Hot stuff: The changing ways we'll be heating our homes this winter

There are many ways to adopt clever interior design while keeping your home cosy

Nope, not logs, not gas, that’s a talented electric fire by Gazco. With vivid flame effects, an immersive, random LED light system creates a mesmerising display where a highly insulated house doesn’t demand the fierce heat of traditional flame. Look for new fuel-bed lighting and flame colour choices to set the mood in a pebble, crystal-ice or log look fire. Remote control allows set temperatures from 15C-25C, detects open windows, and will operate to a schedule for heat or a cosy ambience. Prices from €1,020. Suppliers include Cork Stoves, corkstoves.com.

THE future of central heating at home in Ireland is changing. It’s taken several cold shoves from the most environmentally aware, but it’s happening. 

SEAI grant assistance and the Building Regulations (part L) have been finessed to propel those building or renovating to install a renewable heat source, generally a sustainable air or ground sourced heat pump. Only natural gas can get anywhere near its economy. With carbon taxes heaped up year on year on our finite fossil fuels that competition may soon be over.