Attic
| Feature | What It Does | Partner Link |
|---|---|---|
| Conditioned attic using closed & open cell foam insulation underneath the roof, coated with fire-resistant paint | Creates a warmed attic environment in the winter and cooler one in the summer. For example, in the summer, attics can get as hot as 160° F (71°C) and in the winter, whatever the temperature outside may be. The typical temperature of a conditioned attic is typically about 5-20° F higher than the interior of the home in the summer. Having a conditioned attic puts less strain on the HVAC system. Allows for HVAC and energy recovery ventilator hoses to be run across the attic. Better than blown in insulation as there is often limited space between the edge of the ceiling and the roof sheathing to get the insulation in place. There can be a large loss of heated air into the attic in the winter through devices that are in the attic, such as electrical wiring boxes for lights, plumbing vent pipes, and poorly sealed attic access panels. This allows warm humid air in the wintertime to get into the attic where it can condense onto the bottom side of roof sheathing which can be damaged or become rotted. Warm air in the attic in the winter may also create ice dams due to the warm surface under snow. Roofs over unvented attics are less likely to be blown off in high winds because the wind cannot readily enter the attic. A house in a wildfire zone with a conditioned attic is less likely to catch fire from floating embers since there are no soffit, roof, gable or ridge vents for the embers to enter the attic. In coastal areas, an unvented roof keeps out wind-driven rain and better protects metal connectors in the roof assembly against salt spray and corrosion. It extend the life of goods in the attic as a result of lower high temperatures in the summer, and higher low temperatures in the winter. |
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| Energy Recovery Ventilator | The energy recovery ventilator inlet and exhaust lines are easily routed through the attic. | https://iaq.na.panasonic.com/erv |
| Terrestrial Antenna | The attic allows for an over-the-air antenna to be located in the attic, instead of on the roof or the side of the home. |