Solar hot water radiant floor heat could be the answer.
Most of us remember seeing the big solar hot water boxes that began to appear in numbers on roofs during the 1980s. These boxes were merely frames painted a dark color inside with a dark pipe running through it and a top of clear plastic or glass to trap the heat. They didn't work all that well.
It's a different story today. Evacuated Tube Collectors (comparison, product example) can provide hot water for heating your floors or even your shower in your castle/energy efficient home. They even work during the winter; the vacuum around the elements in the tube is one of the best insulators around. These are fairly simple affairs (mechanically speaking) compared to an oil-fired, electric or gas furnace. The cost is comparable in some instances to the installation of a brand-new conventional heating system, yet costs much less to operate in the long run, and burns no fuel. It heats from the bottom up, rather than trying to blow enough air around to mix it to a comfortable temperature. To make this system work even better, ceiling fans can keep the air mixed efficiently, or if you must, a standard air circulation system could assist as well (though at a higher energy cost). Solar heat: Good for your pocketbook, good for the environment, and toasty floors when you get up in the morning!
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