Radiant heating and cooling system in ecosmart house
A REHAU radiant heating and cooling system will be used to distribute geothermal energy throughout the REHAU MONTANA ecosmart house, keeping occupants warm in the winter and comfortably cool in the summer. The system will circulate a heat transfer fluid through REHAU 1/2 in. RAUPEX crosslinked polyethylene (PEXa) pipes embedded in the concrete and suspended wood floors of the home. The pipes will be connected to the geothermal heat pump system which provides the warm or chilled water depending upon the season. In harmony with this system, geothermal-conditioned outdoor fresh air will be circulated and dehumidified through air ducts that will also connected to the geothermal heat pump system.
How radiant heating and cooling systems work
Radiant systems work by circulating warm or chilled fluid through a network of pipes placed in or under a buildingís floors, walls or ceilings. Warm fluid circulating through the pipes during the heating season gently warms the space, virtually eliminating cold spots and temperature fluctuations. Chilled fluid circulating through the pipes during the cooling season, allows the cooled surface to remove heat energy from the room.
During the cooling season, humidity must also be removed to achieve a completely comfortable environment. This is accomplished by circulating air through a duct system. Although water can transport more than 3,000 times as much energy as air (per unit volume), the most comfortable and efficient climate conditioning system takes advantage of both water and air to temper the building in all seasons.
Properly designed radiant heating and cooling systems provide exceptional comfort while reducing energy costs. By allowing occupants to lower thermostat settings in the winter and raise thermostat settings in the summer, radiant systems can reduce fuel consumption by up to 30 percent.
Radiant systems are ideally suited for use with geothermal systems. A geothermal heat pump operates most efficiently at the temperate water temperatures required by radiant systems.
Other advantages of radiant systems include precise room-by-room zoning and comfortable, efficient performance with all types of floor plans, high ceilings and a variety of floor coverings including hardwood, ceramic tile and natural stone.