Trying to figure out how to heat your house without wasting energy? Try installing direct heat beneath the floorboards or in the wall panels.  Known as radiant heat due to its transmission of thermal energy from one object to another (i.e. heat flows from the floor directly to objects and people), this type of system is more efficient than traditional baseboard heating since much less heat energy is lost in the piping system.  The other environmental advantage of radiant heat is that it is often electrical or hydraulic, meaning that it is possible to use solar and wind generation to supply the energy.  No fuel burning necessary.

This method of heating usually involves pipes or coils in rows directly beneath the floor.  Of the three basic types of radiant heating systems (air, electric, and hydraulic), the hydraulic seems to be the most economically justifiable.  They are usually cheapest to install.   Moreover, water is thousands of times more efficient as a conductor than air is.  Make sure not to use copper piping, though.  PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) tubing is a much better alternative due to its high insulating qualities.   Install a solar hot water heating system on your roof to power your radiant heating, and you can reduce your energy usage even more.

Installing a radiant heating system can help qualify you for LEED credits for your new home or remodeling.   The Radiant Panel Association has been working with the US Green Building Council and National Association of Home Builders to promote the connection between energy efficiency, economics and the environment.   Besides increased efficiency, radiant heating systems also may reduce the materials needed for traditional ducts.   The Association also notes that people with severe allergies have a more comfortable lifestyle with radiant heating since there is no air coming out of ducts into your living spaces.

Efficiency is awesome.  Especially when it involves renewable energy.

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Design teams are competing to make your hotel room greener.  The US Green Building Council has joined forces with The American Society of Interior Designers and The Hospitality Industry Network to launch the Sustainable Suite Design Competition.  The winning sustainable suite will be on display May 2010 at the Hospitality Design Expo (HDExpo) in Las Vegas, NV.
Hotels have given the nod to green (and savings) through low-flow showerheads, in-room recycling bins, and allowing guests to put the hold on towel and sheet changes.  LEED-certified element Hotels boast recycled carpet, low-VOC paints, and bathroom dispensers in lieu of individual bottles.  With fresh innovation, who knows what’s next?

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The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) has developed a set of guidelines, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), in an effort to provide a national standard for green building design. The pilot version of these guidelines was introduced in 2000 and has continually been expanded and revised. The current version for LEED New Construction and Major Renovation is Version 2.1. Standards also exist that specifically target Commercial Interiors, Core and Shell, Existing Buildings, and Residential Buildings.

The LEED rating system is based on achieving a certain number of points, which are allocated for design choices defined within the standard. There are 6 sections to LEED that target specific design criteria:
1. Site Selection
2. Efficient use of Water
3. Energy and Atmosphere
4. Materials and Resources
5. Indoor Environmental Quality
6. Innovative Design

Depending on the number of points achieved, the building can attain Platinum (52 – 69 points), Gold (39 – 51 points), Silver (33 – 38 points) or LEED certified (26 – 32 points) status. The intent of the LEED standard is to provide a design guideline and third-party certification tool for green buildings. Therefore, products cannot be LEED certified – only buildings can be. An architect or designer can make product choices that will help a building qualify for LEED points.

A few Contractors have concerns that their already narrow profit margins will shrink even more as the demand for “green” buildings increases and more and more environmentally responsible systems are added to specifications.
However, many mechanical contracting and engineering firms have found that going green can be a selling point. The group quickly gained notice after working on a building expansion that promotes building sustainability for businesses and residents through education, research, and technical assistance. It’s become a recognition tool for companies willing to research the Green Building movement and the LEED program, complete a project that satisifes LEED Certification – companies within the construction community that demonstrates the ability to successfully design, build, and support LEED project will become noticed and likely contacted for the many future GREEN building projects which will qualify for LEEDS Points.

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