Ridge Vents and Getting Nature on Your Side

One way to use less of the sort of energy that changes climate is to get nature on your side. Let water soften the dirt on dishes; let air dry the dishes and the clothes. You can even get heat to help cool the attic, which sounds counterintuitive, but hot air is kind enough to let itself out if given the means.

Passive attic ventillation, unlike a noisy exhaust fan that used to kick on frequently in the summer and not do a whole lot of good, is silent and free. It starts with vents running the length of the soffits. Check to make sure that insulation in the recesses of the attic isn't stuffed up against the roof boards, which would block the airflow and cause the wood to rot.

Another vent runs the length of the ridge of the roof. Slots are cut along either side of the ridge board, and then some sort of linear vent that lets hot air out is placed over the opening, disguised by pieces of shingle nailed on top. (Here's one of many images on the internet.) We had this ridge vent installed when we got a new roof some years back, but it should be easy to retrofit an older roof.

Hot air, which is lighter than cold air, rises naturally. As it escapes through the ridge vent, it pulls cool air in through the soffit vents at the roof edges, thus cooling the attic. It's important to block off any old window-like vents at either end of the attic, so that all the relatively cool air comes in through the soffits.

The roofer used a cheapo strip of gauze, which I'm not completely convinced actually lets much air out, so do some research and make sure the ridge vent being installed is of a good design. The vent needs not only to let air out but also keep animals and blown snow from getting in.