Research: Ventilation, Heating & Cooling

Last week Mark Luther suggested that we raise the floor to have a platform or a sub-floor unit, so that we could install a sub-floor ventilation beneath it. Apart from ventilation ducting, the space beneath can be use for water storage as well.

During summer, heat penetrates the space and it becomes very uncomfortable and very expensive as the air-conditioning has to work harder to cool the internal air. With the Ultrafan or powered roof ventilation, it expels hot air by a wind turbine (spinning ventilators) to remove trapped heat. Ultrafan is a low voltage roof exhaust fan; it ran on thermostat that turns the fan on and off as required. Also, it uses less power consumption and low noise attributes. Also, we are going to install air grilles on the side to allow fresh air into the building. The fresh air will then replace the internal hot air.

For heating and cooling, we are going to incorporate the idea of hydronics. Hydronics is the name for the use of water as the heat-transfer medium in heating and cooling systems. A hydronics system may include both a chilled and a heated water loop, to provide for both heating and air conditioning. Chillers are used separately or together as means to provide water cooling, while boilers heat water. The pipes, embedded in the floor, carry heated water that conducts warmth to the surface of the floor where it broadcasts energy to the room.

Here’s a link that gives a better understanding in installing a hydronic system:
http://www.radiant-floor-heating.com/hydronic_radiant_heating_installation.htm