RR-9801: Vented and Sealed Attics in Hot Climates

Sealed attic construction, by excluding vents to the exterior, can be a good way to exclude moisture-laden outside air from attic and may offer a more easily constructed alternative for air leakage control at the top of residential buildings. However, the space conditioning energy use and roof temperature implications of this approach have not been extensively studied. A computer modeling study (Rudd 1996) was performed to determine the effects of sealed residential attics in hot climates on space conditioning energy use and roof temperatures.