Eco-Tip 32

Every week we'll post another easy tip to help you be environmentally friendly.

Eco-Tip 32

Now that it's getting cold, you should know about one thing you should NOT do to keep your house warm: do not use the fireplace. Unless your fireplace is EPA-certified, and it's probably not, you can lose somewhere between 70% and 90% of the fire's heat through the chimney. The EPA also estimates that some 75% of fireplaces release a lot of unnecessary pollution. On the other hand, if you do modernize your fireplace to meet EPA guidelines, you will not only keep your house warmer with it but will also receive a tax credit for it. Until that day, just watch that burning Yuletide log channel on TV.

For more information from the New York Times article that inspired this post, click here.