LED bulbs use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs — DOE
    Turning off lights when leaving saves $30-50/year per household — ENERGY STAR
    Standby power ('vampire load') can account for 5-10% of home energy use — DOE
    ENERGY STAR certified TVs use 25% less energy than standard models
    Programmable thermostats can save about 10% on heating/cooling — DOE
    Sealing air leaks can save 10-20% on heating and cooling costs — ENERGY STAR
    Heat pumps can reduce heating energy use by 50% vs. electric resistance — DOE
    Ceiling fans allow you to raise AC settings 4°F with no comfort loss — DOE
    Heating water accounts for about 18% of home energy use — DOE
    Low-flow showerheads save 2,700 gallons/year for a family of four — EPA
    Washing clothes in cold water can save $60+/year on water heating — ENERGY STAR
    Fixing a leaky faucet can save 3,000+ gallons/year — EPA
    ENERGY STAR refrigerators use 9% less energy than standard models
    Clean refrigerator coils annually for optimal efficiency — DOE
    Air-drying dishes instead of heat-dry saves 15-50% on dishwasher energy — DOE
    Proper attic insulation can cut heating/cooling costs by 15% — ENERGY STAR
    Windows can account for 25-30% of home heating/cooling energy use — DOE
    Window film can reduce solar heat gain by up to 70% — DOE
    Average US home solar system offsets 3-4 tons of CO₂ annually — EPA
    Solar panel costs have dropped 70%+ over the past decade — SEIA
    EVs cost about 60% less to fuel than gas vehicles — DOE
    Proper tire inflation improves gas mileage by 0.6% on average — DOE
    The average US household spends $2,000+/year on energy — EIA
    ENERGY STAR products have saved Americans $500 billion on energy bills
    LED bulbs use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs — DOE
    Turning off lights when leaving saves $30-50/year per household — ENERGY STAR
    Standby power ('vampire load') can account for 5-10% of home energy use — DOE
    ENERGY STAR certified TVs use 25% less energy than standard models
    Programmable thermostats can save about 10% on heating/cooling — DOE
    Sealing air leaks can save 10-20% on heating and cooling costs — ENERGY STAR
    Heat pumps can reduce heating energy use by 50% vs. electric resistance — DOE
    Ceiling fans allow you to raise AC settings 4°F with no comfort loss — DOE
    Heating water accounts for about 18% of home energy use — DOE
    Low-flow showerheads save 2,700 gallons/year for a family of four — EPA
    Washing clothes in cold water can save $60+/year on water heating — ENERGY STAR
    Fixing a leaky faucet can save 3,000+ gallons/year — EPA
    ENERGY STAR refrigerators use 9% less energy than standard models
    Clean refrigerator coils annually for optimal efficiency — DOE
    Air-drying dishes instead of heat-dry saves 15-50% on dishwasher energy — DOE
    Proper attic insulation can cut heating/cooling costs by 15% — ENERGY STAR
    Windows can account for 25-30% of home heating/cooling energy use — DOE
    Window film can reduce solar heat gain by up to 70% — DOE
    Average US home solar system offsets 3-4 tons of CO₂ annually — EPA
    Solar panel costs have dropped 70%+ over the past decade — SEIA
    EVs cost about 60% less to fuel than gas vehicles — DOE
    Proper tire inflation improves gas mileage by 0.6% on average — DOE
    The average US household spends $2,000+/year on energy — EIA
    ENERGY STAR products have saved Americans $500 billion on energy bills
    LED bulbs use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs — DOE
    Turning off lights when leaving saves $30-50/year per household — ENERGY STAR
    Standby power ('vampire load') can account for 5-10% of home energy use — DOE
    ENERGY STAR certified TVs use 25% less energy than standard models
    Programmable thermostats can save about 10% on heating/cooling — DOE
    Sealing air leaks can save 10-20% on heating and cooling costs — ENERGY STAR
    Heat pumps can reduce heating energy use by 50% vs. electric resistance — DOE
    Ceiling fans allow you to raise AC settings 4°F with no comfort loss — DOE
    Heating water accounts for about 18% of home energy use — DOE
    Low-flow showerheads save 2,700 gallons/year for a family of four — EPA
    Washing clothes in cold water can save $60+/year on water heating — ENERGY STAR
    Fixing a leaky faucet can save 3,000+ gallons/year — EPA
    ENERGY STAR refrigerators use 9% less energy than standard models
    Clean refrigerator coils annually for optimal efficiency — DOE
    Air-drying dishes instead of heat-dry saves 15-50% on dishwasher energy — DOE
    Proper attic insulation can cut heating/cooling costs by 15% — ENERGY STAR
    Windows can account for 25-30% of home heating/cooling energy use — DOE
    Window film can reduce solar heat gain by up to 70% — DOE
    Average US home solar system offsets 3-4 tons of CO₂ annually — EPA
    Solar panel costs have dropped 70%+ over the past decade — SEIA
    EVs cost about 60% less to fuel than gas vehicles — DOE
    Proper tire inflation improves gas mileage by 0.6% on average — DOE
    The average US household spends $2,000+/year on energy — EIA
    ENERGY STAR products have saved Americans $500 billion on energy bills
    EnergyBS
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    Insulation & Air SealingEnergyBS

    Roof Venting Physics: Why Your Attic Needs to Breathe

    It seems counterintuitive to open holes in your roof to save energy. But Ridge Vents and Soffit Vents are crucial for preventing Ice Dams and Mold.

    2 min read
    EnergyBS Research

    The Cold Attic Principle

    In winter, you want your attic to be COLD. Ideally, the same temperature as the outdoors. Why?

    1. Ice Dams: If the attic is warm, it melts the snow on the roof. The water trickles down to the cold eaves (overhangs), re-freezes, and forms an ice dam. This dam backs up water under your shingles and rots your roof.
    2. Condensation: Warm, moist air from the house leaks into the attic. If the attic is cold and sealed, that moisture condenses on the plywood sheathing. Hello, black mold.

    The Airflow Engine

    To keep the attic cold and dry, you need airflow. Physics: Hot air rises. We use this "Stack Effect" to drive ventilation.

    1. The Intake (Soffit Vents)

    You need holes under the eaves (the soffit). This is where cool, fresh air enters. Critical Mistake: Homeowners stuff insulation into the eaves, blocking these vents. You must use "baffles" or "chutes" to keep a clear airway above the insulation.

    2. The Exhaust (Ridge Vent)

    You need a vent at the very peak of the roof. As the air in the attic warms up slightly (from the sun), it rises and exits the Ridge Vent. This creates a vacuum that sucks fresh cold air in the Soffit Vents. It is a passive engine that runs 24/7.

    The "Gable Vent" Problem

    Older homes have vents on the side walls (Gable Vents). If you install a Ridge Vent, you must seal the Gable Vents. If you leave both open, the Ridge Vent will suck air in from the Gable vent (short-circuiting) instead of pulling from the bottom Soffits. You leave the bottom half of the attic unventilated.

    Unvented Attics (Spray Foam)

    The only exception is a "Hot Roof" or Unvented Attic. If you spray foam the underside of the roof deck, you verify turn the attic into conditioned space. In this case, you seal all vents. The attic becomes part of the house. This is great for HVAC equipment (ducts in conditioned space), but expensive to execute correctly.

    Summary

    If you have fiberglass on the floor: Vent it. (Soffit + Ridge). If you have spray foam on the roof: Seal it. Never mix the two strategies.

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