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A case study for the effectiveness of solar-powered attic ventilation fans

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Abstract

The market for solar-powered attic ventilation fans (SPAVFs) is rapidly expanding. Many homeowners are increasingly turning to alternative technologies to reduce energy use and increase comfort in their homes. However, there is very little research data available on SPAVFs, and a significant observation of this research is that no industry standards currently exist that attempt to identify how the performance of the technology can be measured and verified to perform as advertised. The main purpose of this study is to measure the effects of a SPAVF on reducing high attic temperatures. To verify the effectiveness of a SPAVF, a case study is presented using data collected from Boone, NC, USA. In addition, this paper introduces a new prototype SPAVF hood design and describes the results of the airflow analysis of the prototype, which indicated that the prototype has the potential to offer increased attic ventilation at a time when it is needed most.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Technology and Environmental Design, Appalachian State University, 397 Rivers St, Boone, NC, 28608-2122, USA

    Ok-Youn Yu & Stacy Moore

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  1. Ok-Youn Yu
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  2. Stacy Moore
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Correspondence to Ok-Youn Yu.

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Yu, OY., Moore, S. A case study for the effectiveness of solar-powered attic ventilation fans. Energy Efficiency 8, 691–698 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-014-9315-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-014-9315-1

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