I am seeking some current info on the latest technology for basement floor heating systems. We are planning on building a new home and I did like what my wife and I saw built into the house the students from Quinte built in Belleville.

A few questions about such a system:

1. Cost analysis of home heating using hot water forced hot air vs. Heating with a gas fired unit (a high efficiency unit)

Hot water heating - boilerA gas or oil-fired system, whether it be forced air, or hot water, or hot water forced-air, would be more expensive to install but less expensive to operate than an electric system, at this time. An actual cost analysis would be dependant on the design of the house, and which delivery method you use in which parts of the house. Also, the potential need for air-conditioning and/or dehumidification raises another variable. But basically speaking, gas and oil are cheaper than electricity, and hydronic/radiant floor heat is in most cases, more efficient than forced-air. You might want to provide some air circulation for a healthy, comfortable environment. But if this is for the basement area only - you couldn't do better than to heat the floor!

2. The availability of zone heating control in the basement area and whether this is necessary or just an excellent feature?

Again, somewhat dependant on design - and installation costs versus projected fuel savings, should be considered. Many over-designed systems are not recouping their initial cost in the form energy savings. A lot of them just aren't that much better than more conventional types. The Ontario Ministry of Energy, Natural Resources Canada, and CMHC are some of the better sources of information. CMHC publishes catalogues of free and priced publications on home heating. Call the CMHC Regional Office in Kingston at 613-547-0066 for a free catalogue of publications.

3. Who are the major manufacturers in today