heating for new homes

If building a new home and if you live in a cold climate bet on a very well insulated home and on design elements like the floor-plan, the orientation to the sun, the shape of the house, or the location, size and type of windows… That’s crucial to get a small heating system, or even to eliminate the need of a central heating one.

A decision for many years

Do not forget that heating systems are only replaced about every 20 years or so… That is: in what concerns your heating system, you will have to live with the consequences of your decision about it for some time. And a wrong decision will represent a lot of money in the long run.

Insulation and air sealing

Properly sealed and insulated new homes (which often implies higher insulation levels than the official ones, and a proper installation of the insulation materials) will avoid heat loss through the roof and walls, or through windows and basement, allowing a smaller and less expensive heating system both to buy and to run.

Insulation can eliminate the need of heating systems in mild climates, and is driving many homebuilders and owners to choose to heat their homes with space heating, instead of central heating.

Home design

Think in terms of green design and green building elements for your new home: size, shape, floor-plan, orientation or a proper landscaping… That’s the best way to get energy-efficiency.

Do not oversize

Demand a proper size of your heating equipment and ducting.

An oversized equipment will increase your heating costs and may be a cause of large temperature swings under severe weather conditions.

Work with an informed heating and cooling contractor, able to determine the correct size of your heating system. Demand written elements and size calculations. The contractor should deal comfortably with the techniques for the assessment of the installed insulation and the heating needs of the different rooms.

Do not trust in “rule-of-thumb” methods for sizing heating equipment. Do not follow the size of previous existing systems of yours. Old units may not have been properly sized, and the multiple energy-conserving improvements and the insulation of your new home may easily make inadequate previous references.

Locate the heating system inside home

To get a smaller size and a more energy-efficient heating system, locate it - and the ducts that may be associated with it - inside your new home.

Locating your heating system in an insulated attic, crawl space or garage, isn’t an energy efficient option. It will involve longer ductwork, and thermal losses and air-leaking will diminish their performance.

Choose a short duct system

If you do need a central heating system for your new home, be aware with its ductwork. A proper designed duct system, installed inside the home, is crucial for energy efficiency.

See: Ductwork for new homes

Central vs. Space Heating

Tightly sealed homes, with high levels of insulation, may not need central heating. The demand of central heating by some energy codes and lending entities doesn't make sense any more.

Space heating may be enough for homes with high levels of insulation, even in harsh climates. In mild climates, a superior insulation can even eliminate the need for a heating system (small heaters can make the job).

Anyway, for harsh climates, supposing you do need a central heating system, consider a small system (and the elements that can make it possible: high insulation levels and green design features...). A small furnace or a qualified energy efficiency boiler, or other small system, with a well designed and short duct/pipe system can provide all your heating needs.

See:
Central Heating for New Homes
Space Heating for New Homes