During all the planning process I got to work on getting quotations, we had decided that we were definately building a timber frame house, we also wanted UFH ( UnderFloor Heating) and also a ground sourced heatpump (GSHP or Geothermal)
I submitted my plans for a timber frame quote to almost 40 timber frame companies. The price differences were amazing.
I sent off the plans for UFH and GEO to almost 20 companies, once again the differences were suprising.
The reason we wanted a timber frame was 2 fold, 1st because of it's speed, the 2nd was because of it insulation properties and I lived in a timber frame house in Galway and it was really warm and easy to heat.
We wanted the UFH because it is a lovely feeling to walk on warm ground and the ignorant rads are not on the wall.
The Geothermal we had came across in a friends house in Galway in 2000. Himself and his wife must have been one of the 1st to install it and they were very happy with it.
The concept is that there is a constant heat in the ground at a dept of 2ft or deeper of between 9 - 11 degrees C.
A liquid, water and anti-freeze or a refrigerant (DX) is pumped around a loop of pipes which are buried in the ground, the liquid absorbs the heat and takes it back to the HP(Heat Pump),
Here the heat is extracted and pumped using electricity to 35 Degress C for you UFH or using a heat exchanger for instant hot domestic water.
For example it is suggested that for our house we should heat our house and provide constant hot water for between 500 and 700 euro, time will tell!!
I also sent off the plans to tradesmen and window providers.
Also travelled around to a few self build shows.. some good some, brutal!
No comments:
Post a Comment