US20070267170A1

US20070267170A1 - System for heating or cooling a building

Info

Publication number: US20070267170A1
Application number: US11/799,744
Authority: US
Inventors: Wolfgang Hoellenriegel
Original assignee: Roth Werke GmbH
Current assignee: Roth Werke GmbH
Priority date: 2006-05-03
Filing date: 2007-05-02
Publication date: 2007-11-22
Also published as: EP1852660A1

Abstract

A building having a plurality of rooms in at least one zone is heated or cooled by heating or cooling a heat-transfer, medium outside the rooms, conducting the heated or cooled medium through conduits to the rooms, and providing a respective controller for each zone. Respective heating/cooling parameters are established for each zone by predetermination or measurement, and the heating or cooling of each zone with the heat-transfer medium is controlled by means of the controllers in accordance with the respective parameters by regulating the amount of the medium conducted to the zone or a temperature of the medium conducted to the zone.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system for controlling the temperature inside a building. More particularly this invention concerns method of and apparatus for heating or cooling a building.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In order to control the temperature, that is heat and/or cool, in a building a heating or cooling medium is brought to the desired temperature by an appropriate furnace or cooler. Then the heating or cooling medium is conducted through rooms of the building via heating or cooling conduits. The invention further relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method “Temperature control” refers to heating and/or cooling. The method according to the invention and the apparatus according to the invention are particularly preferably used for heating a building. Therefore, in the description below reference is made primarily to heating of the building. However, it is also within the scope of the invention that the method according to the invention and the apparatus according to the invention are suitable for cooling a building. The method according to the invention and the apparatus according to the invention in particular also provide the possibility of switching from a heating mode to a cooling node, and vice versa. Therefore, in the following description and in the claims, “heating medium” is also intended to mean “cooling medium,” “heater” to mean “cooler,” “heating conduit” to mean “cooling conduit,” “heating zone” “to mean “cooling zone,” and so forth.
A building refers in particular to a residential building or a portion of a residential building, i.e. a residence or the like. A fluid medium, preferably water, is used as heating medium, which the heater heats and then, and conducts through the heating conduits into the rooms of the building. A surface-type heating or cooling system in particular is implemented in the building by means of the heating conduits.
Within the scope of the methods known in practice, heat distribution systems, in particular surface heating and cooling systems, are known which are equipped with automatically operating single-room controls for the individual rooms. These single-room controls involve in particular temperature compensation between a desired room temperature and a measured actual room temperature. The requirements for heating each individual room of a building are determined by the number of influencing variables or ambient conditions. The simple regulators known heretofore generally respond inadequately to these influences, by for example, reducing or stopping the supply of heating medium when the desired room temperature is reached, or increasing or starting the supply of heating medium when the temperature drops below the desired room temperature. Since in the known methods and known apparatuses no adjustment is made to the actual heat demand, maintaining the desired room temperature or the amount of deviation therefrom is a function only of the switching accuracy, i.e. deviation, and hysteresis of the room controller being used. Influencing the heating energy or the temperature level that is actually required either does not occur, or occurs only to the extent that the heater is switched on or off as needed. The temperature level is thus determined solely by the heating curve specified in the control of the heater. These known methods are in need of improvement, since they do not take into consideration the specific demand-oriented energy supply to the individual rooms.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved system for heating or cooling a building.
Another object is the provision of such an improved system for heating or cooling a building that overcomes the above-given disadvantages, in particular that makes a targeted demand-oriented and energy-optimized heat supply possible for the individual rooms of a building.
A further object of the invention is based on the technical problem of providing an apparatus for carrying out the method.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method of heating or cooling a building having a plurality of rooms in at least one zone. The method has according to the invention the steps of heating or cooling a heat-transfer medium outside the rooms, conducting the heated or cooled medium through conduits to the rooms, providing a respective controller for each zone, establishing respective heating/cooling parameters for each zone by predetermination or measurement, and controlling the heating or cooling of each zone with the heat-transfer medium by means of the respective controller in accordance with the respective parameters by regulating the amount of the medium conducted to the zone or a temperature of the medium conducted to the zone.
In other words according to the invention, the invention teaches a method for heating and/or cooling a building, where a heating or cooling medium is temperature-controlled, that is heated or cooled, using at least one heater and/or cooler, and the heating or cooling medium is conducted through rooms of the building via conduits. According to the invention the building comprises one or more temperature control zones, and at least one room of the building is associated with a temperature control zone. A zone controller is provided for each temperature control zone, and the quantity of heating or cooling medium supplied to each room of the building is controlled with or without feedback as a function of a plurality of predetermined room parameters and/or measured room parameters by use of the zone controller associated with the room, and/or the temperature of the heating or cooling medium supplied to the room of the building is controlled or regulated as a function of a plurality of predetermined room parameters and/or measured room parameters. The building is advantageously divided into a plurality of temperature control zones. “Temperature of the heating or cooling medium” refers to the temperature of the heating or cooling medium supplied to the rooms. Within the scope of the invention, the temperature of the heating or cooling medium is controlled with or without feedback by cooperation or coordination of the zone controllers with a main control unit.
According to one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a heat pump is used as the heater and/or cooler. Within the scope of the invention, a compressor is associated with the heat pump in a customary manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a very schematic diagram of a building having the heating/cooling system according to the invention; and
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the control system.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

As seen in FIG. 1, the invention preferably relates to a method for heating a building 10, where a heating medium is heated using at least one heater, here a split heat pump having an inside unit 11 a and an outside unit 11 b. A heating-medium is conducted through rooms 12 of the building via heating conduits 13, the building comprises one or more heating zones, at least one room 12 is associated with a heating zone, and a zone 14 controller is provided for each heating zone. The quantity of heating medium supplied to a room 12 being controlled with or without feedback as a function of a plurality of predetermined and/or measured room parameters by use of the associated zone regulation apparatus, and/or the temperature of the heating medium is controlled with or without feedback as a function of a plurality of predetermined room parameters and/or measured room parameters, as determined for example by sensors 15 in the rooms and even sensors 16 outside the building. It is practical for the building to be divided into a plurality of heating zones. Water is preferably used as heating medium, which is heated by use of the heater and conveyed through the heating conduits in the building. It is recommended that each of the individual rooms of the building have at least one separate heating circuit that is controlled with or without feedback separately by the associated zone regulation apparatus.
According to one embodiment, “conduits or heating conduits” refers to pipes or ducts i.e. heating ducts of a forced-air system or supply pipes for radiators. However, “conduits or heating conduits” are also intended to mean in particular heating elements or radiators through which heating medium flows in a planar manner.
One very preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that floor heating conduits or floor heating pipes are used as heating conduits. The use of the method according to the invention or the apparatus according to the invention for floor heating is particularly preferred. It is recommended that the individual rooms of the building each have at least one separate floor heating circuit that can be controlled with or without feedback separately by the associated zone controller.
However, the invention is not limited to floor heating. In the method according to the invention, heating pipes or in particular heating elements through which heating medium flows in a planar manner may be used as heating systems. According to one embodiment, these heating systems may be installed in a supporting framework and load distribution layer (for example, a floor grid). However, according to another embodiment the heating systems may also be installed on, in front of, or beneath a supporting framework (floor, wall, or ceiling).
Within the scope of the invention, the supply of heating medium to each individual room is separately controlled with or without feedback as a function of the room parameters by use of a zone controller. In this case, control with or without feedback of the supply of heating-medium refers in particular to the control with or without feedback of the quantity of heating medium supplied to the particular room, or the quantity of heating medium supplied per unit of time. It is advantageous for a cutoff and/or regulating element for the heating medium supply, preferably a valve for the heating medium supply, to be associated with each room of the building or with the heating circuit for each room. Within the scope of the invention, each valve is operated by an actuator. The opening width of the valve, and thus the quantity of heating medium supplied to the room per unit of time, may be controlled or regulated by actuation of the valve. According to one embodiment of the invention, it is also possible to associate multiple heating circuits with a room. The heating circuits may be situated differently, i.e. in the floor and/or in at least one wall of the room, and/or in the ceiling of the room. It is practical to select the number of heating circuits as a function of the size of the respective room.
It is recommended that a respective zone controller be provided for each heating zone of the building, this heating zone comprising multiple rooms. The zone controller has regulators or channels each associated with a respective-single room. As further described below, each regulator is advantageously set according to the predetermined and/or measured room parameters associated with the particular room. “Predetermined room parameters” refer in particular to room parameters that are entered by an operator/user. Within the scope of the invention, each regulator of a zone controller is provided for controlling or regulating the heating medium supply to a separate heating circuit, preferably associated with each room.
According to one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a room priority is assigned to each room of a building as a predetermined room parameter. The room priority depends in particular on the specified daily desired temperature of the room, and/or the daily heating time or use time for this room. The higher the specified daily desired temperature of the room, and/or the higher the daily heating time or use time for this room, the higher the room priority, or category of the room priority, for this room. Thus, for example, a living room or dining room may be assigned the highest room priority or category, a bathroom or office assigned the second-highest room priority or category, and a bedroom or guest room assigned only the third-highest room priority or category. The graduated, categories of room priority may preferably be individually set and parameterized for each room. The quantity of heating medium supplied to the particular room is preferably controlled with or without feedback by use of the zone controller associated with this room, or by use of the corresponding regulator for this zone controller, as a function of the predetermined room parameter for the room priority. Furthermore, the temperature of the heating medium for this room is preferably controlled with or without feedback as a function of the predetermined room parameter.
Furthermore, within the scope of the invention it is preferred that a predetermined room parameter be associated with each room which is a function of the heat storage capacity of the material through which the heating conduits pass in the room. Thus, for floor heating, which is preferably provided in the rooms, this predetermined room parameter is a function of the heat storage capacity of the material or subfloor through which the floor heating pipes pass. Depending on the heat storage capacity of the material, this room parameter corresponds to a specific category. Thus, for example, a floor grid layer having a thickness of 65 mm and a relatively high heat storage capacity is assigned the highest category, whereas a floor layer having a thickness of 45 mm and a somewhat lower heat storage capacity is assigned the second-highest category, and a fiber cement having a thickness of 25 mm and an even lower heat storage capacity is assigned a third category. Corresponding categories may also be assigned to a ceiling or wall of a room as a function of the heat storage capacity of the material through which the heating conduits pass. Depending on the predetermined room parameter or category, the quantity of heating medium supplied to the particular room is then advantageously controlled with or without feedback by use of the zone controller associated with this room, or by use of the corresponding regulator for this zone controller. In addition, the temperature of the heating medium for this room is controlled with or without feedback as a function of this predetermined room parameter or category.
Within the scope of the invention, this predetermined room parameter or category may be corresponding modified for a change in the material through which the heating conduits pass.
It is preferred that for each room a predetermined room parameter be additionally associated which is a function of the thermal conductivity of the covering on the material (floor, wall, or ceiling) through which the heating conduits pass. When a room is heated by floor heating, in the present case this covering thus refers to a covering which lies on a floor screed or corresponding subfloor. The floor covering may in particular be made of tile, natural stone, synthetic material, or wood. The floor covering may also be carpeting. Depending on the thermal conductivity of the covering, a corresponding predetermined room parameter or category is assigned to each room. Tile used as floor covering, for example, has a higher thermal conductivity than a synthetic floor covering. Therefore, the floor covering composed of tile is assigned a higher category than the floor covering made of synthetic material, and on account of its even lower thermal conductivity a floor covering of wood would be assigned a lower category than for the tile and synthetic floor coverings. This predetermined room parameter (category) may be correspondingly modified if the covering, i.e. floor covering, is replaced or changed. It is recommended that the quantity of heating medium supplied to the particular room be controlled with or without feedback as a function of this room parameter (category) by use of the zone controller associated with the room, or by use of the corresponding regulator for this zone controller. It is further recommended that the temperature of the heating medium for this room be controlled with or without feedback as a function of this room parameter or category.
Within the scope of the invention, the zone controller 14 has a plurality of regulators or channels each associated with one room, the particular rooms forming a part of the heating zone for this zone controller. It is also within the scope of the invention for measured room parameters and predetermined room parameters for the particular room to be inputted into a regulator, and for the regulator to control with or without feedback the quantity of heating medium supplied to this room, or a valve for supplying heating medium to this room, as a function of these delivered room parameters. It is also practical to control with or without feedback the temperature of the heating medium for this room by cooperation or coordination of the zone controller with a main control unit as a function of these room parameters stored in the regulator A zone controller having x regulators is provided for controlling and/or regulating the supply of heating medium to x rooms (one heating zone). The zone controller preferably has a microprocessor, and at least a portion of the room parameters delivered may preferably be stored in the zone controller.
As described above, it is recommended that measured room parameters as well as predetermined room parameters be supplied to a zone controller or to the regulators of a zone controller. One measured, deliverable room parameter is in particular the actual temperature in a room. The actual room temperature is preferably measured by means of a room thermostat located in the room. A further measured, deliverable room parameter is the returning-media temperature for the heating circuit associated with the particular room. It is advantageous for an additional measured, deliverable room parameter to be the incoming-medium temperature of the heating circuit associated with the room. As a rule, all rooms or all heating circuits of a heating zone have the same incoming-medium temperature. It is also within the scope of the invention that all heating zones may have the same incoming-medium temperature. A further measured room parameter is preferably the outside temperature outside the building. Within the scope of the invention, the incoming-medium temperature is calculated according to a heating characteristic curve in coordination with this outside temperature, and additional room parameters are included in this calculation. A further measured, deliverable room parameter may be the measured room humidity, this room parameter being particularly relevant when the method according to the invention is used for cooling. According to one embodiment, a measured, deliverable room parameter is a sudden, abrupt temperature drop in the particular room, which may be determined by a room thermostat located in the room. This abrupt temperature drop is in particular considered to be the opening of a window in the room, and the supply of heating medium is reduced or preferably interrupted as a function of this room parameter. The transition to normal heating operation advantageously does not occur until after the actual temperature in the room, specified by the reheating, rises again, and preferably the desired room temperature has not yet been reached. “Reheating” refers to the after-effect of the heat stored in the heating system. A further measured, deliverable room parameter may be a presence signal which indicates the presence of a person by means of a presence sensor located in the room, and the quantity and/or temperature of the heating medium supplied to this room may be accordingly controlled with or without feedback. It is recommended that the actual room temperature and/or the returning-media temperature of the room heating circuit and/or the incoming-medium temperature of the room heating circuit and/or the outside temperature and/or the room humidity and/or an abrupt temperature drop and/or a presence signal be supplied to a regulator of a zone controller as measured room parameters.
In addition to the above-referenced measured room parameters that are deliverable to a zone controller or to a regulator for this zone controller, it is also preferable for predetermined room parameters to be deliverable. These predetermined room parameters are advantageously entered manually. One predetermined room parameter which may be supplied to the zone controller is the desired room temperature. This desired room temperature is preferably entered-manually on a room thermostat present in the particular room, or on a control/display unit present in the room. Use of the term “room thermostat” in the preceding and following description preferably refers in a very general way to a control and/or display unit that, in addition to detecting the room temperature and/or specifying the room temperature, also fulfills other functions such as additional) display functions (such as time, date, etc.), and/or the possibility for performing-further parameter determination. Further predetermined room parameters which may be supplied to the zone controller are preferably the room priority (category of the room priority) and/or the heat-storage capacity of the material in the room through; which the heating conduits pass (heat storage capacity category), and/or the thermal conductivity of the covering, i.e. floor covering, in the room (thermal conductivity category). According to one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the room priority, category, the heat-storage capacity category, and the thermal conductivity category are supplied as predetermined room parameters to the zone controller or to a regulator for the zone controller. These room parameters are advantageously entered manually into the zone controller. According to one embodiment of the invention, further predetermined room parameters that may be supplied to the zone controller are the thermal insulation or thermal insulation category for the room, and/or the tightness or tightness-category for the room. In addition, a switch point from normal heating operation to “low mode” and/or “vacation mode” and vice versa may be supplied to the zone controller as predetermined room parameters. “Low mode” and “vacation mode” refer in particular to operation at reduced heat output, in particular at night or during vacations away from home. It is recommended that the desired room temperature and/or the room priority category and/or the heat storage capacity category and/or the covering thermal conductivity category and/or the room thermal insulation category and/or the room seal-tightness category and/or a switch point from normal heating operation to drop mode/vacation mode and vice versa be supplied to the regulator of a zone controller as predetermined room parameters for a room. The quantity and/or temperature of heating medium supplied to this room is then controlled with or without feedback as a function of these supplied predetermined room parameters.
Within the scope of the invention, predetermined room parameters may be supplied to an input for the regulator of a zone controller associated with the particular room. It is also within the scope of the invention that these supplied predetermined room parameters may be stored in the zone controller or in the regulator FIG. 2 shows that the individual zone controllers are connected with their sensors. A main controller connected between the zone controllers 14 and the heater unit 11 a, 11 b may be connected to the sensor 16 and to an input device, here a keyboard 18.
According to the invention, the regulator for the zone controller controls the quantity of heating medium supplied to the particular room, preferably continuously and automatically, as a function of the measured and predetermined room parameters. It is advantageous for a valve for the supply of heating medium, associated with the heating circuit for the particular room, or an actuator for this valve to be actuated by an output of the regulator. In this manner the flow cross section of the valve is influenced, and the volumetric flow of the heating-medium supplied to the heating circuit for this room may be adjusted. This allows a very specific regulation of the heating medium supply to the individual rooms, and thus enables optimal adjustment to the energy demand of the individual rooms. In addition, the temperature of the heating-medium for the particular room is controlled with or without feedback, preferably continuously and automatically, as a function of the measured and predetermined room parameters by cooperation and coordination of the zone controller with a main control unit.
It is within the scope of the invention to perform continuous compensation of the measured actual temperature of a given room in the zone controller as a function of the desired temperature for this room, and to correspondingly adjust the quantity and/or temperature of the heating medium supplied to this room. This adjustment is preferably made continuously and automatically. It is advantageous for the above-described compensation or adjustment to be carried out for each room of the building. Thus, if the difference between the desired room temperature and the actual room temperature increases for a given room (due to reduction of the incoming-medium temperature, for example), the supplying of heating medium or the reheating is correspondingly automatically adjusted by means of the zone controller associated with the room.
According to one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the zone controllers associated with the heating zones are connected to a main control unit, and the quantity and/or temperature of the heating medium supplied to the zone controllers or the distributors for the zone controllers are controlled with or without feedback. A distributor that distributes the heating medium, i.e. the quantity of heating medium, to the heating circuits of the individual rooms is advantageously assigned to each zone controller. The main control unit is responsible for the quantity and/or temperature of the heating medium supplied to the zone controllers or the distributors thereof. This main control unit advantageously has a processor and can store the parameters being used.
Within the scope of the invention the main control unit controls the heater, in particular the preferably used heat pump or the compressor for the heat pump. In this manner the main control unit controls the volumetric flow and/or temperature of the heating medium supplied to the zone controllers or the distributors thereof. This control is performed as a function of the heating medium demand by the individual heating zones. When a decrease or increase in the energy demand occurs in atleast one heating zone (having an associated zone controller), this information is advantageously sent to the main control unit, which effects compensation with the other zone controllers, preferably automatically. Within the scope of the invention, when there is a higher energy demand in at least one heating zone the main control unit actuates the heater, preferably the compressor for the heat pump, resulting in a higher output of the heater or the compressor for the heat pump. When a decrease in energy demand occurs in at least one heating zone, and as a result the difference between the incoming-medium, temperature and the returning-media temperature at the particular distributor for the heating zone is reduced below the specified desired-value, this information is sent to the main control unit, which preferably performs compensation with the other zone regulators.
In particular when the values of the above-referenced difference between the incoming-medium temperature and the returning-media temperature at the distributors drops below the specified desired value in all heating zones, the main control unit preferably initiates an output adjustment of the heater or the compressor for the heat pump. If in the opposite case the difference between the incoming-medium temperature and the returning-media temperature at least one distributor for a zone controller exceeds the specified desired value, the main control unit advantageously performs an appropriate output adjustment, i.e. an increase in the output, of the heater or the compressor for the heat pump until the specified desired value is reached.
Within the scope of the invention, the main control unit connected to the zone controllers controls the heater, in particular the preferably used heat pump or the compressor for the heat pump, in such away that the output of the heater, i.e. the temperature, is held as low as possible. This results in cooperation or interaction between the main control unit and the zone controllers, with the requirement or objective of holding the output of the heater, i.e. the temperature level at which the heater operates, as low as possible. The invention is based on the discovery that a particularly efficient operation may be ensured in this manner. It is therefore within the scope of the invention that with regard to a demand-oriented supply to the individual rooms of a building, it is important to adapt not only the individual mass flow or heating medium flow, but also the temperature level at which this energy supply is carried out. According to one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the temperature of the heating medium is held as low as possible, and to realize this objective the mass flow or heating medium flow for supplying the individual rooms may also be increased.
The bases for the output control and/or temperature control of the heater or the compressor for the heat pump form preferably preset, modifiable heating characteristic curves for the incoming-medium temperature. These heating characteristic curves are preferably formed as a function of the outside temperature and an additional variable parameter. The additional variable parameter is preferably calculated from the room, parameters or from the requirements determined for the rooms and the heating zones.
The incoming- and returning-media temperatures that are influenced by the heater or the compressor for the heat pump are advantageously monitored by the main control unit, using sensors at predetermined locations in the heating water circuit of the heater or the heat pump.
The data communication between the room thermostats in the individual rooms and the associated zone controllers preferably occurs via a data bus. According to one preferred embodiment, the data communication between the zone controllers and the main control unit is also performed via a data bus. In principle, the data communication may also occur in a wireless manner. According to one embodiment, the main control unit also is responsible for regulating the water heating.
The invention further relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method according to the invention, the apparatus comprising a heater, preferably a heat pump, and a main control unit which controls/regulates the heater. A plurality of zone controllers is connected to the main control unit, and heating conduits are provided that lead through the rooms of the building.
The invention is based on the discovery that according to the invention an optimum energy use or optimized energy production is ensured. The invention is based in particular on the discovery that by use of the method according to the invention and the apparatus according to the invention a very specific, demand-oriented energy supply to the individual rooms of a building may be regulated so as to optimize the energy. The relevant room parameters for each room are incorporated and evaluated according to the invention. In other words, the provision of heating energy is based on the actual instantaneous requirements of the rooms to be supplied. The actual demand of heating energy in the individual rooms may be precisely determined by the method according to the invention and converted to an energy-optimized output adjustment of the energy generator or heater. By use of the method according to the invention, energy is effectively supplied to the individual rooms, and the energy generator or heater is easily adapted to optimal output. It is also very important that the method according to the invention and the apparatus according to the invention may be implemented using relatively simple and inexpensive means. In this manner an efficient, energy-optimized heating or cooling operation may be achieved in a relatively economical and simple manner. The invention may be used in a particularly advantageous manner for floor heating, especially for floor heating which cooperates with a heat pump for heat production.
In contrast to the measures known from the prior art, supply of energy to a room is achieved in particular not by reheating performed at a temporarily increased temperature level, but instead is preferably achieved by use of a time curve determined from the parameters for the particular room, preferably using the lowest possible temperature level of the heating medium. The aim is preferably to determine, by the regulation and setting of the specific room parameters, an optimized time period in which the desired room temperature desired by the user may be ensured at a time specified by the user, at the lowest temperature of the heating medium.
The measures known from the prior art also normally operate using room control which is separated from the regulation of heat generation. The corresponding components are commonly provided by various manufacturers. In the known measures, coordination of the room regulation and the generation of heat therefore often leave much to be desired. By use of the method according to the invention, the room requirements are evaluated so that ultimately the heater is able to operate in an optimized range. In other words, a combined room and heater (or cooler) regulation is preferably achieved according to the invention.

Claims

1. A method of heating or cooling a building having a plurality of rooms in at least one zone, the method comprising the steps of:

heating or cooling a heat-transfer medium outside the rooms;

conducting the heated or cooled medium through conduits to the rooms;

providing a respective controller for each zone;

establishing respective heating/cooling parameters for each zone by predetermination or measurement; and

controlling the heating or cooling of each zone with the heat-transfer medium by means of the respective controller in accordance with the respective parameters by regulating the amount of the medium conducted to the zone or a temperature of the medium conducted to the zone.

2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the heat-transfer medium is heated or cooled by means of a heat pump.

3. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the heat-transfer medium is only heated outside the room.

4. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the conduits are in the floor, walls, or ceiling of the rooms.

5. The method defined in claim 1 wherein each room has its own zone and controller and the heating or cooling each room by the heat-transfer, medium is controlled by means of the respective controller.

6. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the parameters include priority parameter for each room.

7. The method defined in claim 1 wherein one of the parameters of each room represents a heat-storage capacity of the respective room.

8. The method defined in claim 1 wherein one of the parameters of each room represents a conductivity of a floor covering of the respective room.

9. The method defined in claim 1 wherein one of the parameters of each room is an actual-temperature of the room and another of the parameters of each room is a desired temperature for the room.

10. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the conduits are provided with flow regulators operated by the controllers.

11. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the heating or cooling of each zone is regulated so as to minimize the output level of a heating or cooling appliance serving to heat or cool the heat-transfer medium.

12. An apparatus for heating or cooling a building having a plurality of rooms in at least one zone, the apparatus comprising:

means for heating or cooling a heat-transfer medium outside the rooms;

conduits connected to the heating/cooling means for conducting the heated or cooled medium to the rooms;

a respective controller in each zone; and

control means connected to the controllers and to the heating/cooling means for controlling the heating or cooling of each zone with the heat-transfer medium by means of the respective controller in accordance with respective parameters established by predetermination or measurement by regulating the amount of the medium conducted to the zone or a temperature of the medium conducted to the zone.