I spoke with Shane from Radiant Floor Company this morning about the dimensions of the heat exchanger. The space for the mechanicals (on-demand water heater, well pressure tank and heat exchange) will all have to fit into a small closet in the kitchen/open-living space. He explained that he was currently working on a small custom system and that it would not be a problem. We should order all of the supplies 2 1/2 weeks prior to the date we need it which will not be a problem.
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Chris got information back from Radiant Floor Company and we decided to go with them . They have an Energy Star rated on-demand hot water heater, an easy plan for winterizing the system and it seemed as though the DIY instructions were something he could do. They were super expedient with getting out their materials and a quote, as well. It actually seemed as though they wanted our business. That is one huge box checked and a weight off our shoulders. The heat exchanger system will provide us with hot water for our shower and kitchen sink and also heat the anti-freeze mixture in the floor to provide us with consistent heat. According to the company's website, the heat exchanger system can proThe Takagi in-demand water heater is 95% efficient and claims to be both powerful and quiet. It is also easy to vent the heater to the outside if it is in the mechanical closet in the kitchen. My only concern is having enough room in the mechanical closet to fit all of the pipes for the system.
Jen from Efficiency Vermont sent us an email this week with some answers to our sticking points (doors and heating system). She gave us several ideas for slider patio doors that would work for our porch. The new options she provided us for the heating options are as follows:
"Cold Climate Heat Pump Pros: All electric, which would work well if someday you have Solar PV units installed Able to both heat and cool the home with one system No ductwork necessary The most energy efficient way to heat and cool your home Can be set up with Wi-Fi control so you can set thermostat remotely Cons: There may be 2-4 days during the winter when the heat pump is not able to provide heat to the home, may require a source for modest supplemental heat (need to discuss this before making any decisions on what type and how much would be allowed) Higher power bill (though it will be less in comparison to a fossil fuel bill for heating months) Locating inside units can be tricky Would need to have separate ENERGY STAR water heater Boiler Pros: More options for location of heat registers Provides heat even on coldest days Hot water can come from same unit Can be set up with Wi-Fi control so you can set thermostat remotely Cons: Not able to take advantage of any Solar PV units, if installed Need fuel tank for fuel Initial install may be more costly Would need separate AC unit for cooling Woodstove Pros: Nice source of heat using local fuel Can provide supplemental heat for when heat pump is unable to meet set temperature Cons: Only available when on site – can’t be started remotely Lots of floor space to accommodate unit Needs dedicated fresh air supply per Vermont State Code – possible source of air infiltration when not in use I first contacted Efficiency Vermont via email last summer. Bruce, a local Residential Energy Consultant, returned my email and we spoke via phone for quite a spell. I was curious about how Efficiency Vermont could help us build an energy efficient cabin. Our primary concern was heating and cooling for a 16x24 cabin that would be built on piers on top of a rock outcropping. Bruce recommended an air to water heating system. He also passed on our information to an Energy Consultant with Efficiency Vermont who would continue to help us with our tiny cabin. Jen S.(She is awesome.), the Residential Energy Consultant assigned to our project introduced herself via email. We then connected over the phone and she explained how we could build an energy efficient cabin. If we followed the steps, the final product would be "green certified". This would help with our energy bills and the quality of the cabin. Jen S. and I emailed back and forth and then she came out to meet us on-site. During our two+ hour meeting, we discussed all of the points on the document above and developed the following plans. Floor Insulation(exposed)
Ceiling Insulation
Insulation Installation
Chimney for Wood Stove
Ventilation
Windows and Doors Our hope was to have Andersen 400 windows and French doors. The windows were fine with U-Factor of .28/ . However, a couple of the windows and the French doors came in at U-.29 or U-.30. Jen recommended looking into a different brand of windows and sliding doors, in lieu of French doors. We are still working on this. Maybe Pella windows and doors would be a better option? Heating and Cooling
This is another area we are still trying to figure out. On-Demand hot water, radiant floor heating, baseboard heating, mini-split... We will probably go with radiant floor heating. There will be a Noble combi boiler unit that will heat the floor and make hot water for the house. |
Tamara7th Grade Social Studies Teacher Archives
December 2019
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