Introduction to Radiant Cooling

Radiant cooling has gained recent popularity in Europe and North America because it offers the potential to reduce cooling energy consumption and to reduce peak cooling loads. Not only is the Uponor radiant cooling system energy-efficient and keeps people comfortable, it also allows for downsizing chillers and eliminating individual air conditioning units.

Uponor uses the energy-storage capacity of concrete floors to distribute radiant heating and radiant cooling energy throughout commercial buildings.

Much like the Uponor radiant heating system, the radiant cooling system maintains comfortable temperatures through circulating water through crosslinked polyethylene (PEX-a) tubing that is installed under the floor.

Whereas the energy moves away from the heated surface toward the cooler area in radiant heating systems, the radiant cooling system is simply the opposite. The energy moves toward the cooled surface from the warmer area.

Uponor Radiant Cooling System Advantages

•More energy-efficient because peak loads are reduced as a result of thermal energy storage in the panel structure, exposed walls and partitions

•No drafts and no temperature swings, which results in comfortable surroundings

•Eliminates need for individual air conditioning units, especially where window-mount units are more prevalent

•All mechanical equipment centrally located, simplifying maintenance and operation

•Indoor air quality increases because there are no noisy fans and blowers dispersing dust and other allergens — especially valuable where maximum cleanliness is essential or where dictated by legal requirements

•Eliminates the need for space within the conditioned room for mechanical equipments, which increases square footage space —especially valuable in hospital patent rooms and other applications where space is at a premium

•When four-pipe systems are used, cooling and heating are simultaneous without a need for central zoning or seasonal changeover

•Radiant systems are aesthetically more pleasing since nearly all components are concealed