Platinum LEED Home Colorado: Hydronic Radiant Heating and Cooling
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INTEGRATED SYSTEMS
Geoexchange
Solar Hot Water
Energy Recovery VenƟlaƟon
Radiant Hydronic
Solar Photovoltaics
Costs and Benefits
Systems Controls
ECO FRIENDLY PRODUCTS
Recycled/Reused Materials
Landfill Avoidance
HeaƟng, Cooling, VenƟlaƟon
Timber Frame and Framing
FoundaƟon, FooƟng, Slab
Roofing
InsulaƟon and Sheathing
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Plumbing
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OUR PARTNERS
INTEGRATED DESIGN TEAM
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REAL TIME ENERGY USE
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Radiant Heating and Cooling
Radiant floor heaƟng systems supply heat directly to the floor or walls in a home or building.
This depends largely on radiant heat transfer, which is the natural transfer of heat to objects
of a cooler temperature. Radiant floor heaƟng is more efficient than forced-air heaƟng
because it avoids thermal losses associated with improper duct design and insulaƟon. The
www.energyhomes.org
greatest benefit of radiant heat is comfort. Every object in a room becomes warm and
contributes to the overall atmosphere so that the living space maintains an even
temperature, with no air currents, blowing dust, or cold spots, and radiant heat doesn't dry
out the air, like forced air systems. For a discussion on how the hydronic radiant system is
integrated with solar hot water collectors and a geothermal heat pump, visit the Integrated
Systems secƟon.
Radiant Cooling
Radiant cooling is an underuƟlized technology because of potenƟal condensaƟon if the
system is leŌ to run unchecked. This is especially true in humid climates. However, in semi
arid climates such as Colorado, radiant cooling is easily applicable with the simple installaƟon
of a dew point sensor to monitor condensaƟon potenƟal. On the rare event that condiƟons
are favorable for condensaƟon on the system, the sensor merely shuts down the cooling to
prevent this. See below for a descripƟon and resource for the dew point sensor.
Radiant cooling provides an energy and cost saving alternaƟve soluƟon to central AC, when
combined with a water-to-water geothermal heat pump. A typical home which uƟlizes
radiant heaƟng, most likely will have to install ductwork and purchase a central air unit in
order to supply cooling for the home. Enabling heaƟng and cooling with a water-to-water
geothermal heat pump avoids these addiƟonal costs and thermal losses associated with
installaƟon of a central forced air system. EEC's plaƟnum LEED home will provide a
Members of the USGBC
demonstraƟon of the applicability of radiant cooling in Colorado.
PlaƟnum LEED Home Hydronic Radiant System
Informational Links
EEC’s showcase home incorporates hydronic radiant heaƟng and cooling in combinaƟon with
USGBC Colorado Chapter
solar hot water collectors and a water-to-water geothermal heat pump. The majority of the
DOE EERE
home has high mass in floor radiant heaƟng and cooling in which tubing is laid in the floor in
gypcrete. Some other features of the radiant system include: Garage, driveway, and porches Our Cool House
all have radiant in the concrete to provide snow and ice melt and controlled through sensors Colorado Governor's Energy
and switches; Hot water radiant behind bathroom mirrors will prevent condensaƟon during Office
showering; Radiant tubing in walls to be circulated with cold water, creaƟng a "cool pantry"
and wine cellar. See pictures below.
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Platinum LEED Home Colorado: Hydronic Radiant Heating and Cooling http://www.platinumleedhome.com/renewableenergysystems/radianthydr...

Radiant tubing is laid in zones throughout the enƟre home.

The tubing is then covered with Therma-Floor, a gypsum underlayment for high mass radiant
floors.

View of downstairs radiant tubing.

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Radiant zone controls.

Whole house radiant zone system controls.

Radiant floor tubing being installed on the ground level of the home. Concrete is then poured
over the tubing.

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Radiant heaƟng installed in bathroom wall. The floor space is insufficient to provide enough
BTUs for the space, so radiant is installed in the wall to add heat..

Radiant tubing is being installed on the front porch and driveway of the home where excess
hot water from the solar hot water system will be used for radiant snow melt.

Above, workers pour concrete over radiant tubing installed on the front porch.

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Below, we list the products and controls that are incorporated into EEC's radiant floor heaƟng
and cooling system.

Therma-Floor®

Therma-Floor® is a gypsum underlayment designed to pour over hot water tubes or electric
heaƟng cables. It acts as the thermal mass for any radiant floor system. Therma-Floor
encases the tubes or cables in crack resistant, noncombusƟble gypsum. Its special formula
resists breakdown to 150ºF (66ºC). And because it's poured only 1-1/4" (32 mm) thick, the
heaƟng system is more responsive and more comfortable.

Now always a "green" building material, Therma-Floor is an ideal soluƟon for sustainable
building projects.

GE Telaire Vaporstat 9002 Infrared Dewpoint Sensor

www.gesensing.com

The Vaporstat ™ is the first commercial infrared dew point sensor that directly measures
absolute humidity by counƟng the number of water molecules in air. The sensor display
provides a user selectable display of grains/lb of dry air or °F dew point. The Vaporstat ™ is
designed for direct in-duct or wall mounƟng applicaƟons and is compaƟble with all of
Telaire's accessory enclosures. The Vaporstat ™ provides a similar performance to a chilled
mirror, but is a fracƟon of the cost and requires considerably less adjustment and
maintenance.

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