[That Guy]

A passing thought...

I have a ranch house... in my attic - unfinished, I have string lighting... with 40 wat bulbs... its throse string lights from harbor frieght, covers 80% of the attic, right down the middle...

So I am curious...

If I turn on the attic lights... and leave them on... would that offset my heating oil usage?

I am more curious than anything, as I will be raising the temp of the attic, wouldnt heat transfer from the ceilings also drop?

I have 6" fiberglass, with 6-10" of blown in insulation - which I plan to double/triple in the next 2 years.

 

[rjniles]

It will increase your electric bill much more than it will reduce your heating bill.

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[beenthere]

Yes, it would lower the oil consumption a little.

How many 40 watt bulbs are in the attic.

Whats your electric rate, and how much did you, pay for the oil.

 

[Bud9051]

I'll be a bit sarcastic (sorry), you might as well build a campfire in the front yard.
Attic ventilation in a cold climate attempts to keep the attic the same temperature as the outside. Warming the attic with a bunch of insulation there will do very little to affect heat loss through the ceiling and most of that heat will be exhausted through the high vents, which you cannot/should not close.

If you like having lights up there, install LEDs (which won't save much either).

As for reducing your heating/energy costs, we can do that.

Bud

 

[Bondo]

A passing thought...

I have a ranch house... in my attic - unfinished, I have string lighting... with 40 wat bulbs... its throse string lights from harbor frieght, covers 80% of the attic, right down the middle...

So I am curious...

If I turn on the attic lights... and leave them on... would that offset my heating oil usage?

I am more curious than anything, as I will be raising the temp of the attic, wouldnt heat transfer from the ceilings also drop?

I have 6" fiberglass, with 6-10" of blown in insulation - which I plan to double/triple in the next 2 years.

Ayuh,...... Is this insulation on top of the ceilings below, 'tween the joists, or at the roof sheathing, 'tween the roof rafters,..??..??

In other words, is yer house set up as a cold roof, or hot roof,..??

Most often up north the roof is a cold roof, with a well vented attic to cut down on roof ice dripping off the house,.....

If that's the situation in yer house, the light bulb heat will simply be vented outdoors, or cause more roof icing,....
The light bulbs will be Outside the heated envelope,....

 

[Oso954]

Yes, it would lower the oil consumption a little.

Technically, you are right.
But I’m guessing it’s a 12 bulb string. At 40w a bulb or 480w total, I think someone would notice the change in electric bill, and not see the minor reduction in oil.

 

[chandler48]

We're not even into talking about condensation yet. That comes next. You want your attic to replicate the outside temperature as much as possible. All your heat is held in the living space envelope, and hopefully heat escape is kept to a minimum.

 

[user_12345a]

if electricity is cheaper than oil, u would be better off just heating the house with electricity in the first place. it's unlikely though.