250w hps

1. Might sound weird but it feels cooler than 240w of cfl
2. The ballast is not even hot

Is that normal?

also...can a 250w hps be put on hardwood floor? or should it be put on something else? (like an ironing board)

250w CFL = 250w HPS = 250w of heat - it's the law, so it's only your perception.

A 250w ballast will not get very hot just because of its size, less inductive or resistive losses converted to heat compared to a larger one.

I always use bricks or something that doesn't conduct electricity or burn to put my ballast on.

Depending on your set up the reduced temps can be due to the fact that the ballast is remote and therefore not in your grow space. The Ballasts tend to generate some heat.

Hard wood may be OKAY but not ideal. Just put a cinder block under it atleast. Wood might burn, concrete won't, why take a chance with your home, life, plants, stuff, etc.

250w is 250 w through the same medium. Think about the efficiency of light released and you will think that since more light is created less heat can be generated by the source.

Heat is what energy breaks down into more or less so if a lamp is producing 50% more lumens then another then it stands to reason the less efficient bulb will produce more heat on average.