- A new roof design that includes new attic ventilation and foil-back insulation has proven more efficient than standard designs in tests at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, scientists say.
- In warm weather, the design uses passive ventilation to suck air up from the attic and into a space between two layers of the roof.
- For cold weather, the scientists say foil-backed foam that can be installed in rafters in new roofs or directly over old roofs more cheaply than current spray foam reduces air-conditioning loses significantly.
From the article:
A new kind of roof-and-attic system field-tested at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory keeps homes cool in summer and prevents heat loss in winter, a multi-seasonal efficiency uncommon in roof and attic design. ...
