In the hillside Garage

[Nivekdodge]

I was going to call this underground but that conotation brings ups ramps. I'm building into the hillside between the driveway and the back porch. 20 deep x 24 long. 8' high with a trussed roof. All concrete block. Insulated under the slab and behind under the grade. Attached to the house on 1 end, buried in the back, and angled down the farside.
Im trying to figure out the radiant heat requirements for the building. Because of it being underground will the heat loss be less? I was going to do radiant just to keep the edge off at 50*

 

[Nivekdodge]

Wow. No opinions?

 

[cdestuck]

I cant tell you by how much but certainly the loss will be less. Im from your neck of the woods, Altoona, and we have cold winters, not killers, but certainly cold. Below the frost line which really never goes to deep, the ground temps are much kinder than air temps against exposed walls. A heating contractor might be able to give you accurate rates

 

[isb cornbinder]

I wish I had something to add that might help your situation. I am watching with some sympathy. I live on a steep street and steeper back lane. The land drops off at about 9 feet in 50 feet of run.
Living on a hillside offers great water drainage. We get lots of rain here.
My garage/shop is at grade level on the south side. The north side is under the grade by 5 feet. The shop is 37 feet wide. The carport on the north side has a retaining wall that is 4 feet tall.
We had some snow over the night. This changes everything because of the melt and freeze situation. My truck is a 4X4. If I move the truck from where it was parked, it will be a wild ride to the bottom of the lane.
I had to install a horizontal furnace next the ceiling so I would not lose floor space. The shop ceiling, at 10 feet, was too low for radiant heat.

 

[Nivekdodge]

THe garage will be where the hill is. At least I don't have to cut that any more

 

[matt_i]

I would heavily insulate...if you do a simple "U" heat calculation the biggest loss would be to the ground @50F thru Rvalue=1 concrete.

Also I would damp proof as if its a basement. Coated walls, drainage plane, filter fabric tube draining to daylight.