System and method for ventilating an attic

Abstract

There is provided a system and method of ventilating an attic of a building. The attic ventilation system comprises at least one lower turbine located at a low point of the attic, and at least one upper turbine located at a high point of the attic, wherein the turbines are each configured to receive power to enhance air flow in the attic being ventilated, and to generate power from the air flow in the attic when not receiving power. The system further comprises at least one power source to generate power to be transmitted to the turbines. The system may further comprise at least one battery to store power generated by at least the turbines and power source. The system may further comprise at least one controller configured to control the sequence of operation of at least the turbines, the power source, and the battery.

1 . A system for ventilating an attic of a building, the system comprising:
 at least one lower turbine located at a substantially low point of the attic;   at least one upper turbine located at a substantially high point of the attic; and   at least one power source configured to generate power to be transmitted to at least one of the at least one upper turbine and the at least one lower turbine;   wherein the at least one lower turbine and the at least one upper turbine are each configured to enhance air flow in the attic; and   wherein the at least one upper turbine and the at least one lower turbine are each further configured to generate power from the air flow in the attic when not receiving power from the at least one power source.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one battery to store power generated by at least one of the at least one lower turbine, the at least one upper turbine, and the at least one power source. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising an inverter to convert direct current stored in the at least one battery to alternating current to be fed into an electric grid of the building. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising at least one baffle configured to receive the air flow in the attic to generate power to be stored in the at least one battery. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one baffle is located within at least one rafter of the building. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one controller to control the sequence of operation of at least the at least one lower turbine, the at least one upper turbine, and the at least one power source. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising at least one indoor temperature sensor to determine a temperature of the attic, and at least one outdoor temperature sensor, to determine a temperature of outdoors, wherein the controller determines a temperature differential between the attic and the outdoors, and controls the sequence of operation based on at least the temperature differential. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising at least one lower pressure sensor to determine a pressure at a low point of the attic, and at least one upper pressure sensor to determine a pressure at a high point of the attic, wherein the controller determines a pressure differential between the low point and high point, and controls the sequence of operation based on at least the pressure differential. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising at least one photo sensing device to sense light levels outdoors, wherein the controller controls the sequence of operation based on at least the light levels sensed by the at least one photo sensing device. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one controller is accessible via a network. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one power source comprises at least one solar panel. 
     
     
         12 . An attic ventilation system comprising:
 at least one lower turbine located at a low point of an attic, the at least one lower turbine configured to enhance air flow in the attic by drawing air from outdoors and pushing the air into the attic, and the at least one lower turbine further configured to receive power and to generate power from the air flow in the attic;   at least one upper turbine located at a high point of the attic, the at least one upper turbine configured to enhance air flow in the attic by drawing the air from inside the attic and pushing the air outdoors, and the at least one upper turbine further configured to receive power and to generate power;   at least one power source configured to generate power to be transmitted to at least one of the at least one upper turbine and the at least one lower turbine;   at least one battery to store power generated by at least one of the at least one lower turbine, the at least one upper turbine, and the at least one power source; and   at least one controller configured to determine the sequence of operation of at least the at least one lower turbine, the at least one upper turbine, the at least one power source, and the at least one battery.   
     
     
         13 . A method for ventilating an attic of a building, the method comprising:
 providing an attic ventilation system comprising:
 at least one lower turbine located at a low point of the attic, the at least one lower turbine configured to receive and to generate power; 
 at least one upper turbine located at a high point of the attic, the at least one upper turbine configured to receive and to generate power; and 
 at least one power source configured to provide power to be transmitted to the at least one lower turbine and the at least one upper turbine; 
   receiving air flow by at least one of the at least one lower turbine and the at least one upper turbine;   generating power at the at least one lower turbine and the at least one upper turbine that receives the air flow; and   directing the air flow out of the attic to outdoors.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising generating power by the at least one power source. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising transmitting the power generated by the at least one power source to at least one of the at least one lower turbine and the at least one upper turbine. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising enhancing the air flow by at least one of the at least one lower turbine and the at least one upper turbine. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the attic ventilation system further comprises at least one battery configured to store power generated by at least one of the at the at least one lower turbine, the at least one upper turbine, and the at least one power sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the attic ventilation system further comprises at least one inverter to convert the direct current stored in the at least one battery to alternating current to be fed directly into an electrical grid of the building. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the attic ventilation system further comprises at least one baffle configured to engage with the air flow in the attic to generate power to be stored in the at least one battery. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the attic ventilation system further comprises at least one controller to control the sequence of operation of at least the at least one lower turbine, the at least one upper turbine, and the at least one power source.