As a side note regarding efficiency, the figures I've seen indicate that one can beat the efficiency of a radiant concrete slab with tile over aluminum panels. You also get faster response time and less overshoot.

Posted By jonr on 25 Jun 2011 10:37 AM
As a side note regarding efficiency, the figures I've seen indicate that one can beat the efficiency of a radiant concrete slab with tile over aluminum panels. You also get faster response time and less overshoot.

Absolutely. It comes down to how much extra you are willing to pay for a certain amount of additional efficiency. I was describing a building where you put the pipes in the concrete, and the only difference is a bit more plastic pipe and a bit more labor effort to put it at 8" OC. To put another subfloor with aluminum on top of the concrete would have been cost prohibitive.

I agree - it's more appropriate for an upper floor.

We built an SIP sided timberframe home (5000 sq ft) in 1999 with a 4 ton geothermal loop system and couldn't be happier with both technologies. Conventional HVAC people calculated that here in East Tennessee that we would need 12 tons of cooling/heating, but we rearely get into the second stage of cooling. The only thing I would warn against is using SIP panels for the roof unless they are supported every 4 or 5 feet by interior beams. Also make sure that the roof is vented.

Carl