Energy Efficiency

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Get Your Residential Energy Tax Credit – Save Up To $1,500!

November 25, 2009 in Energy Efficiency, Residential Energy Tax Credit by Fast Fireplaces | 1 comment

As part of the economic stimulus plan, the federal government is offering a new tax credit on many energy-efficient products.  This tax credit is good for 30% of the purchase price on qualifying products, up to $1500.  For example, if you bought a $4,000 energy efficient fireplace, you would qualify for a tax credit of $1,200.  Since this is a tax credit, not a deduction, you would be able to subtract $1,200 directly off your final tax bill.

Wondering which products qualify? The U.S. Department of Energy has laid out general guidelines for which sorts of products qualify.  If you have a question about whether or not a specific product qualifies, check out the manufacturer’s website for more information.  Most manufacturers of qualifying products have advertised that fact on their websites, along with a Manufacturer’s Certification Statement.  This document usually lists all of a manufacturer’s qualifying products, along with a signed statement saying that the manufacturer certifies, to the best of his knowledge, that the qualifying products meet the requirements of the tax credit.

When filing your taxes, you will need to claim this credit using IRS Form 5695.  Once you’ve calculated the amount of your Residential Energy Tax Credit, enter that number on line 52 of your IRS Form 1040.  You do not need to attach a copy of your receipt or the Manufacturer’s Certification Statement with your 5695 Form.  However, saving these two documents for your records is a good idea, and will help you to complete the 5695.

FastFireplaces.com has just introduced the EcoSmart line of designer fireplaces, most of which qualify for the new tax credit.  These fireplaces are fueled by denatured ethanol, which is a biomass fuel under the definition in the tax code.  In addition, all qualifying EcoSmart fireboxes have a thermal efficiency rating of more than 90%.  This means that most EcoSmart fireplaces meet the requirements for a “biomass stove”, one of the categories of products that qualify for the tax credit.  FastFireplaces.com is currently the only online retailer of EcoSmart products.  We carry their full line of designer ranges and accessories, so come check us out and save 30% on these energy-efficient fireplaces.

~Your friends at FastFireplaces.com

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Zone Heating Saves You Money, Warms Your Home Efficiently

November 23, 2009 in Energy Efficiency, Gas Log Benefits by Fast Fireplaces | 1 comment

Tired of paying a high central heating bill during the winter months?  Zone heating can lower your monthly heating bill by 20-40% while heating only the rooms you’re using and beautifying your home.

Zone heating with a heating appliance like vent free gas logs saves you money in several ways.  Ventless gas logs are a 99% efficient heating source, whereas the average central heating unit is only 85% efficient.  Your central heating system cycles on and off frequently, and loses efficiency as it warms up each time, similar to a car burning gas in stop-and-go traffic.  By contrast, vent-free gas logs take almost no time to warm up, and provide a steady, even heat.

Zone heating also saves you money by heating only the rooms that you are using, which allows you to turn down the thermostat on your central heat.  In addition, you can eliminate the tug-of-war that inevitably happens over the thermostat when the upstairs is too hot and the downstairs is too cold.  A set of unvented gas logs in the downstairs living areas or in the basement allows everyone in the house to have the exact temperature they desire.

Natural gas and propane gas logs are also a dependable source of heat.  If your electricity goes out, your central heating may go out as well, leaving you in the cold.  But natural gas and propane heating don’t depend on electricity to run, so even during a power outage, your house will be warm in cozy.  You’ll also have a beautiful source of light from the dancing flames!

FastFireplaces.com has a full selection of Peterson and Monessen vent-free gas logs for you to choose from.  These gas log sets burn clean natural gas and propane, and do not require a chimney or any venting to install.  Come check us out for the lowest prices on the Internet, guaranteed!

~Your Friends at FastFireplaces.com

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The Benefits of a Vented Gas Fireplace

November 4, 2009 in Energy Efficiency by Fast Fireplaces | 1 comment

A vented gas fireplace is not only attractive to look at, but it is also much safer and more efficient than a traditional wood-burning fireplace. As the name implies, a vented gas fireplace is a gas log fireplace that requires some type of ventilation to function, be it a chimney or other outer wall system. If your home does not have an existing chimney, you may want to consider other gas fireplace options, such as ventless gas logs or gel-fueled fireplaces. Vented gas fireplaces require a functioning chimney with the damper fully opened, in order to circulate the air for combustion and provide an outlet for low-burning soot.

Now, with that being said, the benefits of a Vented Gas Fireplace are quite advantageous. Here are just a few:

Lower Burn Temperature – Vented gas log fireplace sets have a very low burn temperature. In comparison, modern ventless gas log kits requires a very high burn temperature in order to avoid any emissions, such as carbon monoxide buildup. This is why the flames look so blue with a ventless fireplace. Since the burn temperature can be lower in a vented gas fireplace, the flames will be more similar in color and appearance to a traditional wood-burning flame. This added touch of realism is just what most people are looking for out of their gas fireplaces.

Safety - Vented gas fireplace are extremely safe. Unlike traditional wood-burning fireplaces, vented gas sets carry no risk of ember sparks or chimney fires. Plus modern natural gas and propane-powered fireplaces use valves to control the amount of gas flow. These valves are called Safety Control Pilots, and they regulate your fireplace by shutting off the gas once the pilot light is out. That way there are no unsafe gas build-ups. Ventless fireplaces have a carbon monoxide sensor that shuts the flames off in similar situations, but these are frequently electrically powered and can sometimes malfunction in the case of a power outage. This is why vented gas systems are preferred in houses that already have existing fireplaces.

Efficiency – Because vented gas fireplaces can burn at lower temperatures, they require less gas in order to function. Modern vented and ventless gas fireplace sets are very fuel-efficient, but a vented gas log kit does not require nearly as much fuel to burn. This means lower gas bills and more money in your pocket.

~Your Friends at FastFireplaces.com

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Natural Gas vs. Liquid Propane Gas Logs

November 3, 2009 in Energy Efficiency, Gas Log Benefits by Fast Fireplaces | No comments

Thinking of a gas fireplace, but confused about the differences between natural gas (NG) or propane (LP)?

We can help.

Natural gas is one of the best fuels known to man. Unlike oil, for example, natural gas is relatively clean burning and will not emit any unhealthy scents as part of its combustion process. It can be a bit more expensive than oil in bulk, but fortunately it is still cheap enough to be used effectively for heating your home. Amazingly enough, a gas fireplace powered by either natural gas or propane can actually heat small homes more efficiently than most furnaces.

If you are like most of us, chances are you already have plenty of natural gas appliances in your home which can make the process of installing a gas fireplace a breeze. From your dryer to your hot water heater, to your oven or stove and furnace, there are plenty of items in your house which may already use natural gas as their primary source of heating power. Provided you have at least one of these appliances in your home, you will already have a natural gas pipeline installed underneath your floorboards, making it far easier to install a natural gas powered fireplace if you do not already have one.

Then again there are some of people who will not be able to use the clean burning power of natural gas to power their fireplace, whether due to location or expense. Fortunately enough, you can run a gas fireplace on just about any type of gas – including the much more portable propane variety.

With propane you can easily take the power of gas to install a fireplace just about any place you can imagine. Since liquid propane comes in its very own tank, propane can be used to power a gas log fireplace even if there is no natural gas line for miles. Some propane gas fireplaces even have special compartments behind the mantel which will allow you to store any unsightly propane tanks while they are in use. A certified plumber or electrician can also help you run a small gas line into your fireplace so you can keep your propane tank safely locked up outside.

But how do they stack up against each other?
In some cases propane can actually be slightly more cost-effective than natural gas, but – it typically tends to burn a bit dirtier. The soot buildup from a propane burning gas log set can affect your gas fireplace’s looks and performance.  If you use propane to fuel your gas log fireplace, be sure to routinely perform a little maintenance and cleanup. Depending on how often you use your fireplace, you should take down the glass and clean the soot off of your propane burner once a season, or at least once a year.

However, some recent advances have given propane burners a cleaner boost, such as Hargrove’s System Four Optimized Burner. This gas log burner set was designed specifically to meet the challenge of a clean-burning propane fireplace. It uses controlled porting and optimal fuel to air ratios to create an extremely clean burning system that provides natural flame patterns and a full glowing ember bed, with much less carbon production than previous liquid propane systems. For more information on Hargrove’s System Four burner, you can check out our website at www.FastFireplaces.com.

~Your Friends at FastFireplaces.com

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Green Fireplaces: Gas Logs are more Efficient

October 28, 2009 in Energy Efficiency by Fast Fireplaces | No comments

Here’s a Thought.

People these days are thinking about the environment when making their major purchases. Natural gas fireplaces are more energy efficient than wood burning fireplaces and they produce less pollution. Convenient, energy efficient, and clean: these are the reasons people are switching to gas fireplaces. Let’s not forget costs, either. Natural gas and propane are relatively cheap compared with normal monthly heating bills, and much more efficient.

The U.S. Department of Energy reports that a conventional open front fireplace is only 10 percent efficient at converting wood to energy and delivering it to a room, and when it’s operating, it actually increases the infiltration of cold air into your home by creating a partial vacuum within the house.  What’s really surprising is that convective (moving air) heat losses at the beginning and the end of the burn are actually greater than the radiant heat provided by the fire.  Basically, you’ll end up as cold as you were before.

In contrast, the realism and warmth provided by today’s natural gas fireplaces have contributed to their increasing popularity with homeowners. They are now among the leading optional features in new homes. The gas fireplace industry sells over 1 million units each year and has experienced an overall 30% sales increase over the past three years. People are becoming more concerned with the energy that goes into heating their homes, and with the money that comes out of their pocket books…especially in today’s economy!

Out of growing concern for the environment in recent years, restrictions have actually been placed on many wood-burning fireplaces and wood stoves in different states throughout the U.S. These restrictions ban wood-burning on days with poor air quality, as well as limit sales of stoves or restrict installation of wood-burning fireplaces in new construction. The good news is that the alternatives are better than ever before.

As consumers become more aware that gas-fired hearth products provide many of the same benefits as wood-burning logs – along with greater convenience, heating efficiency and benefit to the environment – sales of gas units have increased dramatically, even in areas of the country without wood-burning restrictions! In addition, natural gas log sets can be installed easily in most existing wood-burning fireplaces without any major renovations. For a greener fireplace, the choice is clear: choose a gas fireplace.

~Your Friends at FastFireplaces.com

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