Bulletin Green Tip #4: Reduce fireplace use to reduce pollution

This time of year, a fire in the fireplace is tradition. Since the dawn of mankind, we have been using fireplaces to warm ourselves and to cook meals. Back when the earth's population was smaller, using fire for heat everyday was great and innovative for many centuries.

Unfortunately, our population has grown exponentially, and burning fires contributes to air pollution. Try to use your fireplace as seldom as possible, and especially on spare-the-air days opt to use a heater or pile on the blankets (considering it is illegal to burn fires on spare-the-air days!) Some are upset that Christmas was a spare-the-air day this year, but it wasn't just some Scrooge regulators trying to ruin holiday traditions--the air quality that day was terrible, and to allow burning would have put everyone's health--especially those with conditions like asthma--at risk.

Also, a study found that using a fireplace to warm your house is really inefficient. According to this article on Yahoo! Green, "Another estimate found that for every $100 you spend on firewood, you get only $10 to $20 worth of heat. The traditional fireplace only warms your heart, not the room."

From the same site:
"If you upgrade to a woodstove, make sure to follow the EPA's advice:

• Burn only dry, well-seasoned wood.
• Never burn household garbage or cardboard.
• Keep the doors of the wood-burning appliance closed.
• Install and maintain a smoke alarm.
• Install and maintain a carbon monoxide detector."

If you want that fireplace feel, there are electric fake fireplaces that you can purchase that don't emit the same type or quantity of pollution. Or put tall candles in the fireplace on a nice stand for a more subdued decorative fire.

A realistic-looking electric fireplace.
On a related note, if you don't use your fireplace, then plug and seal the chimney flue so that heat won't escape from your home.

Happy Winter!