Sure, it's romantic, but when comes right down to it, your fireplace is an energy hog. As one of the most energy inefficient features of your home it eats about 24,000 cubic feet of nice furnace warmed air each hour and spits it out the top of the chimney (Department of Energy). And as a bonus the air is replaced by cold air that comes in the opposite direction through the same opening, causing your furnace to work extra hard to keep your house nice and toasty. Yet, we love gathering round a warm hearth with a nice cup of hot chocolate as much as the next guy. Just remember to turn the thermostat down a little when you use it. Also, crack a window in the room where the fireplace is located and then close the door, so it doesn't suck too much warm air from the rest of the house.
Cost: $0. Payback: Immediate.
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