“Our specialty is energy-efficient housing,” says Northern California custom builder Turko Semmes. And for supplying hot water for in-floor hydronic heat systems, Semmes has found nothing to top the tiny, 95 percent efficient Munchkin boiler from Heat Transfer Products. “We use that a lot. It's probably in over 50 percent of our projects,” Semmes says. “The whole thing is about the size of a box of oranges, and it can heat a 3,500-square-foot house.” Matched with the company's Superstor Ultra, a super-insulated stainless steel storage tank with heat exchanger, the Munchkin also handles domestic hot water and pool heating. “We can invest in one system and use it 12 months out of the year,” he notes. The Super Stor also comes with a lifetime warranty, “So you never have to change your water heater.”
Semmes also likes the heat that comes in free, through the window. But low-E glass—great for keeping the heat in—can pose a problem. “Most low-E coatings block the sun pretty seriously,” Semmes says. Many window manufacturers supply different low-E coatings to different regions of the country. Colder areas get a coating that maximizes solar gain. Markets in the sunny Southwest, where Semmes works, get a coating that shades more of the sun's rays. To tune his homes for maximum passive solar performance, Semmes prefers to specify the coating himself, according to the window's exposure. South-facing windows, which he shades with long overhangs to block the summer sun, get a minimal-shade coating. Those facing west, where low-angle sunlight is impossible to control with overhangs, get the higher-shade coating. Milgard Windows allows Semmes to specify the coating window by window. “Milgard has been the most proactive at supplying these,” Semmes says. “We can get either kind of low-E. We just have to spec it.”
Heat Transfer Products. 800.323.9651. www.htproducts.com. Circle 187.
Milgard Windows. 800.645.4273. www.milgard.com. Circle 188.
