- comfort during hot seasons
- power hungry systems
- luxury amenities
- no so much required in our mild climates
- dangerous for health (allergies, colds, dry throat, etc.)
In order to reduce the electrical expense, one may instal photovoltaic solar panels, as per the clean power show, session #4.
A second option consists in using the heating floor system in a reverse mode becoming a cooling floor. The feedbacks reveal mitigated impressions on its real cooling efficiency. Besides, its is often subjected to condensation or cracks since it requires an accurate dimensioning and installation.
It should be noticed that geothermal installations usually provide such ability to reverse heat and cold.
A last option but not the least, is brought by the canadian dwell (combined to a centralized mechanical ventilation). In such a configuration, the outside air is simply cooled down by the outside ground temperature, without any drawbacks such as dry throat or allergy.
It should be noticed that such a system provides a reversed heating function during winter.
Now, what choice could you make ? Well, basically, it depends on your location as well as on a very important factor: the isolation performance (see my previous post on that topic).
- For hot climate conditions, the first option is a must, as well as for house having poor isolation performance. It does not prevent you from spending efforts and money on that last point.
- The second option (cooling floor) is rather dependent from your heating system choice. Indeed, you will always install a heating floor because of its nice heating performances, and by the way, you may find beneficial to use the same floor as a cooling system.
- The last option (canadian dwell) may suffice in many configurations, provided that you applied simultaneously a good isolation performance.
In my opinion, compared to the other options, this is definitely the best area where to spend you money !
