Unlike oil, gas and coal, wood is a renewable resource, and as long as forests are properly replenished, we can heat homes with wood without depleting the earth's natural resources.  Wood is also a more economical means to home heating than relying solely on an oil or gas furnace.  Gathering wood is a healthy activity, adding a level of exercise to the day.  And of course, huddling in front of a smoldering fire after coming in from the cold is one of life's small pleasures. Burning wood is allot of work and can be a little dirty but their is a major gratification to seeing that low heating bill and knowing that your house  is as warm as you want it with out turning up that thermostat. I recently took the grate out of my fireplace and replaced it with a grate heater and now I'm heating my whole house with my fireplace. A fireplace is about 5% heat efficient and this they claim makes it a 120,000 BTU per hour furnace and I believe it you can’t make to big of a fire or you will run you’re self out. I bought the grate heater on ebay it was called insertafurnace it was the only one with a screen. I also found the website  http://www.insertafurnace.com/