Bio Ethanol Fires: Embracing The Environment

Streamlined, beautiful to look at and evironmentally friendly, Bio Ethanol fireplaces are the hottest thing on the street right now. Except they're not on the street... they're on coffee tables, hearths and even set into the walls of homes across the UK.

These fires encompass everything people are looking for in a centrepiece in their home; requiring little or no installation, no flue or chimney and emitting little or no smoke or fumes; Bio Ethanol fireplaces only need a supply of the specifically developed fuel which arguably makes these fires so special.

Bio Ethanol is derived from plant crops and is available in two distinct types, the first is a light, colourless liquid that resembles water and the second is a gel form, it is completely safe to for use in domestic homes which need a focal point with no concern over pollution at all.

Some fires will work with both types and some only with one, the fuel is easily purchased from the supplier of your fire. Bio Ethanol fuelled fires are a simple to use and effective solution for homes which need a focal point but where building regulations may prevent the installation of a traditional fireplace, where the fireplace has been block off or indeed where there is no fireplace at all!

This is because some model's can actually be placed straight onto a coffee table, lit and enjoyed in the traditional fashion that families have enjoed for countless years.

So What Types of Bio Ethanol Fires are on the market and what might be the best option for you? The short answer to that question is that it depends on your taste. These are no restrictions because these fires are just so flexible in terms of styling to suit most contemporary or traditional homes. The most commonly available types of Bio Ethanol fires can be roughly separated into the following styles:

Wall Mounted
Portable
Freestanding

Wall Fires provide a more traditional way of enjoying real flames within your home; being mounted on the wall with brackets makes it easy for homeowners to choose exactly where to place the focal point in their living space, but unlike traditional fireplaces, you're able to change your mind and alter the location of the fire with probably less fuss than it takes to move that bookshelf in the corner!

Freestanding fires are just what they say they are... designed to stand freely on what would otherwise be an empty hearth or onto the floor. Much like the wall fires these are available in a range of styles to compliment or contrast both contemporary and traditional decor. The other advantage of Bio Ethanol fires is that they can also be taken outside!
The portable range of Bio Ethanol fires have no moving parts they are relatively weatherproof, although It is recommended that you check before purchase. These isn't anything better to create that special atmosphere during a summer evvening that a Bio Ethanol fire that could bring the extra little bit of sophistication to your event!

Popular among interior designers for thier contemporary finishes and the flexibility of their application, Bio Ethanol fires are poised to become the must have fires of 2011! Bio Ethanol fires are a stylish and convenient solution for those who lack a fireplace or even for adding a special touch to a dining room which otherwise might lack a certain warmth.

Many Questions spring to mind when considering the purchasing a Bio Ethanol Fire. The main one that comes to mind is What heat will it actually provide me?

Most of the larger Bio Ethanol fires would probably put out around 3kW of heat depending on where the fire is situated e.g. It would produce less heat if situated within an area of strong draft or near an opening door. 3kW is normally adequate to compliment existing heat sources and is more than which you would get with an electric fire.

Bio Ethanol Fires are easy to maintain and fill. To add fuel simply pour into the container and touch with a naked flame. To extinguish the flame simply replace the lid. Cleaning the fires only needs to occur every 3 or 3 uses and simply involves rinsing with soapy water. Read manufacturers safety instructions carefully before using and always follow precautions necessary with naked flames in a home and you should encounter no problems at all.

What Is Bioethanol

Ethanol or ethyl alcohol (C2H5OH) is a clear colourless liquid, mainly produced by the sugar fermentation process, although it can also be manufactured by the chemical process of reacting ethylene with steam.
The main sources of sugar required to produce ethanol come from fuel or energy crops. These crops are grown specifically for energy use and include corn, maize and wheat crops, waste straw, willow and popular trees, sawdust, reed canary grass, cord grasses, jerusalem artichoke, myscanthus and sorghum plants. There is also ongoing research and development into the use of municipal solid wastes to produce ethanol fuel.

Ethanol burns to produce carbon dioxide and water meaning that it is perfectly suited to being used in fires as it does not require a flue or are restricted into the location of a gas supply. This means the bioethanol fires are both incredibly efficient and very very flexible, with portable models available to be taken outside in summer

First Glimpse: Apex Biofuel Fires

With Apex's new range of Bio-Ethanol fires now on sale, Fires | Fireplaces | Stoves got to have a glimpse at two of their freestanding Bio-Ethanol Fires. The Apex Affinity and the Apex Duplex.

The first fire we got to see was the Apex Duplex, a dual purpose unit, combining a 100% efficient bio-ethanol fire with a stylish coffee table. This stunning piece of contempory furniture can instantly become the centrepiece of and modern living space, replacing the traditional and bulky fireplace and surround.

At first look the Duplex in it's stunning matt black finish with tempered glass fire guards is the definition of contemporary furnishing and when the fire is lit, giving up to 3kW of heat this fire instantly becomes the focal point of the room and bathing the room in that lovely warm glow.
The fire is easy to use, simply fill the reservior and light using a taper, the 1 litre capacity gives up to 5.5 hours of burn time and one of the main advantages of bio-ethanol is that they do not require any flue, installation or ventilation so can be placed almost anywhere in the house!

The other fire we got to have a look at was the Apex Affinity, this freestanding white fire comes complete in a white gloss finish that can contrast beautifully with a dark carpet or darkwood floor, also offering a heat output of upto 3kW these fires offer greater heat output that that of an electric fire without the sound of a noisy fan and at greater levels or reliability.

The sleek modern finish to the Affinity is capped with 2 sheets of tempered glass to protect any children or pets from the hot flames in the centre. The twin levels of the surround help this unit stand out from the very symmetrical world of traditional fireplace surrounds.

Both these fires, The Duplex and the Affinity have the flexibility to be situated either against a wall or in the centre of the room, allowing you to surround the fire as a centrepiece or to situate it against a wall much like a conventional fireplace.

They also boast the flexibility of just having the natural, uninhibited flames dancing in the fire or the fire can be purchased with an additional pebble fuel effect to add that extra little element to these stunning bio-ethanol fires.

Apex Biofuel Fires

We've just recieved word the Apex is planning to launch a new of Biofuel fires, they offer an all year round solution to enjoying the natural warmth and glow of a real flame anywhere. Burning an eco friendly ethanol based clean burning gel or bio ethanol fuel they can be used in both summer and winter time. They offer the perfect solution for a disused fireplace or modern house as no chimney or flue is required - place a portable gel fire in your exsisting aperture for an instant glow. Or if you have a blank wall or room select one of our wall mounted or free standing bio fires to light up any space instantly. On warmer summer evenings our portable fire bowls can be simply taken out into the garden as an environmentally friendly burner.

No Need for Gas, Electricity or Chimney

With the advantage of being able to be used anywhere the Apex Range Of Bio Fuel fires offer the perfect solution to heating indoors or outdoors without the need for costly installation. Running on a clean burning bio ethanol fuel eco friendly fires offer the perfect solution for creating instant heat in any situation. Producing real flames these instant bio fuel fires provide a convenient alternative for today’s busy lifestyles. Simply pour into the fuel and light for an instant glow.

With only one moving part there is no need for costly servicing making the products almost completely maintenance free. The real flames will provide a focal point for both summer and winter evenings, both indoors and out.

All of the Apex bio-fuel fires are eco-friendly as they are derived from the fermentation of crops therefore producing only carbon dioxide and water vapour when burning. With no smoke or fumes there is no need to connect to a chimney or flue.These bio-fuel fires instantly transform any space indoors or out with a comprehensive choice of ranges and styles we are sure to offer the perfect solution for any modern living space.

These fires can either be static focal points on a floorspace or on a wall mounted, there will even be a portable range, allowing the ultimate flexibility of where you want