Radiant floor heat reduces building heat load by 25% and saves energy as much as 40% or more. Here’s why:
1 It feels warmer
Since radiant floor heat is attracted to people and objects, and warms the body from the floor, radiant heat feels 6-8 degrees (F) warmer than forced air. Utility providers publish potential energy cost savings of 3-5% for every degree the thermostat is turned down.
2 No ducts or pipes
Radiant floor heat is not blown through the ductwork or pumped through piping. The USDOE estimates as much as 35% of heat loss occurs in the duct system or piping.
3 Not all heat rises
Warm air rises. Radiant heat does not. Since radiant floor heat does not directly warm the air, it does not rise to the ceiling where an enormous amount of convective heat is wasted.
Natural gas furnaces, heat pumps, geothermal heat pumps and baseboard heaters are all convective systems that blow warm air as their primary heat transfer medium. 100% Energy Utilization
100% fuel energy utilization – Radiant floor heat utilizes all the electrical energy to create warmth directly under the floor. No energy is expended operating fans or pumps and no heat exhaust is lost up the flue.
The highest rated natural gas furnaces cannot achieve 100% fuel energy efficiency. Reduced Air Infiltration/Exfiltration Radiant floor heat significantly reduces heat loss due to air infiltration because superheated warm air from a furnace or baseboard heater is not blown against the walls which increases the temperature differential between inside and outside creating a stack effect that sucks in cold outside air as shown in the photo.
This is another reason why radiant floor heat reduces outside dust and allergens.
4 Radiant floor heat saves energy
To save more, Thermo insulation takes advantage of off-peak utility rates by storing lower cost energy in the slab for warming the living space during peak usage times when energy rates are at their highest.