Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: Common House Fireplaces

[Witten & Fitch (lll]

Yes, we have a fireplace at Pioneer Valley (Amherst, MA).  It is in the
great room (dining room).  Actually it is a masonry heater, which burns a
faster, more efficient fire, that then stores the heat in the masonry for
slow release rather than sending it up the chimney.  It is used at least
twice a week in the winter (before meals), and often committees meet around
the fireplace at non-meal times.  It is also used for parties.

The masonry heater has a glass door.  It can be left with the flue open
without great heat loss.  Our group debated very long and hard between this
and a traditional fireplace.  Not only is a traditional fireplace very
inefficient, but in a place like a commonhouse, I don't think it can be used
very easily because of the inherent maintenance issues (fire burn down and
flue closing).  Do members really want to hang out all evening waiting for
the fire to die, just because they wanted a little atmosphere at dinner?

I think it would be nice to also have a gas fireplace in our small front
living room, which is also a favorite committee meeting area, and a place
where people occasionally sit to read their mail.  The nice thing about a
gas fire place, is that it is very easy to use (even after 6 years there are
many community members who are intimidated about lighting a fire in a
fireplace and have never done it!).  It can also be turned off after a
meeting without having to worry about the fire burning down and the flue
being closed.  And it is inexpensive (no masonry chimney!).

Hope this helps, Laura Fitch (Pioneer Valley cohousing)


> -----Original Message-----
> From: cohousing-l [at] freedom2.mtn.org
> [mailto:cohousing-l [at] freedom2.mtn.org]On Behalf Of John Abrams
> Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2000 9:05 AM
> To: Multiple recipients of list
> Subject: Common House Fireplaces
>
>
> Do many of you have fireplaces in your common houses?  Are they used
> and appreciated or, if you don't have, do you wish you did?  Any
> comments you can offer will be appreciated.
>
> John Abrams
> South Mountain Company Inc. and
> Island Cohousing, West Tisbury, MA
> (where there is tremendous excitement as first five houses will be
> occupied April 15th, next five May 15th, and final six June 15th -
> Common House construction has just begin . . .  )
>