Elegant Electric Fireplaces for Efficient Heating

Fireplaces are best during winters to keep the house warm and cozy. You don't need to sit near it to keep yourself cozy as they effectively warm the surroundings. Even if you don't have one at home, you can easily get it installed. There are Electric Fireplaces that resemble real fireplaces and give the same toasty feeling.

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Electric Fireplaces account for safe and efficient heating. These elegant looking fireplaces are available in different styles and sizes to match the décor of your room. They are available in different mantel designs to choose from. The best thing about these fireplaces is the ease with which they can be installed. Since they don't require a chimney, installing most of these units is not a problem.

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Electric Fireplaces can be installed in any room with utmost ease. There are some units that require little installation but most of them are portable plug-in units. They draw less power, require little maintenance and give the feel of a real fireplace. These units are more advanced than you can think of. They have multiple temperature settings, multiple settings to set the glow of the flame and a variety of mantels to choose from. They have a front glass door to keep users away from its glowing logs and flame. This glass door remains cool even when the fire is alight, thus making them safe to be installed in children's rooms as well. All you need to do is just plug them to a standard 120 volt outlet and they are ready for use. Some of these units even come with a remote control to adjust the heat and flame settings. Since these units are portable, you can easily place them in whatever part of the house you like.

The two main Electric Fireplace Inserts include a stove and a heater. The stove is for setting the flame and the heater for providing warmth. Some Electric Fireplaces even have built in thermostat that causes the unit to turn off when the desired temperature is reached. There are units with fans for even distribution of heat in the entire room. These fireplaces give you the liberty of choosing between the heat function and the fire glow together or separately. In other words, you can light the Electric Fireplace glow without actually turning on its heat setting.

Electric Fireplaces are the best choice as they are easy to maintain. The basic maintenance they require is the replacement of their light bulbs every 2 to 3 years and periodical cleaning of its front glass door. They are also environment friendly as they do not emit carbon dioxide or any other fumes in the air.

Elegant Electric Fireplaces for Efficient Heating

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Gas Vs Electric - Efficient Natural Gas is More Popular Than Electric Due to Costs and Comfort

Choosing which type of furnace and appliances would best suit a home can be a time consuming and confusing task. In order to choose whether a gas or an electric furnace should be selected, several questions should be answered. First and foremost is the question of whether natural gas is available. If it is not, the alternative of propane may be worth checking.

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In most areas, there is no issue with acquiring natural gas. Natural gas furnaces are typically the most affordable choice, however in some regions, cost of gas has been on the rise. By checking with local natural gas distributors for average prices, a cost of use estimate based on family size and anticipated consumption would reveal important information to the decision process.

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Even though gas furnaces and appliances are equipped with exhaust stacks or pipes which dispel harmful fumes such as carbon monoxide, natural gas (or propane) still has some aspect of an odor. Another consideration is maintenance. Gas furnaces should be professionally inspected on a yearly basis. An inspection for cracks, tiny holes, or leaks will ensure that carbon monoxide or gas leakage will not be an issue for the family or home.

Electric heating and appliances have pros and cons as well. A major benefit regarding electric is the reduced risk of carbon monoxide. Because there are no flames as with gas, electric is cleaner and typically safer. Costs, however, can be an issue in comparison. Rising electricity bills are prompting many homeowners to consider the switch from electric back to gas.

Square footage of the home, efficiency ratings, and warranty are all considerations when selecting a furnace. The government standard set in 1992 established a minimum efficiency rating for gas furnaces to be 78%. This means that a minimum of 78% of the gas is converted into heat. Many models of gas furnaces are currently running at 96% and higher. Energy star ratings for some makes and models have even been rated near 98%.

After the decision of which to use, natural gas or an electric furnace has been made, there are still many questions left. The price of the unit itself should not be the only major deciding factor for which model furnace to purchase. Consulting a competent installation professional will help to answer some of these important questions. To be sure that the furnace chosen for the home is the best option, consulting a reputable dealer is a must. The Better Business Bureau is a great first step in choosing a professional. Also be sure that the company chosen installs the models of furnaces researched, and that the company is licensed, bonded, and insured. The choice of furnace and often many appliances is an investment that can last over 20 years, so it is important to do your research before making a commitment to either.

Gas Vs Electric - Efficient Natural Gas is More Popular Than Electric Due to Costs and Comfort

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Energy Efficient Electric Heaters

When purchasing an electric heater for either your home or your garage you are looking for a way to heat the area in the most energy efficient way possible. If you need an electric heater you are probably looking to heat or warm a specific area of your home and by doing so you are already becoming more energy efficient.

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This is true because using a portable type of electric heater gives you the ability to raise the thermostat on your home's main energy sources such as central heating. Because with a central heating system you are heating the entire home and not just the rooms you and your family are occupying. So even by raising the thermostat 3 or 4 degrees can make a huge impact on your overall energy use and consumption.

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By implementing an electric heater you can move the heater as you leave or enter a specific room. So how do you make sure that an electric heater you use in your home or garage is energy efficient? Start by finding the correct size heater for the specific room you will be heating. For example if you are going to use an electric garage heater there is no need to purchase a heater that will heat 900 square feet if your garage is only 500 square feet. More is not better in this particular case it is just a waste.

Next take a look at what type of features the heater offers. Many of the newer models offer either a built in thermostat or a programmable thermostat. This will help you to maintain a comfortable temperature by alleviating any fluctuation of temperature in the room. A feature like this can also help you to turn off the heater when it is not in use by setting a specific time for the heater to turn off.

This can be an especially useful feature in electric garage heaters as often times we may forget that they are running and may run unnecessarily. Another thing to consider when making your purchase is how the heated air is circulated throughout the room. Once the air has been heated it is important that it be effectively distributed in the room so look for a heater that has a built in fan that helps distributes the air properly. Even distribution alleviates some of the problems associated with older models that gave the rooms hot and cold spots.

One thing you should also know about energy efficient electric heaters is that almost every manufacturer has now take the time to build in several types of safety features. Almost all of them incorporate some sort of automatic shut off system if the heater should actually be knocked over and some, if not most, also have an overheating shut off which will turn the heater off it is blocked or just overheating from non recommended continuous usage.

Energy Efficient Electric Heaters

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Energy Efficient Ranges and Cooktops - Which to Buy - Induction, Gas, Or Electric?

When you turn on an electric or gas burner, a good deal of the heat does not go to the pan, but into the air. If you open the oven door, the heat rushes out of the oven and into the air and the oven has to reheat. When you turn off an electric burner, even though the the power is off, heat is still given off and is considered to be wasted. So by strict definition of "energy efficiency" one of the most used appliances in your home just doesn't measure up.

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Even though cooktops and ranges do not earn the Energy Star rating under today's standards, there are some products that are more efficient than others.

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I am in the market for a new kitchen stove and began the research to find the most energy efficient product that fit into my budget. With the tax credits available for Energy Star appliances, I asked if there were any Energy Star rated stoves (ranges if you will). The answer is, no. Why? Very simply, because energy efficiency is measured on how much energy it takes to perform a particular function compared to how much energy is lost or wasted by that same process.

Solar Powered

There are some small solar powered stoves and hybrid solar (solar with electric backup) for those days when the sun doesn't shine on the market today. Most of the specifications indicate a minimal temperature range and have very limited capacity. The largest capacity I found measured 21.25 inches square by 7.78 inches deep. If you are looking to experiment with solar cooking, there are any number of plans on the internet to build your own solar stove using materials found around your home. However, the solar solution may not be the most practical for a busy family. For now, being somewhat of a pragmatist, I've focused my search and the following article on the more practical options for today's busy family.

Induction/Electromagnetic

The new induction cooktops and ranges are the most efficient on the market tody. Induction cooking surface, when turned on and a metal pan is on the cooking element, produce an electrical current in the cooktop which creates a magnetic field that causes the pan to heat and cook your food. It's like magic. Even if the burner is turned on, when the pan is not touching the surface, you could lay your hand on the element. It's instant on and off. I've actually done this and was quite amazed. There is no heat loss when you remove the pan, which makes the induction cooktop more efficient than other cooking surfaces. The pans must have flat bottoms and be made of metal or the electromagnetic heating process won't work.

Most major appliance manufacturers offer an induction cooktop (no oven). If you are trying to replace an all-in-one cooktop and oven, there are several manufactures: Samsung, Kenmore, Viking, GE, and Diva. The oven component is typically electric with a convection option. Like most new technologies, the induction cooking appliances are still expensive. However, over the past year, prices have dropped.

Natural Gas or Propane vs Electric

If an expensive cooktop or range is not in your plan, there are other options. Based on current natural gas prices, natural gas, is still slightly cheaper to operate than an electric cooktop.. So, if you're investigating appliances based on cost of operation, you'll want to investigate average prices of electricity vs natural gas in your area. (Be aware that the proposed energy legislation will affect the cost of any fossil based fuel and prices will go up for both natural gas and electricity. How much they will rise is not yet known.) Overall, the savings of gas over electric has historically been minimal and amounts to less than a year in savings. If you are a cook that prefers gas, there are many options from which to choose. Many of the most popular brands are carried by Lowes, Home Depot and Sears.

Energy Efficient Ranges and Cooktops - Which to Buy - Induction, Gas, or Electric

The most energy efficient cooking solution would be an induction cook top with an electric/convection oven, followed by a gas cooktop with an electric/convection oven. Convection ovens are a little more expensive than an electric or gas only oven, but they require less cooking time, so you are using less energy and reducing your time in the kitchen. For the busy family, less time is a real plus. All in one gas or electric units are the cheapest solution, but not the most energy efficient. The differences in operating costs depend greatly on the utility prices in your area. However, the cost difference, based on the national average of gas vs electricity, is only a few cents, with natural gas being the cheaper.

Price Comparison

So, if you're in the market for a new range or cooktop and your primary objective is saving energy, go for an induction cooktop with an electric/convection oven. For that system, budget between 00 for a fully featured system and 00 for a whiz bang designer, professional grade system.

If natural gas or propane is available in your area, the next best combo would be a gas cook top and an electric/convection oven. Prices vary considerably, ranging from under 00 for a basic model to the mid-range of 00 -00 for a full featured stainless steel unit. If you have even a higher budget, there are some magnificent options for the person who really enjoys cooking ranging in price between 00 and ,000.

If the electric option is all you have, don't despair. Remember that the differences in energy consumption and energy cost between the gas or electric options are not that significant. By going the extra step and purchasing an electric cook top with an electric/convection oven, you will be reducing oven cooking time and, thus, energy consumption. Any reduction in energy consumption is a positive and will produce some cost savings. Prices for these units vary from 00 to 00 for fully featured stainless steel units. These are available from most appliance manufacturers. If your budget is less than 00, check out prices on the internet. There are good deals to be found on this type of stove. If I'm still talking above your budget, "all electric" or "all gas" ranges vary in price from 8 to 00. Keep in mind that the very low end products will not typically be self-cleaning, nor will they have the insulation to keep the heat inside the oven when cooking, nor will the temperature control of the oven be very precise.

While cooking units are not energy efficient according to the standards set by Energy Star. Since there are not significant differences in energy cost among the options, it boils down to budget, cooking style, and availability of natural gas/propane. I've given you some things to think about when purchasing that new stove and, hopefully, you found them useful.

Energy Efficient Ranges and Cooktops - Which to Buy - Induction, Gas, Or Electric?

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