One of the many issues surrounding climate change is the efficiency of HVAC systems. In fact, the EPA suggests that space heating and cooling accounts for about 48 percent of energy use in U.S. residences and about 44 percent of energy use in commercial buildings.  

Demand for radiant heating and cooling is on the rise.
A 2021 report from Research and Markets predicted the global hydronic system market would grow by $1.3 billion from 2021 to 2025, progressing at a compound annual growth rate of 7%.

Facilities and grounds managers who operate in colder climates know all too well that snow and ice management can be a significant expense and time-consuming challenge. The obvious and direct costs of plow and snow hauling services as well as the chemical and salt requirements are labor and equipment intensive, and are often only the tip of the literal iceberg.

WarmlyYours’s constant wattage (7 watts per linear foot) PRO-Tect heating cables will protect your most vulnerable pipes from freezing.

Viega's RABS allows temperature monitoring of every return circuit in a system. 

By now, everyone has heard the message that prefabrication is the answer to greater job-site productivity, installation consistencies and project profitability. However, there’s a new trend beginning to take hold that offers even better results for large commercial projects looking to maximize smart building design with radiant heating and cooling systems.

Saving up to 85% in install time, Radiant Rollout Mats from Uponor are a custom-designed, prefabricated, pre-pressurized solution for faster, easier, more consistent commercial radiant heating and cooling installations.

tekmar launched two new accessories. The Leveling Shim Kit 096 prevents standing water on top of snow/ice sensors by making them flush with the surface of a slab.

My neighbor, Tony, loves his house. We live in a low-crime neighborhood on Long Island but Tony is always on guard against miscreants. He has a Ring camera on every side of his house, mounted high so they’re protected from spray paint. Some of the cameras turn on klieg lights and alarms if I step outside at night to toss the trash in the can. 

Over the last few years, I’ve written several columns describing how air-to-water heat pumps can provide heating, cooling and domestic hot water for homes. Many of the systems involve buffer tanks to help stabilize heat transfer from the heat pump to a zoned distribution system.