What's the verdict on attic fans?

[freebeard]

Instead of putting ducts in the house, put the house in a duct?


dornob.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/solardome-1.jpg

[hayden55]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

My 5-ton AC is a 10SEER (I think), probably whatever the legal minimum requirement was in 2003. It runs continuously in the summer from 3pm-7pm on a 100 degree day and can barely move the temperature down from my 78 degree setpoint. That particular day consumed 54 kWh. That's like $7!

Total AC consumption for 2022 was 987 watts for $126.

I'll have to do some calculations as you've suggested to see if my experience matches the calcs. Could indicate problems if not.

Bro lol. How?
I have my house's air conditoning at 4784 kWh for 2022. But it was like 100+ the entire time and i kept my house at 72 and 69 at night.

You will have to clarify your usage though i didn't follow that as watts and $126 and 54kWh don't go together

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by hayden55

Bro lol. How?
I have my house's air conditoning at 4784 kWh for 2022. But it was like 100+ the entire time and i kept my house at 72 and 69 at night.

You will have to clarify your usage though i didn't follow that as watts and $126 and 54kWh don't go together

Almost 1 mWh for the cooling season for $126 cost. 54 kWh was the highest usage day, meaning that 6 kW unit ran for like 5 hours.

It always gets down at least into the 60s at night, so I'm able to open the windows and get things down to 67 in the morning. Once outdoor temps go above that, I close everything up. Takes until 4 or 5pm for things to warm up above 78 degrees and kick the AC on.

[Piotrsko]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Instead of putting ducts in the house, put the house in a duct?


dornob.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/solardome-1.jpg

That's apparently a thing in Finland, north of the artic circle from what I saw in an oddball house building rpogram

[hayden55]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Almost 1 tWh for the cooling season for $126 cost. 54 kWh was the highest usage day, meaning that 6 kW unit ran for like 5 hours.

It always gets down at least into the 60s at night, so I'm able to open the windows and get things down to 67 in the morning. Once outdoor temps go above that, I close everything up. Takes until 4 or 5pm for things to warm up above 78 degrees and kick the AC on.

Oh wow. In arkansas even the air at night is garbage so we really don't use windows here. Typically it'll be ~72-75 at night with 85% humidity. Are you in a coastal city up there or in the middle of oregon?

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by hayden55

Oh wow. In arkansas even the air at night is garbage so we really don't use windows here. Typically it'll be ~72-75 at night with 85% humidity. Are you in a coastal city up there or in the middle of oregon?

I gotta get more sleep or something. Meant to say 1 mWh.

[hayden55]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I gotta get more sleep or something. Meant to say 1 gWh.

Hmm... This seems pretty normal now. Makes sense. lol

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by hayden55

Rooster you can look up "ERV" Energy recovery ventilation. I hear they exchange air with around a 90% efficient energy transfer now on some of them. I doubt the roi is good enough to retrofit but a purpose built house would be neat

I guess such retrofit would never be an option in my apartment, but maybe for a detached house the comfort and eventually the healthier ambient inside would justify, even if the ROI regarding energy-efficiency would take a long time.

[Piotrsko]

I can see them being useful on a tightly sealed house with massive insulation. My current late 1940's house wouldn't help at all. Gets dusty indoors during wind storms.

[hayden55]

Yup you only benefit from them if your house is extremely sealed.