Tip of the Week

Up In Smoke

I was a Girl Scout. So not only do I appreciate the warmth of a fire under the mantle, but I get a sort of sentimental longing from the glowing embers. If I could roast marshmallows indoors, I would, singing "Kumbaya" while masterfully browning the sides of my 'mallow. But although wood is a renewable resource (when harvested from well-managed forests), and therefore more eco-friendly than other heat sources such as oil and natural gas, roaring wood fires are not without environmental consequences and can potentially harm human health. Wood smoke contains carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Nitrogen oxides and VOCs are both respiratory irritants, and their release leads to the production of ozone, acid rain and particulate matter. Carbon monoxide can cause dizziness, severe headaches and may even be fatal in large quantities. Manufactured fireplace logs aren't necessarily a better choice: As they burn, they can release toxic PCB fumes. Moreover, fireplaces tend to be terribly inefficient heaters, sucking 24,000 cubic feet of heated air up the chimney each hour. But if crackling kindling is a winter staple in your home, take care to protect the fort from fire and reduce pollutants.

• Be sure the smoke alarm is in working order.
• Avoid chimney fires by having annual inspections and cleaning from a professional.
• Stick to seasoned woods, which means that the logs have been split and allowed six months to dry. The moisture content of freshly cut wood greatly reduces energy efficiency. And pick hardwoods, such as oak or cherry, over softwoods. Hardwoods burn slower and more evenly and produce less smoke.
• Burn only wood--never garbage, plastic, petroleum products or charcoal. And never burn painted or otherwise treated woods.
• Don't overdo it with blazing infernos. Build a smaller fire that produces less smoke and let it burn out completely before leaving the house or going to bed.
• Try a Java Log. Made from used coffee grounds, Java Log smoke contains 87 percent less carbon monoxide and 83 percent less particulate matter than smoke from wood ($5; energyshift.us/catalog).
• Or, if available in your area, try Forest Stewardship Council certified firewood from well-managed forests. See www.estonianforest.com.
• Always use a screen. If your fireplace has glass doors, leave them open and use a mesh screen instead.
• Trust your senses. If you can smell smoke, you're breathing smoke. Open doors and windows to clear the air and be sure that children, the elderly and allergy sufferers leave the room. Check out bostonbrick.com for a detailed rundown of steps to take to stop smoke from coming back into the home.

The damper keeps the majority of indoor heat from escaping when the fireplace is not in use, but some still manages to sneak past. A piece of foam board cut to size and placed directly below the flue will eliminate 80 to 90 percent to those heat losses. Or, invest in a product like the Chimney Balloon ($42.99-53.99, www.chimneyballoon.com) that will safely do the trick.

© The Green Guide, 2008

| Email this post

Discuss this blog

Green Gab is for registered users only. If you are not a registered user and would like to join the discussion, register today. Already registered? Log in here:
Username:		Password:
If you have forgotten your password, click here.