Radiantly Speaking

December 11, 2015 By Kevin Kilbride

How Does Radiant Heat Stack Up Against the Alternatives?

Let’s start by defining several criteria for evaluation of heating systems

Efficiency: producing the maximum output with the minimum input

Environment: impact on the internal and external environment in terms of noise pollution, air pollution and health risk

Aesthetics: appearance in terms of equipment space requirements and visibility and opportunities to minimize adverse design impacts

Cost: product, installation, operating and maintenance costs

Effectiveness: overall evaluation of efficiency, environment, aesthetics and cost factors

December 4, 2015 By Steve Kilbride

Why is Electric Radiant Heat Less Expensive?

Our electric radiant heating systems are 15% less expensive than Hot Water Baseboard, 43% less expensive than Oil Hot Air, 52% less expensive than Heat Pump and 56% less expensive than Hydronic Oil.

The savings continue due to the ease of installation. You will also save time and money utilizing lower cost laborers compared to HVAC and Electrical professionals with our easy installation process.
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November 27, 2015 By Kevin Kilbride

Why is Radiant Heating More Effective?

Heat Loss According To The Second Law of Thermodynamics

Let’s start with the fundamentals and review a few laws of physics:

Heat goes to cold
High pressure moves low pressure
Hot air rises and cold air falls
Air that does not have a temperature differential hardly moves
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November 20, 2015 By Steve Kilbride

On-Time Heating System Project Completion

How does your heating system impact the on-time completion of your construction project?

Every Project Manager understands there are three key variables in any project:

Scope: what work needs done?
Time: how much time does it take to complete each task and when must it be completed?
Resources: what materials, equipment, people and money are required to complete the project?

November 13, 2015 By Kevin Kilbride

Total Cost of Heating System Ownership

A study of a 20-story, 392,000 square foot first class office building in downtown Montreal examined the 30 year life cycle costs of radiant vs. hydronic heat.

The building developer wanted an evaluation of alternative gas and electric perimeter heating systems for his proposed 532,500 square foot office building to be located in downtown Montreal.

November 6, 2015 By Steve Kilbride

Set It and Forget It!

This home, located in Burton, New Brunswick Canada proves just how energy efficient a SmartRooms home can be. Despite the 400+ square feet of glass, facing north, this 4,000 square foot home is very inexpensive to heat despite the cold climate.

While the home was built with energy efficiency in mind, it didn’t go overboard. The walls are constructed using ICF technology (R22), insulated windows and doors, and R50 in the ceiling. Fairly typical for home construction in 2004.
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October 30, 2015 By Kevin Kilbride

Electric Radiant Heat Outperforms Hydronic Radiant Heat

For a Multi-unit dwelling in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada, the numbers are in and they’re impressive!

More and more projects are using radiant heating as the primary heating system for the building. Whether that projects is a single detached residential home, an office and warehouse building, a high-rise office tower, etc., radiant heat is being deployed in all kinds of projects.

October 23, 2015 By Steve Kilbride

Saving Money with Radiant Heat

We partially converted a home from electric baseboard to radiant heat in a few rooms.

The owners so enjoyed the comfort of the radiant heating system they wanted it throughout their home including the entire extension. They replaced the electric baseboards in their kitchen, bathroom and laundry room with electric radiant heat. They also added about 2,000 additional square feet to the home.
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October 16, 2015 By Kevin Kilbride

Cathedral Ceilings and Radiant Heat

Quite often we are asked “Is radiant heat suitable for rooms with a cathedral (or sloped) ceiling”. The short answer is an unqualified yes!

Everyone is familiar with the concept that “hot air rises”. That’s true. Hot air is lighter than cold air and so it will naturally float to the top.

October 9, 2015 By Steve Kilbride

Time of Use and Off-Peak Rates

Utility companies will often offer their customers the ability to choose an alternative rate structure. Sometimes these are referred to as “Off-Peak” or “Time-of-Use” rates.

Utilities are often subject to peak demand. That is to say at certain points in the day their customers demand more energy than at other times. This peak demand usually occurs during the day.

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