Fireplace Mantels News, Articles and Information

STAMFORD, Conn., Dec. 12 /PRNewswire/ — New York residents can reduce their energy bills this holiday season by taking a few simple steps, according to Direct Energy, one of the largest non-utility retail energy providers in North America. The company, which offers fixed price electricity and natural gas plans to New York residents, is providing these tips to help customers better manage their energy usage.

“The first step a New York resident can take to better manage their energy expenses is to review the competitive offerings from Energy Service Companies in their area,” said Mike Beck, vice president of sales and marketing for Direct Energy. “ESCOs, such as Direct Energy, offer the opportunity for lower rates versus the utility and a variety of innovative energy products, including fixed price plans to protect against future price spikes.”

Additional simple measures that Direct Energy recommends to help reduce energy usage and maximize efficiency:

– Keep the Lights Burning Twenty strings of 100 holiday lights can cost more than $20 per month to keep lit. Direct Energy recommends using light-emitting diode (LED) lights to decorate your home this year. LED lights last 20 times longer and use 90 percent less power than traditional incandescent bulbs.

– Cook Your Holiday Dinner in the Microwave Microwaves use 75 percent less energy than traditional ovens so consider using it for cooking holiday meals. If using a stove top, place the center of the pan over the burner and make sure to keep the lid on.

– Store Leftovers Smartly Your freezer requires more electricity to run when ice builds up, so be sure to defrost regularly. Keep a refrigerator at least three-quarters full to maximize efficiency. Also, avoid placing hot food directly in the refrigerator or freezer, as it requires more energy to cool down.

– Fire Up, Not Out Fireplaces may add to the holiday atmosphere but aren’t an efficient way to warm a home since about 80 percent of the air heated by a fireplace is lost up the chimney. When you are not using the fireplace, be sure to close chimney dampers tightly. If you don’t use your fireplace at all, consider sealing the damper with weather stripping and stuff the chimney with fiberglass insulation.

– Seal the Deal Install weather stripping around windows and doors to keep cold air out. Measure the perimeter around each window and door and then purchase an extra 5 to 10 percent for waste. Also, make sure to look for the ENERGY STAR logos on products which have been independently certified to be the most energy efficient.

About Direct Energy

Editor’s Note:These tips are provided as a public service by Direct Energy and are based on information from the following Web sites and publications*:* Direct Energy is not affiliated with the publications or companies inthe Web sites listed above.

A roaring fire burns away the bitter cold, eases the mind and soothes the soul.

A good meal and a warming cocktail don’t hurt, either.

Blending all three forms a fine respite as winter’s gray skies gather, biting winds howl and swirling snows descend. It’s days like these that send the weather-weary to the comforting confines of a hearth and the inviting pleasures it promises.

There may be no place like home, but there are also many fireplaces in public places to soak up the warmth and welcome.

A touch of class

The lobby of the Pfister Hotel radiates opulence, elegance and class, so it’s only natural that one of Milwaukee’s grandest hotels also offers one of its most impressive fireplaces.

Tucked into a corner by the bar, the massive, ornate fireplace is perfectly positioned for sipping drinks and listening to the live piano music, which drowns out most of the banter at the bar when it’s crowded.

“One of the great things about the Pfister is the lobby - it’s the grand salon of the hotel,” said Pfister concierge Peter Mortensen. “We have a lot of people from the city who make it a point to come in and watch the world go by. You have a lot of mingling of Milwaukee with the world.”

Two plush, velvety loveseats are angled around the hearth, with a facade that is emblazoned with an intricate pattern of spiraling leaves and cherubs.

The scene is perfect for a couple of couples - a cozy nook for an intimate conversation.

“People automatically respond to a hearth,” Mortensen said. “It is a magnet. It relaxes people. I think it breaks down defenses and makes whatever place it’s in feel a little bit like home. By offering these to people, it’s a little extra something people don’t know they miss until they see it.”

The fire is fueled by gas, so there is no romantic crackling or smoldering of burning wood. But the heat is gentle and relaxing, in sync with the mellow lighting.

The firelight illuminates the visage of a Roman on a chariot sculpted in the back of the fireplace, a symbol of commerce, Mortensen said.

The fireplace is accented with a decorative, low-lying wrought-iron screen crafted in a fleur-de-lis design.

A stately grandfather clock oversees the scene, and a towering armoire opens to reveal a television usually tuned in to Packers games.

Those not lucky enough to grab a hot spot on one of the fireside loveseats can choose from several tables within bar service and earshot of the piano.

The Pfister also has two other venues with fireplaces: Blu, the hotel’s 23rd-floor cocktail lounge, and the recently opened Mason Street Grill, an airy, modern restaurant on the ground floor that is polished enough for professionals but still casual.

“We are carrying the tradition of the warm hearth of the Pfister into the 21st century,” Mortensen said. “Anyone who comes here can be bookended by fireplaces.”

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