Turning Up The Heat While Minimizing Costs (NAPSA)—As temperatures drop around the country and heating costs rise, U.S. homeowners are turning to hearth products— including fireplaces, stoves and inserts—to save on their fuelbills. The federal government predicts that consumers can expect to pay 10 percent more in heating costs this winter. A recent poll commissioned by the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA) found that one in three American adults indicated they will have and use various hearth products in their home. And these units, including woodburning, gas, pellet and corn stoves and high-efficiency woodburning fireplaces, will be impor- tant parts of their plans for home heating costs over the next six months. “Consumers want products that not only provide efficient heat, but are also environmentally friendly,” says Jack Goldman, president of HPBA. “Installing today’s fireplaces, stoves or inserts can provide that efficient, clean heat without sacrificing the warm ambience that Americans enjoy in the winter months.” Benefits Of Zone Heating A central furnace can waste money by heating your entire home—including unoccupied rooms. Zone heating with a fireplace, stove or insert warms the rooms families occupy most and allows the thermostat to be turned down on the central furnace. One study indicates that zone heating solutions can provide energy savingsof 20 to 40 percent. “Zone heating provides the heat where and when you need it, adding to a home’s comfort and High-efficiency heating units such as woodburning stoves and fireplaces can help reduce energy costs this winter. ambience, but also reducing household fuel consumption and saving consumers money,” adds Goldman. Calculate Energy Savings Increased fuel costs and continued focus on efficiency are key reasons for the ongoing popularity of hearth products. With today’s multiple options, a fireplace, stove or insert can be installed almost anywhere in your home—even in nontraditional locations such as the kitchen, home office, master bedroom or bathroom. To help consumersnavigate the myriad of placement, product and fuel choices, HPBA has developed an online comparison guide that highlights the differences between appliance options, fuels, approximate efficiency and the estimated costs of product purchase. The organization has also developed a calculator—for estimating purposes only—that can assist consumers in determining the costsaving benefits of various hearth products. Both are available at www.hpba.org.
