curious about minnesota?

singh

recently "heard" that residential snowmelt systems are illegal in minnesota, because they consume large amounts of energy.Public,hospitals etc ok.
Does anyone know if this true?
would explain why wirsbo does not have any significant system running on their property.

jeff_51

Not that I'm aware of, but am checking

Mark Eatherton1

Wirsbo DOES have

a pretty significant area of snowmelt in their parking lot. It's not the whole lot, but that'd be pretty silly anyway.

Where'd you get your information from Singh?

ME

singh

Could be just talk that came up at an RPA class I took last week. I could not find any info if residential systems were legal or not.
I went to mini I and II both in winter,both times wirsbo parking lot plowed, If I remember correctly JB only said loading dock and sidewalk had tubing buried. I'm not sure of the extent of their snowmelting capabilities.
Someone from wirsbo care to elaborate on what they have and residential law if any?

Ted_8

Snow Melt

They had all of the sidewalks running when I was out there a few years back. I would bet that the cost of operation was more than plowing so they shut it down.

Chris

Andy_6

There is no code restricting the application of snow melt in Minnestota. The State almost eliminated the 80% furnace because they waste energy, but they don't seem to care how much energy is wasted melting the snow and ice instead of plowing. The last job I quoted, the owners decided not to do it because I told them that the boilers required to melt the entire driveway would heat 30 homes the size of the one they currently had. Both the husband and wife said what a waste of energy. I can see in in commercial applications and in residential when handicap ramps need to be ice free but entire driveways? What do the rest of you think?

Gordy

Waste

It should be illegal. I have thought that for a while. Everyone pounds the table for green homes, energy efficient boilers,make that meter spin backwards.....And then one snowmelts???? Pure LAZINESS. I guess It proves the power of radiant though.

Constantin

Everything has it's place...

A snowmelt system is required in some areas like Heli pads on hospitals, entrances around them, etc. I can't say there is a good reason to have them around residential structures though. Typically, it's less expensive to have a dependable landscaping contractor on an annual maintenance plan where they plow and clear you out. Much more energy efficient also, unless you're just talking a few square feet.

A lot of snowmelt seems to be driven by laziness and/or craziness. Homes being built in areas where no one would traditionally build, like lots with 45°-steep driveways, in snow and ice country. After the first winter, these guys are usually crying wolf about ice and snow, something that should have been bloody obvious even in July when they bought the house.