The ridge vent in my last garage worked a whole lot better than the roof vents I installed in the shed. I am putting lights and a loftlike shelf in there and dang its hot up there. Its only 78 here today and the every step you take up on the ladder seems like 10 more degrees. The attic in the garage I built with the ridge vent never got that hot, not ever. Not sure that the ridge vent was the real reason, but I think that is the only real difference in construction. I am going to buy one of those fans to force the air out of the roof vents, its really hot in there. -----Original Message----- From: elky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:elky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Robert Adams Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 10:41 AM To: elky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [elky] Re: Trip >I keep mine at 78 and use ceiling fans. I live in fear of my last >electricity bill because I realized when I got home that before the >trip I had temporarily set the thermostat at 76, and then forgot to >change it back. My last electricity bill was over $145, and that's at >a rate of 12.8 cents per KWh. It's 13.5 up here. That's cheap for keeping at 76* but remember you have a new house. The rest of us in TX don't have a well sealed up house or double glazed windows etc. > It takes a lot to cool a house down here when someone turns up the >sun. Keep in mind, this is a relatively small house with the latest >radiant barrier, ridge vent, etc. It all helps a lot, but I can't >escape the fact that it's hot, really hot. > >On the plus side, my natural gas bill was only $27. It'll go up to $60 >or so in the winter. Ridge vent does absolutely nothing to help ventilate the attic. Lots of soffit vents and powered vents on the roof are the only thing that works here along with a light colored roof. The radiant barrier on the underside of the roof decking doesn't hurt but it's benefits are minimal and the efficasy of all radiant barriers goes away pretty quick as any dirt on it means it doesn't work... Robert Adams Rules: Please play nicely with others. Rules: Please play nicely with others.