Feeling the Heat Article:
Energy Efficiency and Green Building
by Jerry H. Simpson
Energy Efficiency and Green Building – Now more important than ever.
As I write this article the gulf coast has just been hit by the devastation of hurricane Katrina. From a human perspective it is truly a disaster and I encourage everyone to help out in anyway they can as brave folks struggle to get back on their feet while mourning the loss of loved ones and of their worldly possessions.
From a business perspective, it got me to thinking about things. When I saw the market today punish energy stocks as oil prices continue to rise I realized that there is maybe a business wake-up call in amongst this human tragedy.
We need to rethink the way we build and live in our homes. The focus has to be on energy efficiency and using products that make sense from the energy aspect but also from the sustainability aspect. It is time that we adopt – on a broad scale – new technologies and practices that decrease our reliance on traditional energy/building sources and welcome in these new technologies. It is not longer ok to say, “Well, that the way my dad did it, so it is good enough for me.” News flash! Your dad didn’t have access to all the tools that you do – use them!
Since this site is dedicated to heating systems, I will stop my rant and try to give a practical suggestion when it comes to heating your home.
If you are building a new home the heating system is one of the most important considerations. Comfort, health and energy efficiency are key. With this in mind, have you considered radiant heat?
Huh, what is radiant heat?
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Radiant Heat is Gentle!
The warmth and comfort we feel from the sun on a cool spring day or in front of a crackling fire on a cold winter's night is radiant heat. Radiant floor heating uses a very subtle form of this same radiant energy. Radiant heat gently and evenly warms the surfaces of objects in the room. The air in the room is warmed when it comes into contact with the warmed objects, the largest of which is the floor. Heat loss is reduced and the radiant heat remains in the lower part of the room, warmer near feet level and slightly less so at head level creating the perfect climate for comfort.
Most of us are used to homes being heated by air, either forced air, which is blown from a duct by a fan, or air that is heated by a baseboard heater or wall radiator, which is then distributed by convection.
The beauty of a radiant system is because the entire floor surface is so large, the temperature can be quite a bit lower than that of baseboard or wall radiators. Radiant Panel Association guidelines require that radiant floors should not exceed 85° in high traffic areas. To give you a feel for how moderate that temperature is, touch your own forearm. Human skin temperature is usually between 85° and 90°
Why is it more efficient?
The way that whole house radiant systems work is by pumping warm/hot water through piping that is installed underneath your floor coverings. Because of the physics behind radiant heat, it is a far more efficient way to heat your home. The water temperatures that are run through the systems are remarkably low. So low, in fact that some of them can even run off of solar heat. Solar heat is good, because the sun is truly a sustainable energy source. A combination of a radiant heat system with solar heated water delivers the kind of efficiency that we need in today’s homes. Now, of course solar doesn’t always work, check with your local experts..bla bla bla. But again, if you are building a new home, you owe it to yourself to check out radiant heat and the possibility of solar.
Why is it ‘green’? Why is it healthy?
There are many different definitions of ‘green’, but the most widely accepted are any product or products that are either derived from sustainable resources or contribute to energy efficiency and indoor air quality. For radiant heat, the last two are true. With traditional forced air heating, warm air is literally blown around your home, carrying with it allergens, dust and other impurities. Radiant heat has no moving air allowing you to control ventilation the way you want it without having to have ‘stuff’ blowing around your home. It is healthy for all the same reasons, allergies are lessened with radiant heat and we already covered energy efficiency!
More topics like this will be covered in the future on this site, visit our blog and give your own thoughts, experiences and ideas!
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About the Author : Jerry H. Simpson is a regular contributing writer to Feeling the Heat, a site about Solar Energy and Alternative Energy. While Jerry may not have a college degree, his passion about writing showcases his true talents and many interests. Among his favorite topics are conservation, alternative energy, radiant heating and fossil fuel alternatives. Jerry can be reached by email at Feeling the Heat.
