Home owners...this is how ya do it

[RB]

Today I spent the morning with Doug and Maire Muncaster a husband and wife business team which own a mechanical contracting company in Calgary.

This is their mechanical room, which heats about 7800 sf. The highest gas bill...are you ready? A whopping $280. Yep that is it. ...AND they cook with gas!

Not only that...$60 dollars of that gas bill is in services charges. On the power side they consume about $175 in the winter months which includes outdoor lighting.

It's a ICF home with a high efficiency radiant based HVAC system - makes for the best of all worlds.

Key components with this system is the total comfort system....air for humidity, ventilation, heat recovery and supplemental heat...hot water for radiant, domestic water and fan/coils.

Over 12 separately controlled zones.

The boiler rooms in a box (zone control panels) are consumer friendly appliances that are distributed like appliances through reputable wholesalers and contractors throughout the world. They are standard items in Europe but have found their way to North America a few years back.




Item 2, 3 are air handlers/HRV's, item 4 is the boiler, 10 is the module which circulates water through the system, removes air and controls the boiler temperature, 11, 14, and 17 regulate temperature and flow going to the fan/coils, radiant systems and domestic water, 19 is Dougs storage tank for his potable system, 16 is the hot water tank, 18 is the boiler fill tank, 12 is the radiant manifold for the basement. (There are a total of 12 manifolds located throughout the home)

I'll be writing an article about the system in the near future.

RB

[Dave Yates]

That's one of the nicest installations I've ever seen. My hat's off to Doug.

[RB]

Hi Dave...I'll pass on your comments to Doug.

Following is a short photo essay of the project for all our viewers...

when the building is efficient and the mechanical system is efficient everything is smaller including fuel and power bills! $280/month for gas...let me say that again $280.

Notice the cemented or taped duct joints, isolation/vibration brackets for pipe and flex isolation on ducts...this is the way to do it.

While I was there, Doug cleaned the primary and secondary filters...after two months - they were virtually clean...this house has superb air quailty!

[RB]

This Lifebreath model comes with a heat recovery core plus a heating coil for supplemental heat.

There are three units in all. Two in this mechanical room, plus one more located in the second floor mechanical room. See below.

[RB]

All the duct work is sealed and/or taped. Incoming fresh and combusition air is insulated.
Return air is ducted...not lined! Part of the air quality specification.
This ceiling will be T-Bar to allow for access and additions...bulkheads are framed and ready as shown.

[RB]

Heating and plumbing distribution lines are in the process of being insulated - this reduces noise and parasitic heat gains to the house.
All plumbing drains are cast iron to keep the noise down.
I was in this home for about 4 hours and it was so quiet!!!!

[RB]

You can see workmanship throughout including the electrical...

[RB]

This is the cable and phone system.
Also, each of the ZCP are accessible via modem for troubleshooting, adjusting and data logging.

[RB]

This second floor mechanical room provides ventialtion air, supplemental heat and radiant heating for four zones.

[RB]

The detached shop/storage garage is still serving a construction job shack...nice shack!

[RB]

Doug eats his own cooking which means he wouldn't put into your home something he himself wouldn't have.
His workmanship, attention to detail and standardization is what every consumer deserves and it shouldn't matter if its a 1200 s.f. starter home or 30,000 starter castle. You can have this quality of total comfort system!
Indoor environmental quality = IAQ + ICQ.
Its within your reach.

[Mike Lampkin]

Thanks for sharing the pictures RB. Now that's what you call "Raising the Bar".

Mike Lampkin

[Dave Yates]

tears of joy!

One thing to comment on and contemplate. I did much the same with my wiring to my bank of circs at home. The last circ in the stack of neatly zip-tied romex was a basement zone that was overheating. Didn't make any sense because the relay box contactor circuit was open. Yet, the dist piping was warm! Something was inducing circulation. Turned out to be inducted voltage from the flux field on the bundled wiring. Disconnected the wiring to the circ & that stopped the overheating. It's an exercise area, so I've never bothered to reconnect the wiring. I'm planning a system-wide renovation this year in prep for adding solar and to eliminate the wall-of-circs.

PS - Our new state-wide code requires all ducts be taped/sealed.

[Weezbo]

his is very sharp work.



This is a good way to bring focus and awareness of healthy ,enjoyable living spaces.

Your recognition of the efforts of others shows your dedication to quality.

Thank you for a glimpse into your friends life in the mech room

*~/;)

[RB]

Congrats to Doug and Maire!

Their home will be featured in the March issue of HPAC Magazine.

RB

[Paul Pollets]

What a great looking job showing superb design and execution. My compliments to the Chef!!
Paul Pollets

[RB]

This house is a good benchmark for your project.
RB