Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Guys, I know this is not directly related to aquaponics so you can remove it if you wish. It is about being sutainable though as it is a question about solar powered motorized fan ventilation to help cool a home.

In a two story home the downstairs section stays very cool most of the time to the extent that people think the air con is on but it isn't. (The rear wall of the downstairs level is below ground as the house is built into a hill) I think because it's partly below ground, it helps to keep the downstairs cool.

The upstairs however get very, very hot. I thought that I could install a solar powered air vent on the roof that is ducted directly to the upstairs ceiling to allow the hot air to escape rapidly from the house. The air that escapes will be replaced hopefullly by the cooler air downstairs and obviously air from outside.

Do you think this will have a cooling effect on the upper level? I am thinking that it might even out the temperature a bit more?

My concern is that the replacement air will come from outside that might actually be warmer than the downstairs section; however the solar powered air vent will create moving air which is better than still air.

I think it might work to cool the house overall by allowing the hot air to escape, obviously not as good as aircon but I'm trying to be sustainable and energy efficient. Please let me know your opinions.

I think this would help equalise the temperature upstairs with downstairs. Your right in saying that air would need to be drawn in somewhere to replace the air that is let out the vent in the roof. As long as this air is drawn in from the coolest place this should be okay and keep all other doors and window shut where possible. Like a window on the southern aspect of the house. It may lead to lightly higher temps at the lower storey but overall the whole house should be cooler

look at this website for ideas on sustainable cooling, the badgirs of persia, the technique is to let air flow over a water body to cool it.

you could have a small pool or koi carp pond and pass the suction pipes through it to cool the air and then plumb it to you rooms.

http://www.heritageinstitute.com/zoroas ... /page2.htm

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Reminded me of this -

http://robotfun.wordpress.com/2011/12/21/swampcooler/

This has links to a whole bunch of projects for passive cooling (how I found the first link)

http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/Cooling/passive_cooling.htm

builditsolar is a really neat site with lots of projects besides the passive cooling ones.

Forgot to mention - I think the solar powered vent fan will help and is worth a go, might be the least expensive option and wouldn't clutter up the place. In the Summer I have a manual switched attic vent (non solar) and it really helps lower the temp in the Attic, keeps the house cooler but also allows the house to cool down at night much sooner. The difference has been obvious when I've forgotten to flip the switch. The solar vent fans are supposed to lower attic temp 20 to 30 degrees... should help.