Steve Caple wrote:
> On Sun, 08 Jun 2008 20:39:14 -0400, Wolf Kirchmeir wrote:
>
>> I know the first thing I'd do if I ever move to southern Texas (where
one
>> of my daughters lives) is insulate whatever house I buy, add a heat
>> exchanger / ventilator, and a ground effect heat pump.
>
> Better yet, add a double layer roof, use white or light colored standing
> seam roof panels over a continuous air gap from soffit to ridge, with a
> continuous venting ridge cap. Inside the inner sheathing put foil-faced
> rigid foam for radiant as well as conductive insulation.
Yes, I've thought of that type of cooling arrangement, too, I'd like to
know how effective it is.
> I sometimes think I'd like to have a heat pump, but know a lot of folks
> around here who've had less than satisfactory experience.
Air-to=-air heat pumps have a relatively low gain factor, on the order
of 1:1.5 to 1:2. Ground effect heat pumps have gain factors of 1:3 and
up. Well worth while. Main cost is drilling what amounts to a well,
which will have to be 100ft or even deeper, depending on local geology
(water table, type of rock, etc.)
BTW, an air-conditioner is a heat pump. So's a fridge.
--
wolf k.
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