Spring is right around the corner, and that means the next summer heat wave isn’t far behind.  Any experienced homeowner knows that this is the best time of year to evaluate your previous heating season’s energy usage and take actions that will help reduce those hefty A/C bills.

Spring is right around the corner, and that means the next summer heat wave isn’t far behind.  Any experienced homeowner knows that this is the best time of year to evaluate your previous heating season’s energy usage and take actions that will help reduce those hefty A/C bills.

One way to cut down on air conditioning (and prolong the life of your roof) is to invest in an attic ventilation fan.  These attic fans can move stagnant hot air (up to 160 degree Fahrenheit) out of attic spaces and draw in fresh, dry air.  You might think that installing an electric attic fan will just transfer the electricity expense from the A/C to the fan; however, that’s not the case with a solar-powered attic ventilation system.

Companies, such as U.S. Sunlight Corp, offer “alternative energy for everyday life” and manufacture solar-powered products that are simple to install and will save time and money with minimal upfront investment.  If the roof lasts longer and insulation performs better, than you don’t have to replace it as often, right?  All purpose ventilators (properly installed at roof vents) have been shown to cool the entire house, extend the lifetime of the roof, reduce humidity and preserve insulation quality.  Best of all, these solar-powered ventilators do all this at no charge to the homeowner (after the initial purchase of approximately $100-$400 per unit).

An attic fan is somewhat more advantageous in the summertime, but it also has some benefits during the cool winter months.  Warm moisture from dryers and cooking marathons can travel into attic spaces and condense in the cold air mildewing framing and causing mold growth.  Active attic ventilation will cycle dry air into the space and expel the unwanted moist air.

Keep in mind that the overall effectiveness of any attic fan will depend on several factors.  Firstly, the roof structure should meet current building standards (i.e. include appropriate quantity of openings and allow for good air movement). Check for soffit vents, “turtle” vents, gable vents and ridge vents.  All of these openings should be completely exposed and obstruction free.  Ensure insulation isn’t impeding air movement. Most attic ventilation products will display a chart illustrating how many fans are required for a space (either by volume of square footage) and the ideal placement for each fan.  Follow this guide carefully or you may not achieve adequate circulation.

Installing a solar-powered attic fan is a great weekend D-I-Y project.  Most of the solar panels included in the package can be installed on any roof type (even tile) without penetrating the roof membranes.  Depending on the actual product, the mounting process for the solar panel is highly versatile.  Some can even be mounted on a sidewall instead of the roof, but make sure it still has good sun exposure.  Based on product information, the fan motors are powerful, yet very quiet.  If D-I-Y isn’t your thing, some manufacturers come with a professional installation upgrade.  If you don’t have an attic, but are interested in ventilating a transitional space, crawl space ventilation units are also available.