Project Files: Episode 65 — Zero-Emission Hydronic Heat at Brooklyn Brownstone
A DIY demo turned into the opportunity to install Taco’s System M and go all-electric
Tech entrepreneur Itai Kaitano moved to Brooklyn, New York, from Zimbabwe and in 2019 purchased a fixer-upper for his family of four: a four-level townhouse built in the 1890s.
When DIY demo turned into a full gut job, the Kaitanos took the opportunity to retrofit the old house and make it more sustainable and efficient. But they were on a budget. Standards like LEED and Passive House, which required consultants, weren’t on the table. Instead, Kaitano followed the advice of a group called the “Pretty Good House,” which boils down to better building envelope decisions and details like air sealing, correctly sized mechanical systems, and making environmentally conscious decisions wherever possible.
The Kaitano’s HVAC wish list was long: all-electric, zero fossil fuel, high efficiency, space and hot water heat, and high IAQ — which was essential because of their son’s allergies. They also wanted radiant heat in the floors.
Kaitano came across a YouTube video about the System M by Taco Comfort Solutions and decided to go with a Taco air-to-water heat pump as the heart of the home’s comfort system, which included a provision for domestic water heating. Then the global pandemic hit, threatening to throw his plans off course.
Despite not being able to immediately ship the final units, Taco management was able to get the Kaitanos onto the prototype list. Few installers wanted to get involved with a prototype system, but Kaitano decided to partner with Chester Birchwood, lead project manager for HVAC Kings LLC, who had experience with other air-to-water systems.
They settled on installing System M connected to a 3-ton Aermec fancoil, and two ½-ton Jaga low-temperature floor convectors. Radiant flooring was installed throughout using Warmboard panels. The home was designed with seven heating and cooling zones, with an Airzone thermostat controlling the radiant floor, dehumidification, and a/c and heating fancoils, which were used for hydro-air delivered by ducts. Fifty-five-degree chilled water provided the cooling and dehumidification.
System M is solar PV and smart grid ready out of the box, and the Kaitanos also chose to install as much solar PV as their 16x40-foot roof could handle. The home now has a 3.9 kW solar array that offsets nearly 100% of the System M and grid power supplied from the clean-sourced ConEd program — meaning that the house has zero emission heating, cooling, and hot water.
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The Kaitano’s home also has a Broan AI ERV air exchange system with MERV 13 prefilters to provide fresh air throughout the house. The house also has R36 walls and R50 ceilings and high performance, triple-pane, passive-rated windows and skylights. All appliances are electric, apart from a gas powered direct vent fireplace for aesthetics and backup heat.
After two years of living in the home, Kaitano said the family enjoys virtually cost-free living, energy-wise, and a quiet, comfortable space. His son’s allergies have even dissipated to the point that he no longer uses his daily inhaler.
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