Looking for ways to lower my electric bill

[OnionPatch]

I just had a house built with a standard heat pump and electric appliance hookups, no gas. My electric bills have been high, which I'm sure is nothing other people don't experience but I'm on a retirement budget and wish I had looked into alternatives.

I'm coming into a small inheritance and would like to use some of it to invest in something that will help. From what I read it would be inefficient to have electric appliances with a solar system but it's too late for that now. The cost of the solar, plus changing out all my electric appliances is over my budget.

I have 8 acres of solid woods and enough trees to keep a fireplace going indefinitely, if managed, so I've been thinking of getting a fireplace installed and heating with wood. A fireplace might at least warm the great room, where we spend most of our time. I have space to have a fireplace installed but not enough floor space for a wood stove. However, I keep reading that fireplaces are inefficient. Maybe it would be a waste of money to have one installed. Can anyone give me some insight into heating with a fireplace? Are there types of fireplaces that are more efficient? Thanks!