luxury high end gut Reno - heating and cooling options

for a luxury high end gut Reno, I have see people installing tankless water heaters, not too sure what the options are for heating? central AC+heat? property is fully detached, looking for something that will last for at least my lifetime.

thompson.molly99

in General Discussion 4 years and 5 months ago

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jimhillra | 4 years and 5 months ago

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Dean, I do, but they’re not on the website yet. If you’d like, I can send you some off the forum, as I don’t think it would be appropriate to start posting portfolio work here. email me at info(at)urban-pioneering.com.

deancollins | 4 years and 5 months ago

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Jim, Do you have some links to photos/info on these 3 PH builds in Brooklyn?

Guest User | 4 years and 5 months ago

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I agree easiest, cheapest best for air infiltration and instances where the walls are already closed. However after doing my research I have decided mostly against it spray foam for multiple reasons – do the research and decide. There are also soy and ecological spray foams to consider.

jimhillra | 4 years and 5 months ago

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“C” spray foam does have its drawbacks, and the jury is still out on some aspects of its aging, but in general, it is very good and is typically the insulation of choice for demanding applications.

jimhillra | 4 years and 5 months ago

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@Urbandad, yes there is a lot more to it. I’m a certified passive house designer, trained and certified by the passive house institute, and have completed two passive house gut renovations of row houses (one brownstone, one landmarked brick) and am currently in construction on a third. I could go on for pages describing what goes into a passive house, but this is not the place for that.

Suffice to say in a discussion like this that the main components are insulation, air sealing, and controlled ventilation. Doing those effectively will get you a passive house functioning system.

Beyond that, yes, you can look into things like make-up air systems if you’re exhausting too much air, say from a rangehood or high power bath fan. You can eliminate gas usage entirely reducing the production of carbon monoxide inside the well-sealed home to increase indoor air quality, add PV solar to offset the electrical so that you’re almost, or possibly entirely off-grid, etc., etc., etc.

thompson.molly99 | 4 years and 5 months ago

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also for insulation, is spray foam insulation the best? I see many people doing that now

thompson.molly99 | 4 years and 5 months ago

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also for insulation, is spray foam insulation the best? I see many people doing that now

hkapstein | 4 years and 5 months ago

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I think there’s more to a passive house than adding insulation and an ERV. I mean yes that is the concept, but you need to spec it out so there is enough insulation and air tightness, and that water won’t condense in the walls, and the masonry won’t be damaged by freezing condensed water, and mold won’t grow in the walls and ventilation will be sufficient, and appliances will have adequate makeup air, and you, all those details. Right jim?

Guest User | 4 years and 5 months ago

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Just make sure the splits are sized properly and for really cold weather.

jimhillra | 4 years and 5 months ago

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With good windows and insulation, you can get away with AC/heat pumps and no radiators. It’s particularly nice in that you can zone each floor separately. Tankless water heaters can then suffice for domestic (non-heating) water use. Or, if you’re going this route already, you can do a condensing water heater and electric induction cooktop, and eliminate gas entirely. Do this, add an ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator) and you’ve got a passive house that will save you tons (90%) of heating and cooling costs, and provide a constant supply of filtered fresh air. If you’re doing a gut reno and considering your options, now’s the time to do a passive house reno. On a high-end job, it might add just a few % to the construction cost. We’re working on our third passive house right now, and they work wonderfully. Our clients love their passive houses.