Abstract: Current building codes typically call for attic ventilation to minimize condensation on the underside of roof sheathing. Summer cooling of attic air, minimizing ice dams, and extending the service life of the roof materials often are cited as additional benefits of attic ventilation. In fact, most asphalt shingle manufacturers warrant their products only for ventilated roofs.

Abstract: This is a heating and cooling system, and method that utilizes the roof of a home or building as a solar collector. A heat barrier material is secured to the inside free edges of the roof rafters to reflect radiant heat into air flow passage ways formed between the rafters, the attic side of the roof and the heat barrier materials. A loft or upper attic floor is built in the upper portion of the attic and is also covered with the heat barrier material. The attic is divided into separate areas that are connected by a ducting system that includes a filter, an evaporator and a blower. The blower produces airflow through the filter and over the evaporator coil and into a separated portion of the attic. Airflow moves through selected formed channels between rafters, barrier material and inside roof to the blower for re-circulation. This closed loop system is usable with conventional air-to-air heat pump systems, with portions of such systems or with other well-known devices such as heat exchangers and heat engines.

Abstract: An experimental study was conducted to quantify the effect of return air leakage from hot/humid attic spaces on the performance of a residential air conditioner. Tests were conducted in psychrometric facilities where temperatures and humidities could be controlled closely. The test air conditioner had a nominal cooling capacity of 12.3 kW and a seasonal coefficient of performance of 3.8. Return air leakage from hot attic spaces was simulated by assuming adiabatic mixing of the indoor air at normal conditions with the attic air at high temperatures. Effective capacity and coefficient of performance both decreased with increased return air leakage, leakage air temperature, and air humidity. Under attic conditions of 54.4°C and 20 percent relative humidity, 10% return leakage reduced the effective cooling capacity and coefficient of performance of the air conditioner by approximately 30%. Power consumption was relatively constant for all variables except outdoor temperature. The sensible heat ratio (SHR), which is a measure of the dehumidification performance, increased with increasing leakage.

Abstract: A thermal insulating cover is described along with a method of manufacturing a cover for use over a set of attic stairs, when they are retracted into the ceiling. The cover is made of two major protective surfaces, surrounding a insulating material to form a blanket, that is then cut and folded to form a box, that is fastened together to form the cover.

Abstract: As unvented attics become a more common design feature implemented by Building America partners in hot-dry climates of the United States, more attention has been focused on how this approach affects heating and cooling energy consumption. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has conducted field testing and hourly building simulations for several Building America projects to evaluate energy use in vented and unvented attics in hot-dry climates. In summer, testing of the Las Vegas protoype house demonstrated that the thermal performance of an unvented attic is highly dependent on duct leakage.

Abstract: A lifting and telescoping dolly for facilitating the moving of bulky objects into and out of attics by one operator acting alone. The collapsible dolly opens into a self-supporting A-frame with four support points. It has wheels and a brake system for positioning the dolly beneath an attic entry. From ground level a winch elevates the telescoping upper part of the dolly frame into the attic where it is firmly supported. From the attic a second winch elevates the load into the attic.

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air circulation system utilizing terrestrial heat which can enhance the air conditioning efficiency within a building. SOLUTION: In an air circulation system utilizing terrestrial heat, which possesses a heat-exchanging pipe 5 buried underground and the first air passage for connecting the space 2 under the floor, the interior of the wall, and the attic 4 of a building with one another and regulates the room temperature within the building 1 by circulating the air within the heat-exchanging pipe 5 cooled or heated with subterranean heat within the first air passage 6, the second air passage 7 with its top and bottom open are provided between the first air passage 6 and the outer wall 3 of the building 1, and the second air passage 7 and the first air passage 6 are shut off with a screen board 8 consisting of carbonized cork.

Abstract: Traditionally, attic space in buildings is perceived as a source of nuisance where the moisture condensation occurs in winter encourages mildew growth, and heat build up in the attic space in summer increases the cooling load However, if the attic is integrated in a holistic design and control strategy, it can function as a solar collector, a heat exchanger, and a desiccant! This research investigates energy saving by optimizing direct and indirect ventilation through attic to pre-cool buildings and reduces humidity This strategy was examined in a double story house with attic in a moderatehumid climate The built up heat in the attic space and outside air ventilation were used to dry up roof construction materials during the day When outside air cools down during the night but maintains high humidity, the indoor air circulates through the attic space The attic construction materials absorb moisture from the indoor air Thus indoor air loses both heat and moisture EnergyPlus Simulation software was used to simulate this cooling and dehumidification strategy The simulation results showed significant passive cooling and dehumidification in the building Key notes: Dehumidification, Nighttime ventilation, Indirect Ventilation, Cooling load Introduction Traditionally, utilizing nighttime ventilation and thermal mass is a major strategy for passive cooling in dry climates However, in moderate and humid climates, passive cooling through ventilation is more difficult to achieve In these climates, the outside air is relatively cold during the early evening, but its relative humidity is high Therefore, it is not suitable for nighttime ventilation Later at night, outside relative humidity reaches the upper limit of the comfort zone, but the outside air enthalpy remains equal or more than the inside air enthalpy Thus, introducing outside air to the space may reduce the inside air temperature without reducing the air enthalpy Instead it could lead to more moisture absorption by inside building materials and furniture [1] In the daytime, more moisture is produced inside the building due to the required ventilation and other inside latent energy sources In most cases, dehumidification is needed to extract the excess moisture Thus, more active cooling is needed to extract the extra moisture, which is admitted to the space during nighttime ventilation [2] Conventional building materials usually store heat efficiently for short period of time However, moisture content of building materials and furniture varies widely in their capabilities to store moisture In addition, to achieve comfort, the air temperature tolerance in a space usually should not exceed 8-11 Fo(5-6 Co), but the comfort level can be achieved with wide relative humidity range of approximately 30-60% Thus, the "enthalpy storage" capacity of the building materials can significantly contribute to cooling load In addition, during the day where active cooling is required, if inside relative humidity is lower, thermal comfort can be achieved at higher air temperatures, and less dehumidification is required During sunny winter days, solar radiation heat gain in the attic space may exceed the conduction and convection heat loss Thus attic space will act as a passive heating collector In summer, the attic space can work as a desiccant, here, the desiccant materials are the attic wood construction, and the regeneration energy is the solar energy collected in the roof Summer Dehumidification Unlike heat transfer in building materials, which is clearly defined, moisture transfer in buildings is rather complex and involved many mechanisms that are still not fully explained [3] There are at least 9 different mechanisms of water transport in solids which are; molecular vapour diffusion, molecular liquid diffusion, capillary flow, Kundsen diffusion, surface diffusion, Stefan diffusion, evaporation condensation, Poiseuville flow, and movement due to gravity To get a general idea of moisture transfer in building materials and to explain the concept of using the attic space to dehumidify buildings let us consider the following example; In a typical clear sky summer day in a moderate climate, if the outside air temperature reaches 90Fo(32Co) and relative humidity of 50%, the attic air temperature in a typical wood building can reach 108Fo(42Co) and relative humidity 29% During the night, if the air inside the attic is mixed with the house living space, we can assume that relative humidity in the attic will equal the living space relative humidity and let us say that it is 50% Under steady state condition, the moisture isotherm curve shows that moisture content in the particleboard insulation will drop from 08 to 05 lb/lb (kg/kg) [4] Isetti showed that the particleboard could approach the steady state in 12 hours [1] This suggests that in a house with a roof area of 861 F2 (80 m2), if the relative humidity fluctuated between 50% and 29%, roof particleboard insulation will have a daily moisture capacity of approximately 353 lb (160 kg) of water From another hand, the wood attic construction has also high moisture absorption capacities, which can reaches 15 lb/lb (kg/kg) under relative humidity of 50%, and 1lb/lb (kg/kg) under relative humidity of 29% [4] In addition, wood can reach the balance point in more than 3 months [5] In this case attic wood construction can contribute to moisture control in the short and the long term Thus, in a typical wood house with attic space, moisture capacity of the attic construction materials is more that moisture produced in the house due to ventilation and internal latent heat gain (Figure 1)(Figure 2) The moisture balance in buildings can be defined by the following equation [6]; ∑ = × − × − − × × − = × ∂ n i A csur ci cu ci V n G V dt ci

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ventilating apparatus for an underfloor space and an attic for generating chilly air by utilizing heat of evaporation of CO2 in CO2 hot-water-supply equipment. SOLUTION: A unit U composed of hot-water-supply equipment, a CO2- refrigerator and air-supply equipment is placed in the outdoors. An air tank 3a of the unit U is connected to an underfloor ventilation port 5a through a first duct 4, further tank 3a is connected to an attic ventilation port 5c through a second duct 6. Water is heated by radiation of heat of compressed CO2, and supplied to the hot-water-supply equipment. Air is cooled by the action of evaporation of CO2, and the cooled air is sent to the air-supply equipment. Chilly air of the air tank 3a is supplied to the underfloor space S of a building 5 through the first duct 4 to carry out underfloor ventilation, and to the attic R through the second duct 6 to carry out the attic ventilation.

Abstract: A ventilation system and material therefor includes a passage beneath the shingle layer of the roof of a building. The passage leads from the exterior of the building to the interior of the attic of the building. The passage is plugged with an air permeable polymeric material to allow passage of air from the exterior of the building to the interior of the building, and vice versa. The polymeric material is preferably shaped with a tapered thickness.

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dwelling environment being cool in summer and warm in winter by controlling a hot air in an attic space part of a building using an air flow passage between a double roof and an external wall. SOLUTION: The air flow passages 17 and 19 communicating between the attic space part 3 and an underfloor part are formed inside the building 1. The building 1 is formed with the double roof 7 and a clearance between the double roof 7 is communicated with appropriate parts of the attic space. Electric fans 11, 23, and 25 are disposed in the communication parts between the attic space part 3 and the clearance between the double roof 7 and appropriate parts of the air flow passages. An upper-part enveloping plate is provided with a hole 29 for exhausting the air to the outside or taking the outside air therein. The electric fans are driven in the normal direction to exhaust the hot air in the attic space part 3 through the hole 29 or lead the underfloor cold air to the attic space part 3, thereby enhancing the cooling effect. The electric fans are driven in the reverse direction to lead the hot air to the attic space part 3 or the underfloor part, thereby enhancing the heating effect. COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To add an outside cooling means to an air-conditioning facility, having a total heat exchanger, without sharp cost up and without enlarging the attic space SOLUTION: In the air-conditioning facility A, which is equipped with a ventilator 13 having the total heat exchanger 12 and a coil unit 14 installed in attic space S and is provided with a supply duct 24, going from the ventilator 13 to the coil unit 14 in the attic space S, an outside air introduction fan 15 which can freely take outside air for indoor cooling into the attic space S, a return air duct 27, and an air supply part d which sends outside air taken in the attic space S into a room 11 are provided, and also an attic space S serves as a circulation path for sending the outside air taken in by the outside air introducing fan 15 to the air supply part d

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ventilation structure of a building, in which not only air in each room is laced but also air in the whole building on the inside of a wall body or the like is ventilated properly while the building can be cooled and heated by utilizing a circulating system SOLUTION: The insides of each room and the insides of walls are ventilated properly at all times by collecting air introduced from suction ports 3 for introducing the outside air formed to parts of each room 4 to indoor spaces 4a on the insides of each room 4 into the attic space 9a of an attic 9 via exterior- wall airways 7 and partition-wall airways 8 through floor airways 6 from opening sections 5 formed to the surfaces of the finished floor boards 43 of each room 4 and discharging air to the outside through an exhauster 10 installed to the attic 9, and circulating pipes 41 are piped into double floors 40, warm water or cold water is circulated to the circulating pipes 41 according to seasons, and the insides of each room 4 can be cooled and heated by warm air or cold air dissipated from the walls when warm air or cold air dissipated from the circulating pipes 41 passes through the exterior-wall airways 7 and the partition-wall airways 8

Abstract: A utility monitoring project has evaluated radiant barrier systems (RBS) as a new potential demand site management (DSM) program. The study examined how the retrofit of attic radiant barriers can be expected to alter utility residential space conditioning loads. An RBS consists of a layer of aluminum foil fastened to roof decking or roof trusses to block radiant heat transfer between the hot roof surface and the attic below. The radiant barrier can significantly lower summer heat transfer to the attic insulation and to the cooling duct system. Both of these mechanisms have strong potential impacts on cooling energy use as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The pilot project involved installation of RBS in nine homes that had been extensively monitored over the preceding year. The houses varied in conditioned floor area from 939 to 2,440 square feet; attic insulation varied from R-9 to R-30. The homes had shingle roofs with varying degrees of attic ventilation. The radiant barriers were installed during the summer of 2000. Data analysis on the pre and post cooling and heating consumption was used to determine impacts on energy use and peak demand for the utility. The average cooling energy savings from the RBS retrofit was 3.6 kWh/day, or about 9%. The average reduction in summer afternoon peak demand was 420 watts (or about 16%).

Abstract: SYNOPSIS This paper investigates the performance attic ventilation, driven by photovoltaic (PV) fans, for cooling load reduction (by reducing heat gain through the ceiling) and for improving occupants thermal comfort. The ventilation fans are driven directly by a 27 Wp photovoltaic (PV) panel i.e, no battery is used. To assess the performance, two lab-scale houses each with a volume of 2.8 m3 were built using common construction materials. One of them served as a reference. Two patterns of ventilation were examined, namely external ventilation and cross ventilation. With the first, only the attic was ventilated while with the second, the ambient air was first admitted into the room and then into the attic. In addition, both non-insulated and insulated attics and those with and without a radiant barrier were considered. Tests were performed during the summer. Experimental results showed that cross ventilation could significantly reduce the heat flux transferred through the ceiling by about 3–5 W/m2. It cou...

Abstract: The utility model provides a corner locator which is made vertically by an infrared laser. On one angle of the bottom of a triangle attic base, a tapered top nail is a position on which the vertical midpoint of an infrared laser little torch aims at a floor and a wall corner is made, while on two angles of the triangle attic base, two carriage bolt tapered top nails are used for adjusting convex-concave of the floor, a blister center of a round horizontal slot and a floor horizontal location of the triangle attic base, wherein, one angle of the surface of the triangle attic base is vertically provided with an infrared laser little torch which is 'L'-shaped and forms a vertical right angle of 90 degrees, when the mains switch is pressed, the beam of the vertical infrared laser shots straightly upwards, The wall corner is made and bricks are laid according to location of the vertical beam of the laser(the effective measuring range of the infrared laser beam is 50 meters). The utility model is characterized in that the triangle attic base can be hidden in the wall corner which avoids mortar from falling on the attic base, and has simple structure and convenient usage which overcomes sudden change of the weather during construction and not be restricted by strong wind, thus substituting the indigenous method of using a vertical boll hammer to make the wall corner and raising work efficiency effectively, in particular to being suitable for soil sartorius to make a wall corner vertically, thus being an indispensable measuring tool.

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide equipment for snow removal blowing off snow by strong low-temperature air while blowing off snow, instantaneously melting snow and changing it into a liquid before snow falling on a roof and a road surface cumulates. SOLUTION: The equipment for snow removal is composed of an air blowoff duct 2 installed in parallel with the surface of the roof 1 in the same direction as the ridge beam and purlin of the roof 1, a blast duct 3 being connected to the duct 2 and transferring low-temperature air, an air blower 5 connected to the duct 3 through an electric damper 4, an attic duct 6 branched from the air blower 5 and piped in an attic space, a branched chamber 7 connected to the duct 6 and mounted on the lower section of a pole plate, a suction duct 10 for an indoor section being connected to the branched chamber 7 and having a suction duct 9 for an attic having a suction grille 8 in the attic space in the vicinity of the pole plate and the suction grille 8 in a staircase ceiling in the indoor section, an auxiliary heating duct 11 branched from the air blower 5 and piped along the exterior wall surface of a building, and an auxiliary boiler 12 connected to the duct 11 and secured in the indoor section.

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a roof ventilation structure which efficiently carries out ventilation under normal conditions and inhibits wind and rain from blowing indoors by using wind force under windy conditions. SOLUTION: The roof ventilation structure functions to exhaust air from an attic via an opening of a roof to the outdoors. According to the structure, an inner ventilation box 2 for allowing ventilation is arranged astride an opening 1 of the roof, and the ventilation box 2 is covered with an outer ventilation cover 4. Then, a negative pressure space 6 is formed inside a side wall 5 of the outer ventilation cover 4, and an exhaust port 7 communicating with the negative pressure space 6 is formed in an upper surface of the outer ventilation cover 4. Further, an introducing port 9 for introducing exhaust air from the inner ventilation box 2, is formed in an indoor wall surface 8 of the side wall 5 forming the negative pressure space 6.

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the sick house syndrome, oxygen deficiency, and moisture damage by a ventilation system SOLUTION: Air is fed from an attic of a thermally insulated and airtight building and exhausted from a toilet, a washroom, a kitchen, and a bathroom at all times The airflow, or the ventilation can condition the moisture in rooms and wall cavities to improve the durability of the building, exhaust noxious gas in the rooms, and feed fresh air therein to make the rooms into healthy and comfortable spaces for persons In summer, air is fed from the north or the east where the outside air temperature is low and hot air in the attic is exhausted to the south or the west side from exhaust ports In winter, the air is fed from a high position in the attic in the south or the west side for using the living waste heat This method can dispense with heat exchanging ventilation and provide the rooms with a lot of the circulating ventilation air volume and high amenity

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sound absorbing method in a building capable of inexpensively absorbing a sound without securing a space, and without narrowing the inside of a room. SOLUTION: An attic space 28 is formed of an under surface of a ceiling slab 16, an upper surface of a ceiling backing board 22, and a partition wall. A hollow light iron stud having an inside space 2402, having a rectangular cross section, and extending in a straight line shape is used as an installing stud 24 of a wall backing board 20. Respective upper and lower end parts of the stud 24 are blocked up by packing 30 such as rock wool. A communicating space part 32 for connecting the attic space 28 and the inside space 2402 of the stud 24 is arranged in a place where the stud 24 faces the attic space 28, and a Helmholtz resonator is composed of the stud 24. The communicating space part 32 is formed of a cylindrical member 34 having the length installed by projecting to the inside space 2402 side of the stud 24 in an upper end near place of the stud 24.

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ventilate a living room while preventing condensation from forming on an attic frame. SOLUTION: In this ventilating structure for a house H, a ventilating opening 4 surrounding a roof opening 8 to attic space 11 and being open to fresh air is provided at the top of the roof 2, whereby a ventilating cylinder part 3 communicating the attic space 11 to the outside is installed. A ventilating duct 10 is provided having one end 10A in communication with the interior of a living room Rc and the other end 10B facing the interior of the ventilating cylinder part 3 so that air exhausted from the living room Rc can be introduced into the ventilating cylinder part 3 as the attic space is shut off against the air.

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ecological building preventing generation of a toxic volatile substance, excessive water and the like from construction material or furniture in a house due to confinement of the house and material and structure of construction for the confined house. SOLUTION: For increasing airpermeability inside the house, ventilation pipes passing from under the floor to the backside of a ceiling are arranged vertically at least on both sides and in the center of a room, and in an attic, on the backside of a first floor ceiling, and under the floor, spaces allowing horizontal ventilation are arranged communicably with the ventilation pipes. In the attic or a veranda, an outside air feeding port having an air cleaner and an air discharging port are arranged. A natural material such as wall clay including a straw material is used as an interior finishing material, an activated carbon such as bamboo charcoal is stored in a clearance, and a non- solvent material is used for interior finishing.

Abstract: In 1959 David Lewis published an inscription found in the Agora, which he saw belonged to fG IJ2 334.1 We can read and understand most of the new fragment thanks to Lewis' brilliant restorations. But the text remains frustratingly incomplete and has defied satisfactory restoration in several places. The general picture is clear. The nomothetai resolve that a board of officials, presumably the poietai, let a territory called the Nea (A.7-8). The rent and a 2%-tax (12, 14-15) are to underwrite the celebration of the Lesser Panathenaia. Next, the text mentions an obscure contingency for action when and if revenues reach two talents (16-17), at which point the money appears to become Athena's (18). By this law two sources of revenue, property under lease and taxable assets, were permanently encumbered, or endowed, to fund the Lesser Panathenaia. No one has explained precisely how this mechanism for securing the permanent funding of cult worked. Lewis alone tried. Realizing that the key lines are A.15-18, he suggested the following restorations:2

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an eave soffit and a ridge ventilator surely preventing the leakage of rainwater and snowstorm into an attic space in the case of a rainstorm and a tempest and, at the same time, having high vent performance capable of ensuring a sufficient volume of ventilation for exhaust heat and dehumidification in the attic space. SOLUTION: An attic space ventilator is so constituted that one or two randam looped fiber net-like vent blocks 33 for surely preventing the passage of stormwater and snowstorm are arranged between the vent blocks consisting of a large number of ventilating openings reducing vent resistance as much as possible. Even in the case of having the rainstorm and tempest at a velocity of 40 m/s to 50 m/s, the incursion of stormwater and snowstorm into the attic space is surely prevented, at the same time, the volume of ventilation is greatly increased in comparison with usual one, and the high vent performance capable of sufficiently executing exhaust heat and dehumidification in the attic space by ventilating force is included.