Introduction
This all-electric house renovation in Toorak involved going off gas and replacing the old ducted air conditioning system with hydronic heating and cooling.
Form, function and sound levels were all important aspects of this project.
New hydronic radiator panels, towel rails and convectors were installed, powered by a Stiebel Eltron air-to-water hydronic heat pump.
An separate Ecogenica split-system heat pump water heater was also installed.
All-electric Appliances
The reasons for replacing the ducted air conditioning system were to:
- Improve the air quality for an occupant with asthma
- Increase head height by removing ducting bulkheads
- Reduce heat loss by removing ducting and ceiling vents
- Make more efficient use of existing solar power
- Reduce noise from the old ducted heating and cooling system
Cooktop
The remaining gas appliance was the cooktop. This was replaced with a Bosch induction cooktop and matching rangehood, externally vented. With this done, the owners had achieved a key objective of an all-electric house.
For someone who loves cooking, it was a big step but the resident cook now loves her new induction cooktop. It’s cleaner, safer and doesn’t emit carbon monoxide.
Radiator and Convector Panels
Both radiator and convector panels were chosen to provide radiant and convected heating. Chilled water cooling with dehumidification was achieved through fan-coil convectors installed on their own hydronic circuit.
An architectural fan-coil convector panel was installed in the Living/Dining/Kitchen area. This is a Cinier Greenor fan-coil convector. It functions brilliantly and as well as being a work of art, installed prominently.
Carbon Neutral
An important objective of this renovation project was to strive for carbon neutrality as far as possible.
The 15 solar panels provide about the same amount of power as the house consumes across the whole year. But of course, winter power demand exceeds solar power supply. In the other 3 seasons it varies but overall there is surplus solar power.
This has been achieved also due to the high energy efficiency of the house.
Heat Load
Measures to reduce heat load included:
- Replacing single-glazing with Low-e, double-glazed timber framed windows
- Improving insulation and shading
- Reducing air gaps and cracks
- Zoning off un-used rooms
- Adjusting temperature settings slightly lower in winter
- Using air-conditioning only during heat waves
- Making use of natural ventilation when the weather is opportune
Vertical Linear Panel
The house renovation opened up a large LDK area of 55m2 involving structural work. Two large hydronic wall-mounted appliances were chosen to heat and cool this space:
- Cinier Greenor hydronic fan-coil convector (heating and cooling)
- DeLonghi vertical radiator panel (heating only)
The owners were keen for the radiator panel to be as invisible as possible.
Therefore, a flat linear style was chosen to blend into the wall.
Jaga Radiators
In Melbourne, heating is the main requirement during the year.
The owners chose Jaga natural convector panels for areas outside the LDK space on the ground floor. These convectors were fitted to the hydronic radiator panel circuit for heating only, not cooling.
The reasons for this choice were:
- Blend with the wall
- Hide the plumbing
- Fast heat up
- Very efficient and effective
Heat from the hallway panel rises up the stairway and provides sufficient heat for the Landing / Study area above.
ARTU Convectors
To deal with summer heat waves, the owners chose Galletti ARTU convectors. These were fitted to the fan-coil convector circuit for heating and effective chilled water cooling with dehumidification.
These convectors have proven to be most capable of conditioning the upstairs rooms in the heat.
The upstairs bathroom and downstairs ensuite have hydronic towel rails fitted to the radiator panel circuit.
They heat these bathrooms satisfactorily as well as dry the towels.
