Date: March 19th 2003
To: Rocky Hill Cohousing
From: Bruce Coldham
Subject: Heating System Choices

		Space Heater		Furnace and Ducted Air		Boiler and Baseboard Radiator
space required		space in living room		space in basement for equipment, space for duct risers, wall and/or ceiling vents in individual rooms		space in basement for equipment, baseboard units along bottom edge of walls
distribution and control		single heater located in the first floor living space controlled at the unit (See note 1)		ducts controlled as a single zone		pipes multi-zone control for a small additional cost for each added zone
cooling		separate device required		can add cooling option to the system		separate device required
water heating (see note 2)		separate device required		separate device required		storage tank with “loop” off boiler
air filtration		separate device required		can add air filtration option to system		separate device required
air humidification		unit has a place to add water but it cannot be hooked directly into plumbing		can add air humidification option to system		separate device required
how to heat basement, and cost		another space heater or electric unit or loop off water heater (additional cost $700-1500)		extra duct work at nominal extra cost		extra loop at nominal extra cost
system cost		$2,000 —plus basement		$6,000-$7,000		$7,000-$8,000

Notes
1. Distribution is via the interior spaces of the house. The acceptability of the space heating option depends upon individual expectations of temperature differences between upper and lower floor within the house, and upon lifestyle (living patterns) particularly regarding propensities to leave bedroom doors open or closed. We have established in testing on a similar small house with a space heater on the lower floor that, on the coldest nights, a 5 degree temperature difference is to be expected between bedrooms on living space with bedroom doors open, and a 10 degree difference if the bedroom doors are closed.

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Envelope Enhancement with Space Heating

EESH Handout

Rocky Hill - Heating Systems and Envelope Considerations

Rocky Hill - Heating Options

Rocky Hill - Shifting Investment to Space Heating