solar powered roof fan

solar powered roof fan

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You know solar and you know what an attic fan is, but what is a solar attic fan? Although it seems like a contradiction in terms - since attics are more known for darkness than sun, attic fans can be solar powered to keep the sun's rays from turning the attic space into an oven.

Without the help of an attic fan, heated air that gets trapped in between your ceiling and roof can reach up to 160 degrees before seeping down into your house and overworking your air conditioning system. Throughout the day, radiant heat from the sun is absorbed by the shingles on your roof. The air in your attic is heated by the heat on your roof which can reach as high as 160 degrees. The heat from the attic ends up flowing through your insulation and into the home itself. Your air conditioner has to work extra hard to maintain the right temperature in the house, and keeps your utility bill up in the stratosphere.

Attic fans or attic ventilation systems are usually installed in the attic to help fight that migration into the living space of the house. There is still a significant cost to the energy to run these systems.

Now let's take a look at what happens when a house has a solar attic fan.

That same hot sun beats down on your roof throughout the day, and radiant heat is still absorbed into the shingles. Your solar fan removes hot air from your attic using solar power. The air temperature inside your attic cools down to about 5 to 10 degrees warmer than the outside temperature. The heat that does get transferred through your attic insulation is greatly reduced by lowering the attic temperature. Your air conditioner doesn't have to work as hard now and that of course lowers your energy bill considerably.

When you choose a solar attic fan, be sure to choose a brand that qualifies you for the 30% federal tax credit, defined by the Emergency Stabilization Act of 2009. The federal tax credit is scheduled to be in effect through December 31, 2016. The credit applies to both the purchase and the installation of your attic fan. Be sure to keep the receipt for the purchase as well as the installation cost for your tax records. For more information on the tax credit see the IRS form 5695, or call your tax professional.

This summer give your air conditioning system and your wallet a break by purchasing a solar attic fan that qualifies for the 30% federal tax credit.

For information about solar power and solar technology, visit our website and blog at http://refinedsolar.com.

We will be keeping you up with all the new developments, technological advances, and financial incentives to consider solar as a primarily power source. We urge you "Go Sun Yellow!"