Project Profile
ThermaCEILING radiant system provides net‐zero comfort in Connecticut ICF home
A Connecticut home designed by architect Leigh Overland and powered by Therma-HEXX’s ThermaCEILING hydronic radiant heating and cooling system.
In central Connecticut, where humid summers and freezing winters test any building envelope, a new ICF home is redefining comfort and efficiency. Designed by architect Leigh Overland and powered by Therma-HEXX’s ThermaCEILING™ hydronic radiant heating and cooling system, the project achieves silent, balanced, net-zero performance.
The challenge: Comfort without compromise
Homeowner goals were clear: absolute comfort, quiet operation, and net zero energy use. Traditional forced-air systems couldn’t deliver that without compromising comfort, acoustics or efficiency.
Overland recalls, “We designed and engineered a home that operates efficiently with a decoupled comfort control system. The unobtrusive ThermaCEILING radiant heating and cooling system handles the sensible loads while the Build Equinox CERV2 and Aprilaire dehumidifier handle the dehumidification (latent) and ventilation tasks.”
Overland decided to avoid traditional radiant tube systems. Their inability to meet cooling loads without reliance on fan coils that introduce all the noise, chilly drafts, dust, allergens, and zoning difficulty of conventional forced air systems required a fresh approach.
The mechanical layout of the project. Image courtesy of Therma-HEXX
The solution: Decoupled sensible and latent systems
To meet the owner’s needs, Overland, specified Therma-HEXX’s ThermaCEILING™ system, using ThermaPANEL® hydronic modules thermoformed from Dow Hypertherm™ PE-RT plastic with a high-performance emissivity of 0.96. Each lightweight panel contains one quart of turbulent fluid (moveable mass) flowing through 24 channels. Energy is transferred in both directions through the directly attached 5/8” drywall at up to 80 Btu/hr/ft2. Rapid response and even performance is achieved in heating and cooling mode. This capability now delivers safe, reliable radiant cooling the industry has been waiting for.
The movable-mass design allows quick temperature shifts without overshoot, unlike high-mass concrete or low-emissivity aluminum plate systems. The panels are 100% made in the USA with 50% recycled content from the production process, are 100% recyclable, and carry ICC-ES PMG-1788 certification with a Class A (0/0 flame and smoke) E84-24 rating.
Designed for longevity, the panels are expected to last more than a century.
“The installation was a new and interesting approach to radiant,” says Fred Cuttitta of 4T’s Plumbing and Heating. “The ThermaPANEL rows and TRAK system are installed easily. Each room is individually controlled. This will be my preferred radiant system to install moving forward.”
“Therma-HEXX delivered on time and provided onsite installation training and immediate assistance during the installation, keeping the installation process flowing smoothly,” says general contractor Cole Bristol of Bristol Building Company, LLC of Simsbury CT.
Smart hydronics: Intelligence behind the comfort
At the heart of the system is a Chiltrix CX50 air-to-water heat pump delivering the required temperature glycol to a buffer tank. Communicating via Modbus, the Loxone intelligent control adjusts output to meet loads efficiently for an optimum COP at all times. An inline electric back up heater kicks in as needed during extremely cold weather.
A single Taco VR15 ECM stainless circulator, controlled by the Loxone mini server, modulates the flow to the entire system. A Belimo three-way mixing valve ensures fluid temperature always stays above the dew point, with a close-on-failure feature, eliminating any chance of condensation if power to the valve fails. Individual Loxone proportional zone valves fine-tune flow to each room or circuit and are closed immediately if the system detects a window or door open during humid weather.
FLIR (Forward-Looking Infrared) thermal imaging cameras view of the Therma-HEXX panel. Image courtesy of Therma-HEXX
Therma-HEXX panel installation. Image courtesy of Therma-HEXX
Ali Alrobaiay of Babcon LLC, the local Loxone integrator, programmed the system’s control algorithms and procedures: “The control learns each rooms behavior and adjusts for outside temperature and humidity, time of day, upcoming weather forecasts, and with redundant dew-point protection, it’s virtually foolproof. Any adjustments can be made remotely by the homeowner, Loxone integrator or Loxone USA support, remotely, if required”.
Performance and results
The system’s Perfect Comfort Mode delivers precisely what its name implies—an environment that feels naturally comfortable, not mechanically conditioned.
- Heating COP: ~4.0 @ 100°F supply
- Cooling EER equivalent: >20
- Temperature stability: ±1°F
- Humidity: 40–55% RH
- Annual HVAC energy: ~9,200 kWh (~30% less than comparable forced-air systems)
- Noise level: < NC-25
A 10 kWh solar array powers the entire system, allowing the home to achieve true net-zero operation.
The owners commented, “The house is always comfortable. No sound, no draft, no hot or cold spots—it’s what we dreamed of”
Comfort you can’t see, only feel
This Connecticut home demonstrates how smart radiant hydronics create a measurable, repeatable standard of comfort, one that is clean, quiet, efficient, and enduring.
Engineered from a completely new perspective, Therma-HEXX radiant systems don’t force air, they orchestrate comfort. Comfort you don’t notice the source of.
Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!
