Smarter and Safer Alternatives to Wood Burning Fireplaces in 2022

Sitting around the fireplace to watch the flames dance and crackle is a satisfying way to spend a winter evening. But how can you ensure this hypnotic pastime is not negatively impacting your health and the environment?

A significant and growing body of research has determined that wood smoke pollution is harmful to our health. Burning wood emits carcinogenic compounds including Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHS), Volatile Organic Compounds and Dioxins. According to The World Health Organisation, evidence links emissions from wood heating to serious health effects such as illness and death from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Wood smoke also has a negative impact on the health of our planet. Wood burning emits climate pollutants such as black carbon, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and methane which all contribute to global warming.

If you are concerned about the impact of wood-burning fireplaces on your health and the environment, read on to explore several alternative solutions so you don’t have to miss out on toasting those marshmallows and tootsies by the fire this winter!

Electric Fireplaces

Electric fireplaces are a popular choice as they are considered one of the most eco-friendly heating options available on the market. Electric fireplaces do not use resources like gas or wood to produce a fire, therefore no toxic waste gas or smoke is released into the atmosphere. Other notable benefits are the low cost, low maintenance, and long lifespan of electric fireplaces. There are also many customisation options available for design professionals and homeowners to take advantage of. Planika, for example, offers multiple installation options including recessed, partly recessed or wall-mounted for their Astro Electric Fireplace. You can also choose from four different flame colours to alter the ambiance of your interior.

Astro 1800 Electric Fireplace by Planika.

Bioethanol Fireplaces

Bioethanol fireplaces burn biofuel called ethanol which is produced from plant based, renewable sources, primarily corn and sugarcane. Bioethanol burns cleanly producing no fumes, smoke, ash, or soot for a safer, cleaner environment.

Because biofuel fireplaces produce almost zero emissions, there is no requirement to install a flue or vent making it more affordable to install and maintain. Bioethanol fireplaces are growing in popularity with indoor and outdoor designs available. Eco Smart Fire has a range of bioethanol firepits so you and your guests can enjoy the outdoors without inhaling any harmful emissions. Planika offers a variety of zero emission and carbon neutral fireplaces, driven by state of the art technology. Their intelligent fireplace solutions can be controlled with any smart device and connected to any smart home system.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Zero emission FLA 3 1190 by Planika

Natural Gas Fireplaces

If none of the above take your fancy you could always opt for a natural gas fireplace. Whilst these fireplaces still run off fossil fuels, they are still a better option than wood fireplaces as they produce far less toxic emissions and don’t produce any smoke. Natural gas is also one of the Earth's cleanest fossil fuels available. There are many beautiful natural gas fireplaces on the market to suit any interior aesthetic. The Mode Corner Gas fireplace by Escea offers a contemporary take on the fireplace design and can be installed anywhere.

MODE KS1150 Corner Gas Fireplace by Escea