Most of the modern hydronics technology used in North America for residential and light commercial buildings is for heating. 

The energy used in your building is a function of multiple variables; the structure and occupancy for example. Other variables center around component selection, control and design. 

With a considerable volume of contradictory information in circulation regarding the application of different technologies for HVAC systems, this article seeks to explain some of the technical aspects of variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems, and offer comparisons on the basis of cost and performance to more standard hydronic systems. 

We’re only human, and most humans like to put off things until they absolutely have to be done. 

The versatility of modern hydronics technology allows designers to create systems that are “customized” to the needs — and constraints — of almost any building. 

Some hydronic system designers cling to certain system piping configurations — even when existing projects using those configurations have produced problems.

Anyone who says they wouldn’t change a thing on the hydronic systems they’ve designed or installed over the last decade is either so oblivious to changes in technology that they don’t know any better, so egotistical they can’t accept that improvement of their work is possible, or so foolish they don’t care what they’re missing out on.

Whether designing a residential or commercial system, there are several lessons to be learned from Siegenthaler, a.k.a. “Siggy,” including thermal considerations, piping, heat pump technologies, panel radiators, slab heating, controls and ECM circulators in order to provide the ultimate goals: Comfort, high efficiency and a happy customer.

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H₂O Accepted is a new initiative of the HIA-C, designed to showcase the advantages of water-based (hydronic) commercial building space heating and cooling technologies.