentalized, as | | | | aesthetics. If you are spending $2,000 or more on |
| is more traditional in North American buildings, you | | | | a fireplace or wood stove, you likely want visitors |
| will need to ask yourself more questions. You will | | | | to see it, to appreciate its warmth and beauty, |
| need to figure out where you actually spend the | | | | and you yourself will want to be around it to see |
| most time, because you'll want your wood stove | | | | the dancing flames and enjoy the warmth of the |
| or fireplace to be the centerpiece of a room. | | | | wood stove, gas stove, wood burning fireplace or |
| Since wood burning stoves and fireplaces are | | | | gas fireplace. Wherever you decide to place your |
| rarely sufficient to heat the whole house, you will | | | | new gas or wood burning stove or fireplace, be |
| want to site them such that you can take | | | | sure to face it towards the area of the room |
| advantage of their heat as much as possible. This | | | | where you are most likely to be sitting or |
| allows you to take advantage of a technique | | | | standing, as this allows you to take advantage of |
| called zone heating. If you are cozy and warm in | | | | the radiant heat from the fireplace or wood or |
| a room with a fire-source, you can heat only that | | | | gas stove as well as the convective heat |
| room, allowing the rest of the house to remain at | | | | (warmed air) blown around by fans or blowers. |
| a much lower temperature. By using the zone | | | | |