The luxurious Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn, New York, was once a waterfront barrel and rope factory. This renovated structure now has 72 boutique guest rooms. As part of the update, it was important to retain the character of the original turn of the century building, which opened in 1901. In order to convert the cold, utilitarian factory space into comfortable rooms, a major mechanical update was required. By adding radiant floor heat, they were able to meet and exceed the comfort benchmark of a modern-day hotel while balancing for energy efficiency.

Aside from the fact that they are all used in hydronic heating systems, what do the following items have in common?

Though radiant heating may seem like a relatively new innovation, it actually has ties back to ancient Rome. Even famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright used radiant heat in his designs in the 1930s, though the technology didn’t become more commonplace until decades later. 

With remote work becoming the standard for many employees across the U.S. and homeowners spending even more time indoors as a result of the pandemic, a new focus is emerging on the need for sustainability and indoor environmental quality in homes. 

A few years ago, an engineer who works with older New York City buildings started to email me with good questions, mostly about steam heating. 

Comfort is a funny thing. When we have it, we’re usually not aware of it. It’s just there