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Bodryn · 07-19-2010, 10:00 PM

Decades ago, when I rented the second floor of a rather large old house owned by a charming and generous old widow, I encountered the problem of summer heat. I bought a window air-conditioner, and that served reasonably well in one room but not so much in the other rooms. Also the cycling of the air compressor was disturbing and kept making me jump.

The next spring, I noticed that the attic door (on the bedroom ceiling) was about the size of a large window fan. I checked the house out, and yes, it did have attic vents, so I put a window fan into the ceiling hole, set to push the inside air up and out of the attic vents, and from then on, even on rather warm days, I found that with the windows open, I had the most wonderful refreshing breeze and comfort throughout the apartment that I could ever have imagined. I came to realize that much of the discomfort of that 2d floor apartment must have been caused by downward radiation of attic heat, and when I pushed that heat outside, it left the apartment very comfortable. I intended to also use the air-conditioner as needed, but it turned out I didn't really need it.

It occurs to me also, that maybe in certain circumstances, a reverse fan might be helpful in saving energy when heating the house.

Recently I found YouTube videos by the late Dennis Weaver as he helped build his house, I believe in New Mexico, based on the south-facing earth berm concept. It was refreshing to see an actor who seemed to know his way around construction as well as acting. His house ended up to be totally energy self-sufficient.

07-19-2010, 10:00 PM	#1
Bodryn Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Minnesota; Manitoba Posts: 90	A Lesson in Temperature Management Decades ago, when I rented the second floor of a rather large old house owned by a charming and generous old widow, I encountered the problem of summer heat. I bought a window air-conditioner, and that served reasonably well in one room but not so much in the other rooms. Also the cycling of the air compressor was disturbing and kept making me jump. The next spring, I noticed that the attic door (on the bedroom ceiling) was about the size of a large window fan. I checked the house out, and yes, it did have attic vents, so I put a window fan into the ceiling hole, set to push the inside air up and out of the attic vents, and from then on, even on rather warm days, I found that with the windows open, I had the most wonderful refreshing breeze and comfort throughout the apartment that I could ever have imagined. I came to realize that much of the discomfort of that 2d floor apartment must have been caused by downward radiation of attic heat, and when I pushed that heat outside, it left the apartment very comfortable. I intended to also use the air-conditioner as needed, but it turned out I didn't really need it. It occurs to me also, that maybe in certain circumstances, a reverse fan might be helpful in saving energy when heating the house. Recently I found YouTube videos by the late Dennis Weaver as he helped build his house, I believe in New Mexico, based on the south-facing earth berm concept. It was refreshing to see an actor who seemed to know his way around construction as well as acting. His house ended up to be totally energy self-sufficient. __________________ Bodryn ======== "Where are we going? And why are we in this handbasket?"