The Evolution of Heating in Portugal

1. The Evolution of Heating
Although today we can enjoy the warm and cozy feel of warming in front of the
fireplace, with a mug of hot chocolate or a good wine on a winter night, the
fireplaces were not always used for that purpose. From a survival item to a modern
appliance, the fireplaces have evolved over time and have a story to tell.
The History of Fire
From the beginning of time, even in its most primitive form, fire has been a
necessity for human survival. Essential for all of our ancestors,it helped them cook,
kept them warm and helped protect them from wild animals and other predators.
The ability of our ancestors to master fire was an important turning point for the
cultural aspect of human evolution, ensuring mobility and as a result, the
development of civilizations. Possibly the earliest contacts of primitive man with
fire must have come naturally when one observes the trees struck by lightning on
days of storms or the flames of volcanic activity. Observing these phenomena, man
has learned the properties of fire: heat, light, and the ability of some dry materials
to catch fire, such as wood. Just as controlling fire was essential for the
development of humans in the Stone Age, for the first farmers Neolithic period

2. wasan important factorfor the development of all human civilizationto the present
day. Throughout history, man has found different ways of using fire: light and heat
resulting from the rapid combination of oxygen, or in some cases gaseous chlorine,
with other materials. It was also used for cooking, to lighten the earth where the
man wasto plant,for applicationin earthenwarecontainersin order to makepottery
and the application in pieces of ore to obtain copper and tin, and then combine them
to make the bronze and later get the iron. Nowadays we can say that the evolution
of modern technology is characterized by increasing and increasing control over
energy.
The Fireplaces
Even though the exact date of the invention of the fireplaces is unknown, they are
known to have been used for thousands of years, beginning during the Stone Age as
simple excavated holes. In ancient times, the fireplace was a necessity, serving as
the main source of heat for the house and was used for cooking and roasting. Now,
in the 21st century, the fireplaces still serve as a source of heat and continue to
unite families but have turned into a luxury item in modern homes. During the
medieval period, bonfires were built in the middle of the living room of the
residences and smoke escaped through a hole in the ceiling. As there was not much
technique at that time, the burningwas inefficientandthe air pollutionin the house
wascontinuous. In addition, soot and ashes spread throughout the environment. The
chimney placement in the fireplaces was still in the middle ages, which greatly
facilitated the use of the piece. As early as the eleventh century, two-storey
buildings were more common, and with this change in design, owners changed the
fireplace to the outer wall, leading to the invention of the modern chimney. In the
1740s, Benjamin Franklin created the Franklin Stove, a very popular wood-burning
stove with cast-iron design, producing more heat and located in the center of the
room. After the War of Independence of the United States ended in 1783, the
fireplace became the centerpiece of the house, built with iron and decorated with
borders and elements that sent back to the time. In 1796, Sir Benjamin Thompson
- also called Count Rumsford - designed a new model of fireplace, which lasted until
1900 and served as the basis for all today's fireplaces. His design was taller,
narrower and shallow, with slopes on both sides. Later in the mid-1800s, when
families began to burn charcoal instead of wood, there was a shift in design to
horseshoe-shaped cast iron styles. More ornate fireplacedesigns emerged with the
Victorian era in 1837. Marked by the great advancement in the arts and

3. architecture, the fireplace gains highly decorative status. Artisans and artists,
innovate in materials and create true works of art. There was improvement in the
structure of the chimneys reducing the pollution in the environment, increasing the
safety and the efficiency of the burning. Over the centuries, the fireplace has also
given rise to the creation of new heating techniques. In the 20th century, fireplace
designs have become simpler, with stone or brick molds. Today, much more modern
and economical, they come in many shapes, designs and operate in propane and
electric heat.
Ecological heating
The new models of fireplacesare incrediblyefficient,producinga lot of heat
to heat the houses, which means that you can use less energy powered by fossil
fuels. High-output fireplaces produce such a small amount of emissions that they
qualify as smoke-free heat sources, and wood is a sustainable source of energy,
unlike fossil fuels.

4. Heat recuperator and fireplace
There are very few differences between a stove and fireplace. The benefit of
both is the meso: the warmth of your home.
Both heat recuperators and fireplaces guarantee the efficient production of heat
that stays in the space, guaranteeing a great use. A fireplace (formerly known as a
stove) is an interior structure used for space heating, such as a stove.
What are the characteristics of a fireplace?
The traditional fireplace consists of two main parts: a space coated with non-
flammable materials where wood is burned and a chimney that allows the smoke
and other particles to escape.
Nowadays, modern fireplaces can use different power sources: there are models
of gas fireplaces and electric fireplaces, which allow a more practical application
of the concept, without the disadvantage of smoke and odors, as well as any hot
particles that may jump out of the fireplace and cause damage nearby.
Although its functionality has been changing, a fireplace continues to be a key
element of decorating a space, while maintaining its primary mission of
contributing to the warmth of the place in colder times. In addition to encouraging
coexistence in a cozy space, wood-burning fireplaces and pellet fireplaces are the
most economical and effective.
Although its functionality has been changing, a fireplace continues to be a key
element of decorating a space, while maintaining its primary mission of

5. contributing to the warmth of the place in colder times. In addition to encouraging
coexistence in a cozy space, wood-burning fireplaces and pellet fireplaces are the
most economical and effective.
As far as pellet fireplaces are concerned, the raw materials used do not require
the cutting of trees, since they are by-products of wood which are not normally
used in another way, while at the same time saving on electricity and gas costs.
Truth be told, there is nothing better than to snuggle up in front of the fire on
those cold winter days and watch it crackle as the heat sinks in.
Is the stove a good alternative to the fireplace?
The stove is made of sheet steel or cast iron, with a glass-ceramic glass side
door or guillotine, which allows the emanation of heat through the glass and the
surrounding structure. This makes the stoves safer when compared to the
fireplaces, since it is a closed system and therefore easier to control.
Although a flue is not required to extract the fumes in this type of equipment, a
cold air intake from the outside is essential to minimize the production of highly
harmful Carbon Monoxide (CO). The heat recuperators allow to breathe new air in
several divisions of a house, reason why they contribute to the optimization of the
quality of the inner air, in addition to its obvious function of heating.
In addition to the wood or pellet systems, there are alternatives: gas and
electric stove.