Patent ID: 8122944

Claim:
A heating and cooling system comprising: a structure, wherein the structure has an interior with one or more walls and a ceiling; said one or more walls and ceiling having a construction surface; surface heating/cooling panels located as an intricate assembly of the one or more walls or ceiling; wherein the surface heating/cooling panels comprise a plastic tubing network; said plastic tubing network supplying domestic hot and cold water to the surface heating/cooling panels from a domestic hot and cold water distribution system; wherein the plastic tubing network is built into, on or behind ceiling or wall construction, finishes or coverings; wherein a heating source is provided to heat said domestic hot water and a cooling source is provided to cool said domestic cold water and one or more valves are provided to control the flow of the domestic water into and through the surface heating/cooling panels, and one or more pumps are provided to circulate said domestic water to the domestic water distribution system, wherein the domestic cold water is drawn from the domestic cold water distribution system and distributed to the surface heating/cooling panels and then returned to the domestic cold water distribution system for use in other plumbing fixtures and/or returned to domestic cold water cooling source; wherein the domestic hot water is drawn from the domestic hot water distribution system and distributed to the surface heating/cooling panels and then returned to the domestic hot water distribution system for use in other plumbing fixtures and/or returned to the domestic hot water heating source; a thermostat or temperature sensor for sensing the interior temperature of the structure; and a humidistat or humidity sensor for sensing the interior humidity of the structure; a controller connected to the thermostat or temperature sensor and humidistat and humidity sensor; wherein the controller is provided for controlling the one or more valves and the one or more pumps such that the temperature and flow rate of the domestic water entering the panels is regulated based on the sensed temperature and humidity from the thermostat and humidistat; wherein the controller of the system operates in a manner which provides thermal comfort within the space by varying the flow of warm or cool fluid to the panels, said controller maintains a fluid temperature in the surface heating/cooling panels above the dewpoint as sensed by the humidity and temperature sensors in order to prevent condensation from forming on the heating/cooling panels, and said controller maintains a minimum flow of domestic water through the panels, thereby eliminating the concern of the water being stagnant in the panels.