Attic Insulation with Desiccant

Abstract

A method of reducing the amount of cooling energy required to cool a building is provided. The method includes disposing a porous insulating material substantially covering the ceiling in the attic space of the building to a substantial depth. The porous insulating material includes a desiccant. The method further includes permitting the desiccant-bearing porous insulating material to adsorb water moisture from the attic space and then permitting the adsorbed water moisture to desorb from the desiccant-bearing porous insulating material into the enclosed room of the building, whereby the temperature of the desiccant-bearing porous insulating material is reduced, resulting in a reduction in the amount of cooling energy required to cool the building.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to insulation products, such as batt and loose-fill insulation, and board products such as duct liner and duct boards, having better thermal properties for cooling dominated climates.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Most residential construction includes an attic space between the ceiling and the roof deck. The structure that supports the roof and provides the ceiling plane is often constructed with pre-assembled wood trusses. The structure can also be built on-site using traditional ceiling joists and roof rafters. Properly insulating the attic is essential to reducing home energy consumption (“building load”). Thermally isolating the attic from the rest of the house also increases the comfort of the living space below in both winter and summer.[0003]Attic ventilation serves two purposes: prevention of moisture condensation in the winter and attic cooling in the summer. Ventilation during the heating season removes moisture-...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]A method of reducing the amount of cooling energy required to cool a building is provided. The building generally includes an enclosed room partially defined by an outer wall, a horizontal upper wall plate, and an attic space exposed above the upper wall plate. The attic space is defined by a ceiling of the room and a roof of the building. The method includes the steps of (1) disposing a porous insulating material substantially covering the ceiling in said attic space to a substa

Problems solved by technology

Despite the many attempts to properly insulate attics, the attic space of most buildings is perceived as a source of a nuisance.

In summer, the heat build-up in the attic space increases the cooling load.

There is a higher air or relative humidity at the surface of the wood framing materials which results in moisture being desorbed by wood attic framing materials.

In modern residences, the challenge of achieving a continuous air infiltration barrier and thermal insulation barr

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