How To: radiant heating/cooling

Radiant Heating and Cooling

Want even temperatures throughout your building while reducing energy consumption?  Think Radiant.  Radiant systems are becoming more and more popular as the demand for greener and more efficient energy use continues to rise.  And this demand doesn’t seem to be going anywhere any time soon.

Conventional HVAC systems can be costly and inefficient, wasting precious dollars and energy by having no regard for the different temperature control requirements of each room (hot spots, cold spots, etc.) Hot air just drifts to the ceiling and cold air falls to the floor  So much waste!

What a radiant heating and cooling system does is transfer energy through a surface such as a floor using hot or cold water.  The net result is that you’re able to provide a comfortable room temperature throughout your building without working your system to death.

Let’s break down the benefits of Radiant:

• • • Lower costs/Higher efficiency – Radiant heating and cooling uses less energy, keeping your utility payments low.  Also, pumping water requires less energy than circulating with fans.
    • Cleaner operation – Fuel is not burned using a radiant system, therefore it produces zero emissions.
    • Better looking – Ducts aren’t pretty.  Radiant systems are sneaky and hidden.
    • Takes up less space – Ductwork takes up a lot of space.  Can you imagine how many more options you’ll have for your interior setup with a radiant system?
    • Quieter – Everybody knows it when the blower kicks on.  And if you happen to work in radio, everybody knows it when the blower kicks on.

You will need a good boiler, however, if you’re thinking of going Radiant.  Now, a new boiler isn’t going to be cheap.  But, if you own a commercial building, consider the size of your energy bill each month and make a judgment call.  “Will I own this building long enough to reap the benefits of my new boiler and radiant heating system?”  That’s entirely up to you.  But I can tell you that upgrading your HVAC to a high-efficiency system will likely increase your building’s value, regardless of whether you intend to stay.

The average in savings from a Radiant system across the United States is in the ball park of 30% next to conventional heating and cooling systems, so making the switch can be well worth it.

Want to see if Radiant is right for you?  Give us a call, tell us what you got, and we’ll come up with an HVAC strategy that suits you.  Whether it’s a completely new installation, or if you’d just like to supplement your current conventional system with Radiant options, we can help you find the best heating and cooling solution for your building.