We got our heat from wood stoves for the first 12 years of my life. And they were efficient. Now with fireplaces, most of the heat goes up the chimney in smoke.
Builders are starting to offer fireplaces only as upgrades. I hate them. They have to be cleaned.
The newer woodstoves are really nice and extremely efficient. I don’t want one of them because the EPA told me so... I want one so I don’t have to load it as often and it will retain heat better than the older ones. In time, technology and consumer choice will reduce particulate matter far more than the EPA.
I love wood heat!