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© Hearth & Home Technologies
© Hearth & Home Technologies
© EcoSmart
© EcoSmart
© Hearth & Home Technologies
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Hearths get hot
By Gwendolyn Bounds of The Wall Street Journal
After a difficult 2009, when home building stagnated, hearth manufacturers are now leaning on fresh designs, more efficient technology and novel fuel options to help drive sales of stoves and fireplaces.
Seeing Red
A see-through Red gas fireplace from Heat & Glo comes in a variety of stone and glass options and starts at $5,699.
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Hearths get hot
Floating fire?
The Heat & Glo Solaris 36 ST gas fireplace costs $11,999 and gives the illusion of a levitating flame.
This kind of design is gaining traction with homeowners who want a more fashion-forward appliance than the standard open fireplace or wood stove.
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Hearths get hot
You can take it with you
New appliances that run on renewable fuels are also becoming more popular. The portable EcoSmart Zeta unit is made of leather, stainless steel and plywood. It runs on bioethanol and costs $10,900.
It needs no special venting, unlike most wood-burning fireplaces.
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Hearths get hot
Throwback look
Another model in EcoSmart's bioethanol line is this Retro fireplace.
Last year, a different bioethanol-appliance manufacturer, Decoflame USA of Gardena, Calif., began selling fireplaces that can hang like flat-screen TVs and run on fuel derived from beets, sugar cane and corn.
- Bing Cube: View images of modern fireplaces
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Hearths get hot
Another fuel option
The Quadra-Fire Edge 60 is billed as the world's only pellet-fueled fireplace. Pellets are considered a low-emission alternative fuel.
- MSN Lifestyle: How to fill your fireplace when it's not in use
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more from WSJ.com
