Are fireplaces good energy savers?
Not really. In most fireplaces all the energy from the burning wood, plus some from the house, is lost up the flue stack. Unless you have a vent to bring outside air right to the fireplace, and house (most homes don’t have this vent), cool air being sucked in from the outside will flow past, and turn on, the gas furnace or electric baseboard heater thermostats. Your electric costs could rise.
