Light a Fire This Winter: Need to Know Info About Gas, Electric, and Wood Burning Stoves

The snow is falling now, it's cold outside, and while your electric suppliers are preparing for you to turn up the heat, few things are quite as cozy as cuddling up next to a fireplace. A good fire draws the mind back in time and is so delightful to be around when the weather outside is frightful. These days, we have a few options when it comes to adding the warmth and ambiance of fire to our homes.
Over 150 years ago, wood had fueled almost 90% of the country's needed energy. Now we have fireplaces that provide heat from a few different energies: wood, gas, and electricity. If you're keen on conserving energy this winter, let's take a peek at the different styles of keeping that living room toasty.

Wood
There's something comforting about the traditional nature of a wood burning stove. They've been effectively heating homes for thousands of years at this point and continue to today. A constant source of energy, they cannot be foiled by limitations in gas supply or power outages.
While the wood-fueled fireplace may be the most attractive option, you may not reduce energy costs without thoughtful care. Chimneys are culprits of heat escape during the winter and fireplaces often centralize heat instead of being able to circulate it through your home. There is also annual safety inspection that must be considered. A wood fireplace can be a liability if not adequately cared for.


Gas
The bill from your electric suppliers will likely be the lowest with this option. Gas is convenient and you'll save on energy costs by having the ability to redirect the heat from your gas stove to the rest of the house. If you're looking for ways to save energy in your home, gas fireplaces are a great choice. They work during power outages and there's little cleaning or maintenance to be done, other than inspection once a year.
As with wood-burning fireplaces, installation can be pricey. It can be even more pricey if your gas supplier has to install an additional gas line to connect to your fireplace. Even the price of natural gas, depending on how much the fireplace is used, can be cause for concern.


Electric
As far as immediate installation goes, electric fireplaces are the easiest to install and use, and they're also inexpensive. They don't require the space that wood-burning or gas fireplaces need and some are even portable, able to be plugged into power outlets. They're incredibly convenient.
They can be the least appealing as far as visual aesthetic. Most electric fireplaces look like you're watching a fire burn on television. They eat up electricity and don't heat beyond the room they're situated. If there's a power outage, electric fireplaces are completely useless.


At the end of the day, it's all about the space you have, the look you want, and what you're trying to save on. Each option has advantages and disadvantages, but while your electric suppliers are gearing up for you to run the furnace, remember an old fashioned heating option that'll warm you, hearth, home, and heart.

Don't Let Your Energy Bill Sap all of YOUR Energy! Simple Solutions to Save Some Cash

What are the top three expenses in your home? If one of them is electricity, then you may be paying too much! The deregulation of electricity markets has caused prices for electricity and energy usage to rise in the last several years, which can lead to unnecessary spending on your part. The average energy bill per household is still approximately $107, which is a bit steep. So if you're looking for ways to save on your next energy bill, here are a few easy and convenient ways to keep that hard earned cash in your pocket.

Turn off the lights!

That's right, doing something as simple as turning off the lights when you're not in a room can save you money! Power companies may generate the electricity you use, but in the end, you're the one paying for it. If you don't need a light on in the house, then leave the light off! Using the sun coming into your house during the day also provides a more natural lighting and allows you to soak up a little bit of the vitamin D!

Keep the heat down!

If you get cold easily, make sure to throw on an extra pair of socks, because keeping your thermostat at a consistently low temperature can save you some cash! In fact, you can save an estimated 10% on your bills by using a programmable thermostat in your home. Don't let energy companies get the best of you! Besides, wouldn't you rather invest in some quality sweaters than another $50 on your heating bill?

Do you really need to blast the AC?

One of the largest uses of electricity is your AC unit. Annually, AC accounts for approximately 19% of residential electricity use, and that's just in the United States! Keeping your thermostat a little bit higher can save you a lot of money! In addition, by turning your AC off for a little while, you can let those cool summer breezes drift through your home. Fresh air never hurt anyone, especially not those energy suppliers.

The deregulation of electricity markets has provided opportunities for you to look into alternative electricity companies. But whatever provider you choose, you should always choose to save your money!

UK Launches First Certified Supply Initiative for Renewable Energy Companies

Buying alternative electricity for your business just got more transparent in the United Kingdom. A lot of companies like to talk the talk when it comes to finding renewable energy companies to do business with, but in the U.K. they will now have the opportunity to really put their money where their mouths are. SmartestEnergy, the country's biggest purchaser of renewable electricity from the independent generation sector, is starting an initiative to make this possible in conjunction with their new Tariff Emission Factor Model, according to the environmental news source ClickGreen.org.uk. 

"A growing number of large businesses are looking to reduce their carbon footprint by buying 100% renewable electricity and we believe this energy label will support that ambition," said Robert Groves, SmartestEnergy's Chief Executive Officer. "We recognize some organisations will want to go further and specify the types of renewable electricity they buy... we can also support that." 

Developed with the support of the Carbon Trust, a not-for-dividend company that helps organisations reduce their carbon emissions and become more resource efficient, the new model allows SmartestEnergy to designate renewable energy labels for power suppliers to specific customers so that the end client will know exactly how the energy is generated originally. 

In the United States for example, the cost of generating electrons accounts for only half the cost of electricity today compared to about two-thirds in 1995 when the average cost to deliver investor-owned electricity was 7.1 cents per kilowatt hour, according to the Edison Electric Institute. 

The label will be made annually for all renewable energy companies involved, which will show prospective customers the carbon footprint of given power companies. The certification will allow these businesses to feel confident in what they're buying and they can relay the information to their potentially environmentally-minded consumers. 

"This new service from SmartestEnergy, supported by the Carbon Trust’s expertise in carbon footprinting, is providing exactly the kind of transparency required to ensure that suppliers of electricity are not contributing to double counting or under reporting of corporate emissions, by enabling certificates to be tracked and attributed to specific tariffs or customers," Groves said. 

The growth of renewable energy companies has exploded over the last decade or so with the majority of people becoming more concerned about such matters.

What You Should Know About Space Heaters and Energy Savings

With a frigid winter showing no signs of abating, many Americans are probably looking for some energy savings when it comes to their heating costs. One of the easiest ways to find some savings is to have a professional energy audit that can tell you where your home is losing energy -- and what you can do to retain that money. In deregulated markets, homeowners can also consider switching their gas and electricity providers in order to get better rates. You might be surprised to know that the prices of energy aren’t necessarily fixed by generation costs; while in 1995, power generation accounted for approximately two-thirds of what electricity cost, actually generating electrical energy now accounts for less than half of electricity prices, according to the Edison Electric Institute. But if you’re looking to change your heating habits to garner some energy savings, one very small investment is worth considering: a portable space heater. Here are the pros and cons of such an appliance. Space Heaters Vs. Central Heating If you’re looking to save some money, you’ll need to figure out when using a space heater is more efficient than using your home’s central heating system. Almost all central heating is more efficient than space heating in terms of energy consumption versus heat output. However, if you’re using a space heater to heat one small room rather than your whole house, it’s likely you’ll save quite a bit on your overall bill. You should make sure that you’re turning down your thermostat in order to compensate for turning on your space heater; one reason some people see their bills increase with the use of space heating is that they use portable heaters for “comfort heat” on top of their regular heating system. Choosing the Right Space Heaters The Environmental Protection Agency doesn’t currently certify any space heaters as being worthy of the Energy Star label, but you should pay attention to efficiency nonetheless, comparing heat output and power usage for any models you’re considering. There are basically two types of space heaters: convection and radiant. The former rely on circulating heated air around rooms, while latter work because radiant heat moves in straight lines to heat whatever or whoever is in front of it. This means radiant heaters can be a more efficient choice if you’re looking to simply warm yourself up for a short period of time before moving into another space. Important Safety Considerations You’ll also want to keep safety in mind, both when choosing a space heater and when using it. You should ensure that you're purchasing a vented heater rated for indoor use, that your heater has an automatic shutoff in case it tips over, and that it carries the Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) label. It’s very important that you not plug space heaters into extension cords, and that you never leave them on when you’re away from the house. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, space heaters lead to over 25,000 home fires every year, and are responsible for about 300 deaths. Space heaters offer opportunities for savings, but absolutely must be used safely to avoid these tragic outcomes. Where are you looking for energy savings as the heating season drags on? Share your tips and tricks in the comments.