Eco-Friendly Fireplace Options

There's nothing better than the comforting warmth of a fireplace on a fall evening. However, wood-burning fires can be messy and release pollutants. Fortunately, there are several environmentally friendly, cleaner-burning alternatives.

Although electric fireplaces don't produce as much heat as other options, they're relatively inexpensive, clean burning and 100% energy efficient. If you're looking for a warm glow but don't want the heat, an electric fireplace may be a good choice.

Natural gas fireplaces produce more heat than electric and burn cleaner than wood. As an added bonus, they often have the convenience of being controlled by a simple switch. Keep in mind that gas fireplaces must be vented and will lose heat through the flue.

Ethanol fireplaces burn biofuel, so they're clean burning and eco-friendly. They're easy to install, but care must be exercised because ethanol is extremely flammable.

Pellet stoves generate heat by burning sawdust pellets, which are nontoxic and immune to bacteria, fungus and pests. Pellet stoves are 75% to 90% efficient and have low emissions. However, they require electricity to operate, and the pellets are subject to drastic price increases when housing production slows.

• Add peel-and-stick tiles
• Install a mantel
• Update your artwork
• Add interesting accessories