When Dr. Rosemarie Rossetti and her husband Mark Leder set out to build the Universal Design Living Laboratory (UDLL), their goal was simple yet profound: "Simplify life." As a national demonstration home for universal design, the property needed to be fully accessible, sustainable, and comfortable. WarmlyYours provided the perfect solution with electric floor heating, ensuring that the heat source is not only energy-efficient but physically accessible—radiating warmth directly to the occupants without the drafts or uneven temperatures of forced air.
Project Details
- Location: Columbus, OH
- Room Type: Guest Bathroom & Master Bathroom (including Shower floor)
- Heated Area: 169 sq. ft. (Total combined)
- System Type: TempZone™ Flex Rolls
- Power Specifications: 120V & 24V Systems | ~2,535 Watts | ~21.1 Amps
- Est. Operating Cost: $0.38 per hour (Combined total for all rooms)
- Flooring Type: Tile/Stone
Creating a Barrier-Free Sanctuary
The Challenge: Comfort Without Compromise For Dr. Rossetti, who utilizes a wheelchair, standard living spaces often present physical challenges. Beyond narrow doorways and high cabinets, temperature regulation is a critical component of comfort. Traditional forced-air systems often leave the floor—the surface Dr. Rossetti interacts with most—cold and uninviting. The couple needed a heating solution that adhered to the principles of Universal Design: flexibility, simplicity, and perceptible information.
The Solution: Adaptive Radiant Technology WarmlyYours partnered with the UDLL to install TempZone™ electric floor heating throughout the master and guest bathrooms, including the shower floors. Unlike conventional heat that rises to the ceiling, radiant floor heating warms the objects and people in the room first.
"Radiant heating is a good fit for this home... the heat comes to you," noted Julia Billen, President of WarmlyYours. This setup eliminates the need for occupants to position themselves near vents. By warming the tile directly, the system improves emotional well-being and physical comfort, a fact supported by Harvard University studies on radiant heat.
The Outcome: Sustainable Efficiency The installation used a mix of 120V Flex Rolls for the main floors and specialized 24V systems for the shower areas. This not only added a layer of luxury but also increased energy efficiency. By using radiant heat as a primary source in these bathrooms, the ambient air temperature can be kept lower while maintaining higher comfort levels, resulting in reduced energy usage.
"A home is not truly sustainable until it is accessible." — Dr. Rosemarie Rossetti
Featured Products
- TempZone™ Flex Rolls: The cut-and-turn design of the Flex Roll allowed installers to easily maneuver around the unique architectural features of the UDLL bathrooms.
- SmartStat™ Programmable Thermostat: Provided precise control, allowing the homeowners to automate their heating schedule for maximum energy efficiency.
- Shower Mats (Wet Location): Specialized heating elements ensured the shower floor was warm and dried quickly to prevent slip hazards.
