Vanity: Whole house fans to save power costs for cooling homes

6/25/2008

[AlaskaErik]

I wish it got that warm up here, but our summers are getting cooler. I've been wearing my winter shirts for the last two summers and this summer I haven't even had to open the windows yet to cool things down. In fact, I've been tempted to turn up the heater thermostat. So much for glo-bull warming.

[wolfcreek]

We have ceiling fans in every room. That whole enough?

We also have an attic fan but, the air outside is too hot and dirty to let in. The joys of living in the South.

[wolfcreek]

What did that run you?

[MD_Willington_1976]

Cool... we use two 20 inch box fans at the other end of the house... since we don’t sleep there it works great... Cold air is drawn into our bedrooms all night.

[Uncledave]

Check out that Airspace website for more details on that.

[WVKayaker]

We also have an attic fan but, the air outside is too hot and dirty to let in. The joys of living in the South.

Use what you've got, if you have enough. If you have space, dig a long trench, the longer, the better,and go 5-6 ft into the ground, with a duct system. Place a filtered intake on the far end, and a fan to induct the air into the home.

Ground temps are typically 50-60 degrees. Taking in warm (hot) humid air will cool it, bring down the humidity through condensation, and provide a source of warmer air (still 50-60 d>) to pre-warm intake air for heating. There was a guy in Rochester, NY, I read about in the 70's, that built a thick-walled (24") two story home. The heat from cooking was enough for their Rochester winters, and he did this trenching for fresh air!

Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

[wolfcreek]

First of all, you're right about the ground temp. The water coming out of my shower head is very coll.

It would cost a fortune to dig a 5 or 6 ft trench in our bedrock although if we did it would work very well.

The early pioneers who moved to Texas built their homes out of very thick limestone blocks. (very efficient in summer or winter. Unfortunately, the builder of our current home didn't use such techniques. Wish we could be the geothermal methods.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

About $23,000, three times more expensive than a traditional propane or electric heating/cooling system (no natural gas here.) This included heat/AC forced air ductwork, thermal floor that is turned on in the winter, four 200 foot wells under the driveway and the heat exchanger unit in the house. We have 2700 sq. ft and the house is punched into a hillside. Payoff was five years.

[IncPen]

ping

[WVKayaker]

<>It would cost a fortune to dig a 5 or 6 ft trench in our bedrock although if we did it would work very well.

[tubebender]

Question...

If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that ACME crap, why didn’t he just buy dinner?

[GOPJ]

I live in muggy Florida on a mangrove - where no-seeums fly through screens and bite all night if windows are left open. So the fan idea is out, but I need help with ideas for a central AC and heat pump.

Got any green ideas for that - something that doesn't cost a fortune?

[rottndog]

Intriguing idea....so you essentially suck air through the ground? Wonder how I could make that work through a concrete slab...

[rottndog]

BTW...it just occurred to me...doesn’t this place you at higher risk of radon poisoning?

[WVKayaker]

...Wonder how I could make that work through a concrete slab...

Have you heard of a jackhanner?

As for all that radon getting to you, I have a bridge I want to sell you, too. Seriously, though, if that is a concern, just make proper provisions. I would start by checking the levels in the area to see if there is a cause for concern.

Radon, second-hand smoke, and a myriad of things are claimed to cause cancer. I am more convinced they are reasons to make a sale.

Many people worry about shadows behind doors. For best results, point gun at head, pull trigger, if you are irrationally concerned...

[WVKayaker]

If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that ACME crap, why didn’t he just buy dinner?

Some of us just like the challenge...

[WVKayaker]

Have you heard of a jackhanner jackhammer? Dammit, they need to make those keys further apart...

[MaryFromMichigan]

Interesting thread and post (#26).

[1rudeboy]

The mongo ones require joists to be cut. You are correct, others are designed so major alteration is not necessary. (I used to sell both).