If one were going to build a home today in an exclusive (multi-million
$) housing area between 6,500 and 7,000 foot altitude, what would be
considered state-of-the-art in heating systems? This area gets heavy
snow in the winter. Also, considering that the house is pretty
high-end, would it be common to forget about air conditioning even
though there would be some pretty warm days in the summer?

Geothermal heat pump.

"Dick" LeadWinger wrote in message
...
If one were going to build a home today in an exclusive (multi-million
$) housing area between 6,500 and 7,000 foot altitude, what would be
considered state-of-the-art in heating systems? This area gets heavy
snow in the winter. Also, considering that the house is pretty
high-end, would it be common to forget about air conditioning even
though there would be some pretty warm days in the summer?

quiet wind with permits and approvals in advance.
you'll want air conditioning to handle heat and/or humidity.

"Bob" wrote in message
...
Geothermal heat pump.


Have they gotten more cost effective? After geothermal, a good solar system
but that depends on how much sun you get too. In any case, the system should
have backup if power lines are down or it would not be so state of the art.

In addition to a good heating system, I'd want state of the art construction
for maximum thermal efficiency using something like ICFs (insulating
concrete forms) www.polysteel.com or www.integraspec.com

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
"Bob" wrote in message
...

Geothermal heat pump.



Have they gotten more cost effective? After geothermal, a good solar system
but that depends on how much sun you get too. In any case, the system should
have backup if power lines are down or it would not be so state of the art.

In addition to a good heating system, I'd want state of the art construction
for maximum thermal efficiency using something like ICFs (insulating
concrete forms) www.polysteel.com or www.integraspec.com


Hmmm,
Wind power generation.
Who live in the house better have good pair of lungs, LOL.
Tony

Dick LeadWinger wrote:

If one were going to build a home today in an exclusive (multi-million
$) housing area between 6,500 and 7,000 foot altitude, what would be
considered state-of-the-art in heating systems?

Solar heat from a sunspace :-) Higher altitudes have more sun, and thinner
air makes insulation work better: each 1000' reduces the heat loss by 5%.

Nick

Over a long period of time, they can be cost effective. Even if you have to
change out the equipment after 15 years, you can still use the existing
ground loop. In any case, the OP simply asked for a state of the art heating
system in exclusive (multi-million $) housing area. He didn't ask about
price or cost effectiveness.
If done right, the air temps coming out a geothermal are much warmer than an
air-to-air heat pump and he'd have built-in air conditioning. If he were to
build that type of house with no duct work, you'd have a hard time
re-selling, especially if they get "some pretty warm days in the summer".

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
t...

"Bob" wrote in message
...
Geothermal heat pump.


Have they gotten more cost effective? After geothermal, a good solar
system
but that depends on how much sun you get too. In any case, the system
should
have backup if power lines are down or it would not be so state of the
art.

In addition to a good heating system, I'd want state of the art
construction
for maximum thermal efficiency using something like ICFs (insulating
concrete forms) www.polysteel.com or www.integraspec.com

State of the art would be quality passive solar design, Sips
construction with R 80 ceiling, Insulated foundation and under basement
floor. Tri pane glass LowEargon, high solar heat gain glass SHG, with
proper sun in summer permanent awnings, even an insulating foam core
auto exterior closing shutter panel system. Insulated curtains with
cellular shadees in tracks. Window R value closed could be R 40.
A combination of heat sources depending on what you could afford ,
Solar- wind powered, Geothermal heat pump radiant floor heat with AC and
Ng or propane backup Heating costs could on a pay basis be 1/20 th of
normal houses, a key point in keeping expensive costing heat and energy
options down. AC you would have forced air so Ac additional is cheap, A
VS DC blower would run on humidistat for days when humidity removal is
only important. Its all standard equipment, just pick it right.

Dont forget wood stoves and an outside air recovery set up.

"Bob" wrote in message
...
Over a long period of time, they can be cost effective. Even if you have
to
change out the equipment after 15 years, you can still use the existing
ground loop. In any case, the OP simply asked for a state of the art
heating
system in exclusive (multi-million $) housing area. He didn't ask about
price or cost effectiveness.

Another thought assuming people start using geothermal. How long before
environmentalist whackos start complaining we are taking all the heat our of
the earth and causing a new ice age?

I've actually already heard that argument. I they can argue it out with the
global warming people.

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
.. .

"Bob" wrote in message
...
Over a long period of time, they can be cost effective. Even if you have
to
change out the equipment after 15 years, you can still use the existing
ground loop. In any case, the OP simply asked for a state of the art
heating
system in exclusive (multi-million $) housing area. He didn't ask about
price or cost effectiveness.

Another thought assuming people start using geothermal. How long before
environmentalist whackos start complaining we are taking all the heat our
of
the earth and causing a new ice age?

m Ransley errs again:

State of the art would be quality passive solar design, Sips
construction with R 80 ceiling...

Less could work, esp since insulation works 5% better per 1000' of elevation.

Insulated foundation and under basement floor.

Maybe not, since warm air rises.

Tri pane glass LowEargon, high solar heat gain glass SHG...

That's 20-year-old "mass and glass," vs the state of the art! :-)

... an insulating foam core auto exterior closing shutter panel system.
Insulated curtains with cellular shadees in tracks. Window R value closed
could be R 40.

Expensive and hard to seal at the edges. Better to circulate warm air
between the living space and a low-thermal-mass sunspace with lots of
south glazing during the day and let the sunspace get cold at night.

AC you would have forced air so Ac additional is cheap A VS DC blower
would run on humidistat for days when humidity removal is only important.

Cooling and dehumidification are unlikely needs at that altitude.

NREL says 660 Btu/ft^2 falls on the ground and 1240 falls on a south wall
on an average 20.6 F December day with a 34.9 high in Eagle, CO at 6513'.
The average temp in July is 66.6, with an 86.0 daily high and a 47.2 low
and humidity ratio w = 0.0079 (very dry.)

A 40'x60'x8' tall house with 192 ft^2 of R4 windows and R48 (12" SIP)
walls and ceiling and 0.2 ACH would have 192/4 = 48 Btu/h-F of window
conductance + 1408/4829 = 29 for walls + 2400/48 = 50 for the ceiling
plus about 0.2x40x60x8/60 = 64 for 64 cfm of air leakage, totaling 191.
With 600 kWh/mo (2843 Btu/h) of indoor electrical use, it would only
need (65-20.6)191-2843 = 5637 Btu/h of heat, ie 135K Btu/day or 676K
for 5 cloudy days in a row. Solar gain through the windows is gravy.

A $1 square foot of R1 polycarbonate solar siding or sunspace glazing
with 90% solar transmission might gain 0.9x1240 = 1116 Btu/day and lose
6h(120-27)1ft^2/R1 = 558, for a net gain of 558 Btu/day, so we could heat
the house with 135K/558 = 242 ft^2 of glazing, eg an 8'x30' wall.

We could store heat for 5 cloudy days in a row in P pounds of water
cooling from 120 to 80 F, where 676K = (120-80)P, so P = 16900 lb,
eg 263 ft^3 in a 2' deep x 13' diameter welded-wire fence tank with
a plastic film liner, which might also contain a $60 1"x300' PE pipe
coil to make hot water for showers.

Nick

On Sun, 08 Jan 2006 01:30:08 GMT, Bubba ReMoVe
wrote:

On Fri, 06 Jan 2006 18:43:27 -0700, Dick LeadWinger wrote:

If one were going to build a home today in an exclusive (multi-million
$) housing area between 6,500 and 7,000 foot altitude, what would be
considered state-of-the-art in heating systems? This area gets heavy
snow in the winter. Also, considering that the house is pretty
high-end, would it be common to forget about air conditioning even
though there would be some pretty warm days in the summer?

Exclusive multi-million $ housing and you want to know if you should
forget about air conditioning in an area that can use it?
Do you know how damn stupid that sounds?
Bubba

Well, it seems stupid to me, but I am not the one building the house.
I would say that 95% of the houses in this area don't have A/C. Claim
it isn't necessary. This is high mountain country in the middle of
ski resorts.

passive solar for sure.. smart design (southfacing windows) and proper
insulation will cover most of your daytime/sunlight heating. a
properly designed house at that altitute may not need airconditioning,
either, with cooling fans, porches, etc.

take a look at ideas he
www.sunplans.com

EmilyS