EcoLiving Ideas

By Robin Baron on Feb 1, 2011

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Oh…to cozy up to a warm fireplace in these cold (and snowy!) months. It’s almost everyone’s fantasy…I know it’s mine! Unfortunately, many of us don’t have wood burning, or even gas, fireplaces to cuddle up to. Even having the ability to easily install one seems to be a fantasy for most of us. The good news is that there are now many great looking options. These units are ventless, affordable, eco-conscious and so easy to install that any of us can use them…yes…even us city folk!

Fireplaces naturally save energy by allowing the thermostat to be lowered, but did you know that traditional wood burning fireplaces allow 85 percent of the heat to escape through the chimney? Not to mention the smoke, ash and soot that float into your home. The new flexible fireplace units run at 80 percent efficiency and, when installed to high quality specifications like many companies advise for their products, can add more points to your LEED Certified home. Many of these flexible fireplaces use bio ethanol, a renewable liquid fuel which is produced from agricultural by-products. It burns clean with no smoke and no harmful emissions. Others, like the ones from Spark Modern Fire, use natural/LP propane, another clean burning fuel. With so many companies and looks to choose from, you can have just the design you want; from creating a traditional fireplace look, to a sleek, stainless steel version, or even a free standing portable unit…claim your style and make it your own!

Ventless gas fireplace units give you the freedom to be creative and place them wherever suites you and your room best. This flexibility is perfect for small apartments whose layout may not be conducive to a hearth based fire, or perhaps to those who prefer a modern aesthetic. A great example of a streamlined look is the Fire Ribbon from Spark Modern Fire, or the Serafin by Pure Flame that is mounted on the wall, doubling as art. They can also work as the perfect room divider like Vision by Eco Smart Fire which is sleek and open, while still providing a relationship between spaces. For a sculptural feel you may want to select Zeta by Eco Smart Fire, influenced by the open Greek flame. This fireplace unit will not only provide style, but gives you the flexibility to adjust the heat’s direction on its swivel base.

My go-to source for homes in Manhattan is New York Hearth Cabinet. They are the only ventless fireplaces approved by the New York City Fire Department and the New York City Department of Buildings. I’m currently using one in a client’s Manhattan apartment where I designed the space to have a country feel. To integrate the ventless fireplace while still maintaining a traditional look, I am surrounding the unit with stone from floor to ceiling…an unexpected look for the city.

Limited only by your imagination and not by your geography, these ventless units create endless possibilities! Warm up the organic hot chocolate, grab your cozy blanket and enjoy the winter season!