So I’m waiting to get into a Team Fortress 2 server and saw a photo of Dave Eliuk and the future Mrs. Eliuk, Steph’s new house being built. Their house has in-floor heat! And while, no, it’s not a new technology, it seems like a no brainer. I guess this post might turn into a technical series, but hey, I’m in the industry, and it’s a good thing I know. For the way more experienced and intelligent folks out there that may come across this blog, if you see an error please let me know, nothing worse than incorrect information.
Anyways.
So in-floor heating. Quick explanation of how it works:
Water goes into a boiler (usually fueled by fossil fuels like natural gas or fuel oil), comes out hot, the hot water runs through pipes that go under your floor and via the temperature gradient (temperature difference) warms up the floor and thus your feet. And similarly, since the temperature of the floor is higher than the air temperature of the ambient, heat is also transferred to you via radiation. One thing to note: heat radiation isn’t like…gamma rays that’ll mutate your DNA or X-Rays, it’s just thermal energy, and believe it or not, it’s the #1 contributor to thermal comfort for human beings. It can be 5C outside but if the sun is shining that’s the warmth you feel.
So with that said, here are the major attractive factors to in floor heat, and using hot water heating systems (hydronic heating):
1. Instead of heating up air with combustion, heating up water is an EXTREMELY more efficient. The proof is in the numbers: compare the specific heat of air and water and see how much more energy it takes to heat up air of a certain mass by 1 degree.
2. Instead of warming up the entire house to an ambient temperature where you will feel warm, why not just feel warm even though the ambient air isn’t actually as high?
3. Boilers are generally, note GENERALLY (there are high efficiency furnaces) more efficient than furnaces, that’s part of #1, but also that if designed properly and for a large enough application, you can get a condensing boiler that will have efficiencies well over 90% under proper operating conditions. A lot of caveats, yes, but you can get the numbers.
There are disadvantages too I guess, the complexity of the system, the piping, the circulation pumps, the fact that you can never turn off your pumps or your boiler will fry, etc. But that’s why there are control mechanisms in place (so your system is always running but at like 10% capacity, for example)! Also, don’t think of hydronic heating as just a means for heating your house, the same system is used for snow melt applications. Even better, do both! A condensing boiler requires you to have a low return water temperature (the water coming back from all its business should be low, usually the higher temperature gradient between incoming and outgoing water through a boiler means higher efficiency), so if you run a hydronic system to heat your house, then use the water to melt the snow before going back to your boiler, you’ll get higher efficiencies for your boiler, and save yourself the snow shoveling! I mean, hell, you can get geothermal water pumps to do it too, the water only needs to be like 5-10 C to melt the snow…
Anyway, I guess the point is, hats off to Dave and Steph for doing in-floor heating in their house, and honestly, a little forethought, some extra complexity and money, can definitely equal big savings (which means payback!) and a more efficient and thus more environmentally sustainable and friendly home. Ok wow, I’m a nerd, I’m going to bed.
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Movie of Love: I haven’t watched that many movies this year, and while I caught up on a lot of them right near the end, I have to say Transformers impressed me the most.
Song of Love: Would That Make U Love Me – Robin Thicke
Book of Love: Photo Idea Index by Jim Krause.
Album of Love: Shock Value from Timbaland.
Place of Love: Facebook works good.
Month of Love: December! I finished school, got my job offer, and went snowboarding.
Best Day of Love: December 18th, last engineering final ever!
Best Moment of Love: My dad’s moment of swelling pride when he realized I was done school and about to help him buy his retirement car.
Word of Love: “Winnings”
Purchase of Love: Canon Digital Rebel XTi SLR.
City of Love: I didn’t go anywhere, but Edmonton was good to me.
Food of Love: Sushi! Without a doubt.
Beverage of Love: New found love for water: pure, simple, refreshing.
Person of Love (someone who made a difference for you this year): Mom ‘n Dad
Spot of Love (the best place to go to just be): I’ve found newfound sanctuary in my room.
Clothing Item of Love: Ties.
Random Thing of Love (anything you want): Ventrilo and Team Dimsum.
The hardest part of this list was figuring out that V for Vendetta wasn’t released in 2007, what a great movie, why’d I wait so long?!
Listening to Massive Attack – Teardrop
Merry Christmas you folk! And don’t give me that garbage about “I don’t celebrate Christmas” or “I’m not religious.” It’s just a holiday, I wished Ashish a Happy Diwali, I’ll wish you a Happy Hanukkah, or a reflective Ramadan if it’s the actual holiday!
Anyway, I hope Santa Claus was good to everyone, and that you’re getting your turkey on, me? I’ve been playing so much Team Fortress 2 that it burns my eyes. However, just wanted to write a message wishing you all a good holiday, and for those I see, cool, for those I don’t, I’m done school, let’s go hang out! Also, quick props to my seest0r. Some people get gifts they’re “so-so” about, or “uhh…thanks!” about, well, my seest0r gets it right. Great shirt/tie/pant combo from Mexx, and Tabula Rasa: Collector’s Edition, that’s winnings.
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Listening to: Avril Lavigne – Hot
So my family came back from Vegas tonight ending a one week spree of video gaming, independence, washing dishes (I did do them as a kid and teenager, but haven’t really done ‘em since 2nd year or so). Anyway, suffice to say I have a lot less wardrobe shopping and stuff to do in the New Year now. I had been meaning to update my current wardrobe to something more…business casual, not to mention more shirts and ties for work. Also, I was inspired by Tom’s watch collection and wanted a new one.
Finally, Joe had raised an interesting point about knowing something yourself, and presentation. His message was quite simple, “man, you get your Mini and that’s cool, but you carry your existing wallet right now and people are going to think “that’s his Dad’s Mini, even though it’s yours.” And while I usually have a mind to ignore the presentation aspect, I have to admit Joe had a point. In a month, classes will end, in a little less than 2 months, I’ll be graduated and a full employee over at Hemisphere. While I’m not going to be a freakin’ stick in the mud wearing a shirt and tie out, little accentuations such as one’s wallet and watch give a first impression of a person’s status in life.
Well anyway, enough of the boring stuff, this is all the “shopping via text” I did in Vegas:
1. Diesel watch, funky, metal, yet classy.
2. Coach, leather wallet, and yes, Coach makes stuff for men too!
3. Perry Ellis shirt + tie
4. Lacoste polo and dress shirt (special note here, I’m happy with my sister’s tastes, I’ve been meaning to get some blue dress shirts, and now I have ‘em! Plus I’m a sucker for nice ties.)
5. Ralph Lauren dress shirt (that I’m not sure about…looks…interesting…haha)
6. Puma belt; which is probably the most casual thing on this list, still, never hurts to be a tad on the funkeh side (yes, I spelt it funkeh).
On the other hand, there’s still so much to buy, dress belt, more ties (!!), and probably to make money to put in said Coach wallet. Anyway, on the heavier side of things, with a week of living completely on my own, I’ve given the topic of moving out some serious thought, and I think I’ve come up with some interesting observations.
1. I’m not the type of person who washes the dishes right after use, I let them pile up over the course of a few days then do them all in one go, and no, I don’t use a dishwasher…I wonder if I would if it wasn’t being used as a storage cabinet in my house haha.
2. When I’m playing video games with my headset and mic going, I really can’t hear a thing, so if someone were to break into my house, I’d probably be oblivious. Good thing is: I kept the security system on as soon as I got home, or as soon as I left home.
3. I’m a messy person, probably a good thing I’m not rooming with anyone.
4. I’ve decided that there will only be 3 occasions where I’ll move out. I’ll either:
a. Get married and thus move out.
b. Get a plum job in a different city and thus move out.
c. Have enough money to buy a loft, and thus, move out since lofts are cool and my style. I don’t want a condo, nor a house, nor a townhouse, nor an apartment, I want a loft. Y’know what I’m talking about, the big studio style spaces, double height ceilings, masonry for walls, hardwood flooring, large panoramic windows, etc etc. Just like the license plate on this BMW M7 I saw once, “Y SETL”
5. I didn’t really want to have house parties or host anything at the house while my ‘rents were away, maybe it was because it wasn’t my house to do that with, or maybe I’m just not a “host”-y type person?
6. Earl Grey tea keeps me up at night.
7. Considering how I am at home when my family is at home, the only difference between being alone and having everyone home is not noticeable so long as I keep the kitchen light on.
8. I am so sick of eating frozen chicken stuff and rice. On the other hand, I had so much sushi this past week it was soooooo good.
9. I get no work done at home, I’m going to stay at school tomorrow to study.
Ok that’s it, man I blog a lot during school, and even more so when I should be studying.
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Listening to: Michelle Branch – Goodbye To You
So I was driving home tonight during Edmonton’s first real snowfall of the Winter season. Listening to the above song, cruising, the way the streetlights glow, and the way the snow just kinda zooms on by, I thought of something. Some people like to go out cruising to clear their minds, and I think I know why. Driving home after dropping everyone off, it felt like a mini road trip (no pun intended haha).
Just driving on, it felt like I was going somewhere like in those music videos where people take a road trip from their small town to the seashore or something. 97th Street past 153rd Ave is really the way out to Ft. Mac, or driving down this little stretch of road in my community where there are dirt piles that look like mini mountains (again, no pun intended haha). I should take one of those kinds of road trips one of these days, not a mini one, but a real one, maybe in the Mini haha. I figure I could go alone too, but at the same time, I’d probably prefer having a good travel companion. I mean, Canada isn’t really that rough and tumble, but just for the added security. But most importantly, someone to talk to, someone to relate to, and someone to share in the experience I guess. I guess in an analogy, to travel all the way to the seashore is a great journey in itself, and you’ll have a lot of stories to tell people about a sunset on that seashore, but at least there’ll be one person who’ll know exactly what you’re talking about without you having to explain.
Ok, enough emo talk, time for bed and Mec E 451 studying tomorrow. Welcome to November friends!
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