New developments in heating & cooling will allow you to breathe easy while investing less in energy. Your selection in heating, aerating and air-conditioning or HVAC system will be impacted by the energy requirements and their expenses. But there are also other factors including filtration, air quality, building environment and insulation that need to be considered. Here’s a guide on the wide variety of options for your brand-new log or timber home.
Wouldn’t it be fantastic if brand-new houses featured stickers on the windows that predicted their energy efficiency, similar to today’s automobiles? This would be especially helpful in this era of greater fuel costs. Our expectations of convenience have also altered significantly in recent years. Today we not only want to be completely comfortable whether it’s scorching or freezing outside, but we also want our indoor air to be tidy and germ-free, with simply a touch of humidity (especially in those rainforest areas).
Luckily all this is attainable in your brand-new timber house, provided you factor in a heating & cooling method long before you develop. We recommend specialists with experience in customised filtration systems, like Sigrist Design.
It is very important to consider your home as an overall system. Today’s modern-day log, lumber or timber homes can be developed to be super energy efficient. That’s why one has to approach the cooling and heating method on a whole-home basis. Instead of just cobbling together a furnace, hot water heater and a/c unit after the home is built, one needs to prepare an extensive method of how the house will run if you value your convenience and energy costs.
Location, Location, Location
A timber home in the dryer areas will require far more developed heating & cooling methods than one set along the coast. Is your area vulnerable to power blackouts, wind or frequent storms? Your regional environment will influence the design of your heating, aerating and air-conditioning (HVAC) system.
Air Quality Assurance
Because log and timber houses can be extremely tight, specialists advise a triple approach to preserve healthy indoor air.
Air-to-Air Exchangers
These mechanical units, which connect to a forced-air system, manage indoor air quality by attracting fresh air and ejecting stale air. Plus, they move 70% of the heat.
Humidifiers
Indoor air humidity in the winter can drop to as low as 5%, drying out your skin, lips and respiratory system not to mention damaging your house. A whole-house humidifier is an option, which ranges in expense from $400 to $800.
Ventilation Fans
Bathrooms geared up with motion-triggered or humidity delicate controls exhaust steam from showers and unwanted odours.
Look Up
A home’s greatest offender in energy loss is the roofing system. At issue is insulation and how reliable it is. Go over with your log and timber home producer how your roofing system will be configured, its expense and how it will affect the house’s energy performance.
Power Up
Your selection in the HVAC system will be impacted by fuel and its expenses. Gas is the predominant fuel in the West, fuel oil is common in the Northeast and propane is often used in locations when one can’t quickly access either. If your construction site lies far from the power grid, you’ll likely need to utilize alternative technologies, such as wind and solar energy.
Open Windows
To help keep your house cool in the summer season and warm in winter, window producers offer “low-e” coatings that block ultraviolet rays. Compare performance with U-value scores, which range from 1.20 to.20. The lower the number, the better the energy performance. In cold environments, a U-value of.3 to.5 is worth the extra you’ll pay for it.
The Heat Is On
Here’s a rundown on your heating alternatives:
Forced Air Furnaces:
Powered by either propane or natural gas, these units deliver warm air through flooring signs up. Least efficient 78 AFUE; most efficient 98.6 AFUE. Plus, they can be paired with air cleaning systems, including filters, ultraviolet lights, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, to kill germs and air-borne germs Con: They’re loud and offer poor comfort due to temperature variations within the house.
High-Velocity Forced Air:
Air delivered to a room enters at a greater speed (usually 2,000 ft/sec), producing better comfort. Plus, these systems cost less than standard forced air.
Now the idea has been updated to in-floor systems, a system that offers unrivalled comfort and energy efficiency. Con: Its slow action time for temperature level modifications make it not practical for occasionally going to vacation houses (which can be reduced with Internet-enabled controls).
Geothermal Heat Pumps:
Ground-source heat pumps utilize the earth or groundwater as a heat source in the winter season and a heat sink in the summertime. Pro: Energy is inexhaustible and it’s energy effective. Con: Needs a considerable parcel for underground excavation.
Plus, a huge selection of fuels are available; firewood, natural gas, lp, coal, oil, corn, wood and electrical power pellets. Con: Are not practical as a primary heat source.
Combination Systems:
Experts advise combining 2 or more systems to offer the supreme in comfort. Mike at 7 North, for instance, typically advises a radiant heat system on the basement level, with a high speed required air system for the upper floorings, which can provide both heat and cooling for summer season.
Going Green
If you’re seeking to tread very light in the world with your brand-new house, you have more choices than ever. What’s more, numerous states are using tax incentives to those who select these alternative innovations. So always consider an HVAC system before you begin building your home, for a unified and energy-efficient way to keep your home, heated, cooled and fresh.
