Keeping things simple. A reflection about having a choice in life.

Keeping things simple

We recently got inspired by a guy called Barry Schwartz who is the Dorwin Cartwright Professor of Social Theory and Social Action at Swarthmore College. He is a psychologist by discipline and he speaks and writes very eloquently on what he calls the 'paradox of choice'. His argument is simple: the more choice we have, the more difficult it is to feel happy with our choices, or indeed make a choice in the first place. You can watch his insightful – and funny – presentation to the Technology Entertainment Design (TED) conference in 2007 here:

                   

In summary, Barry's theory is that choice in itself is not a liberating force but that on the contrary, it paralyses. That is the paradox. This theory is supported by lots of scientific data about how the ability to choose decreases as the amount of choice increases. We have all done it, haven't we, when presented with too much to choose from? We choose the thing we know the best, or the thing at the top of the list. The best and most frequent example of the paradox is what we have all faced when eating out in a restaurant: menu anxiety.

Choosing a fireplace might seem a long stretch from menu anxiety but the underlying principles are the same. There is no shortage of options when you are considering how to heat or decorate your living area. How do you make sense of them all, particularly when this is a choice you are probably not going to make very often? The solution you choose has to be the right one, because once you have made that choice, you're kind of stuck with it!

It's not even a single choice. You have to choose what fuel you wish to use, with all the attendant supply and regulation issues. You have to choose a style – do you want a traditional or modern fireplace? Do you have to alter or adapt your fireplace, or even build a new one to accommodate your heating choices? The deeper you get into the problem, the more complex it becomes. And this feeds your paralysis of choice, doesn't it?

One easy way of avoiding this paralysis is to keep things as simple as possible. Bio Ethanol Fires are an ideal solution to your fireplace dilemma in so many ways. A Bio Fire can stand pretty much anywhere in your room, so you are not limited to having to decide how best to use your existing fireplace. A Bio Fire doesn't need a chimney. It is low maintenance – all you have to do is wipe it from time to time. They come in a terrific range of sizes and traditional and modern styles (uh oh – choices!). Best of all, no pipes, no meters, no servicing and no dirty fuel to lug about. In fact, the fuel is an environmentally-friendly biofuel, so as well as the warm glow you will get from your Bio Fire, you know that you are using a fuel that is much less harmful to the environment. And if you choose to move house (more choices!), your Bio Fire can come with you. What could be simpler?

 

Is your heating budget going up in smoke?

Is your heating budget going up in smoke?

The one thing we can always find to grumble about is the weather, particularly as we come out of another long and dreary winter. This winter, as you sat indoors and watched the rain, you probably found yourself wondering about your home heating, particularly as the so-called Big Six energy companies were, once again, under scrutiny for their pricing structures and tariffs. 

A traditional open fire, or a gas fire that mimics actual burning can be lovely and cosy. But have you ever stopped to consider that in most cases, the majority (60–85%) of the heat produced actually flies away up the chimney and you derive no benefit from it at all? It isn't just heat flying away up the chimney, it's your money. This is an issue that householders are beginning to take very seriously.

Compare gas and bio fires: heat efficiency diagram

However, there is a form of home heating that is 100% efficient. All the heat it produces goes directly into your living space. Bio Fires, which burn Bio Ethanol, are a stylish and efficient option for heating your home. And if you think that Bio Fires only come in modern styles that might not fit in with your décor, think again. There are lots of more traditional designs that will look perfectly at home in your restored or refurbished fireplace and be in keeping with the character of your living space.

A Bio Fire burns with a real flame, and the fires themselves range from small table-top pieces to wall or grate-mounted units that look fantastic and also warm the room. A Bio Fire is a real flame that burns a fuel derived directly from a renewable source. Agricultural food waste is treated with chemical enzymes to produce sugar, which is then turned into ethanol by micro-organisms. This is similar to the fermentation process used by the brewing and distilling industries. You don't need a chimney or electrical power and  a Bio Fire does not have to be installed by a qualified fitter.

How do they work? A Bio Fire is a free-standing unit that houses a container of Bio Ethanol. When lit, this burns with a warm flame that gives off no smoke and next to no smell – in fact, you can buy oils to add to the fuel to give your home a lovely, homely fragrance. Bio Fires require very little maintenance, unlike traditional fires, and you buy your fuel on an 'as you need it' basis, maybe even to supplement your existing heating system.

A Bio Fire can rest on any flat surface or be wall-mounted. It does produce a real flame, so some forethought would need to be given to positioning, but that said, the unit can be placed more or less anywhere and will provide a uniquely modern, eye-catching talking point wherever you put it. You an also add accessories to your Bio Fire for that extra decorative effect.

The range of designs available now is astonishing, so if you are refurbishing or renovating, or simply thinking about how best to combine style and comfort in your living space, a Bio Fire could be the answer, particularly if you're looking for a replacement for a traditional fire. And best of all, you'll enjoy the extra warm glow of knowing that 100% of the heat produced is going into your room, not up the draughty old chimney.