[3rdRockFromSun]

It is so expensive to run our gas furnace in the winter and because of wood-burning (which contributes greatly to our "brown cloud" problem) bans in the Mile High City, we were prompted to find energy-savings relief through alternative heat sources, and have found great success with our gas fireplace. It has helped us to enjoy energy savings by helping us get the most out of our fuel dollars.

Gas fireplaces create between 18,000-45,000 BTUs—enough heat to warm several rooms of your home, if the gas fireplace is properly maintained and serviced annually to maintain proper combustion ratio and fuel efficiency. We had a blower installed to help circulate the warm air more efficiently and to keep fireplace components cooler during operation.

On average, gas fireplaces cost approximately 16 to 32¢ (U.S.) an hour to burn, compared to a gas furnace, which costs approximately $1.20 to $1.40 an hour to run. You can see the potential for savings. Installers and utility companies agree that you may be able to recover the cost of a new gas fireplace insert in just two heating seasons when using them in a “zone heating” program in your home.

Fall and winter are excellent times to experiment with and learn the practice of zone heating. This involves turning your thermostat way down, as low as 58 degrees, and utilizing an alternative heat source to warm the portions of your house that you spend the most time in.

Improving heating-system efficiency is a simple, yet cost-effective energy saving improvement. Might want to look into it!