Solar Powered Attic Fans Keep Your House Clean and Cool

Have you ever wondered why your attic has openings or vents? These vents are required by the building code. They allow heat to escape from your attic--heat that's caused by the sun beating down upon your roof all day. Heat produces moisture, and if the moisture can't go anywhere it creates mold, mildew, bacteria, rust, and rot--things you don't want anywhere in your house.

Unfortunately, these "passive" vents don't create much air flow. And today's roofing materials absorb a lot more heat than older-style wooden shingles, so your attic still gets extremely hot. This heat filters down through your entire house, even when the sun goes down, which means you have to use more energy to cool your house. And energy costs money!

That's why so many people use attic fans. Attic fans are installed on your roof or gables and do a great job of ventilating and cooling your attic. But what you really want to get is a solar powered attic fan.

Solar powered attic fans are among the most popular and cost-effective solar devices sold today. Here's why: since they're placed on your roof, solar powered attic fans face directly into the sun. They work hardest just when they're needed the most--when the sun is out heating up your attic! And solar powered fans are easy to install because you don't have to worry about any kind of power source. There are no wires or cords. You can place them anywhere--and they run for free.

You also won't need to keep your air conditioners cranked up all the time. Solar powered attic fans produce an upward draft that sucks in cool air through the windows below, while the hot indoor air gets drawn up into the attic fan and expelled from your house.

Renewable energy and clean power are going to be the next great global industry. Many homes that are built today come solar equipped. But it's easy enough to install a solar powered fan in an older home. Any handyman or roofer can do it.

Remember, solar powered attic fans save you money in three important ways: 1) they run for free 2) you won't need to use the air conditioner as much so your electric bills will be lower, and 3) they'll add value to your home.

The sun bestows us with incredible energy every day. By harnessing that power, you can keep cool, protect the environment, and save money all at once!

Rob Henderson often writes about alternative energy sources. To find out more about solar powered fans and where you can buy them, please visit Solar Powered Fans.