On July 30, 2022, when it was in the mid 90s in Bellevue, The Lodge at Bellevue Square was running the gas fireplace at 523 Bellevue Way NE.
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They do it, I presume, for the sake of “ambience” or mood. I’ve seen similar fireplaces burning in the lobbies of condo buildings, office towers, movie theaters, and hotels such as the W. I documented two such fireplaces in this 2018 article: Fireplaces burning in the summer when it’s 90 degrees!.
It sure is wasteful. It uses more energy, releases more carbon, and makes the visitors more uncomfortable.
Images from 2018:
