Venting pole barn/shop

[Code54]

Here is what I currently have:
30x40 pole barn with interior walls - insulated all walls and ceiling. Open trusses. Used as a farm type shop. Like to keep it above freezing all winter (24/7) then turn the heat up when I am going over to work.
125000 btu propane heater
A/C unit (about 25000 btu) in the wall
I normally "insulate" the ridge vent in the winter so my heat does not escape, then in the summer I am on the ladder pulling the insulation out so it vents and cools - so far my only solution.

Is there a vent, vent fan or something I can open/close that i could put on in my cupula that would allow me to open it via a rod, or electric motor. Been thinking of a attic roof vent fan and mount it in the cupola so it can suck air out in the summer and was wondering are these "sealed" with louvers or something for when they are not running so bugs or the outside air does not come in?
Anyone have any ideas on what to do or how to do it? Am I missing any thing?
THANKS

 

[lockhaven]

why do you not put a ceiling in just about 2 or 3 feet wide use a double thickness of plywood or osb cut some holes a some set distance all along in both layers. you could then have the top layer connected together but just laying on the lower layer. with a pull rope at each end you could pull the top layer to either have the holes lined up giving you a vent or closed or any thing in between depending on your wants at the time. Very low tech but cost effective and your roof does not change.

 

[techwrtr2]

If I were heating/cooling such a space, I think I would put a ceiling in beneath the trusses along the same lines as a house. Reduce the space you neat/cool. If you use that space for some kind of storage, put in a pull down ladder. Doesn't have to be a pretty ceiling, but it would save you money in addition to doing what you want.

Assuming, of course, that I am correctly interpreting your desire. If not, ignore me and carry on.

 

[Code54]

I thought about a ceiling but I often am working on bigger/longer items and like to be able to swing them into the rafter area to turn them around etc... The other issue is I have a lot of lights, air lines, elec cord reels, ceiling fans, mounted up in the rafter area and would hate to have them all lowered (the garage is only 10 foot ceilings).
Thanks for the idea however

 

[murphy1244]

forget the ridge vent. get a powered gable vent that is hooked up to the other side that opens when a high heat.

 

[rswyan]

forget the ridge vent. get a powered gable vent that is hooked up to the other side that opens when a high heat.

Or you could put a shuttered gable vent fan in each gable - doing so might give ya a nice light breeze when they are running.

The one I just installed in our house is controlled via both temperature and humidity (separate settings for both), and they do make an automatic shutter for them (opens when the fans come one) I think the humidistat might be primarily for winter. Unit blows 1620 CFM.

They carry them at Lowes - $112 (without the shutter, which is another $44):

AIR VENT INC. Black Gable Power Ventilation

 

[Code54]

Not a bad idea at all - think I am going to start looking into that! I want to have a way to vent it and never thought about skipping the ridge vent and just venting to the sides

 

[techwrtr2]

powered vent with closing shutters does seem a good idea. If you can independently controll them you could also use them to control a breeze through the shop.

I'm geared toward keeping the conditioned space only as large as needed so that I'm not heating the peak of the roof or trying to cool it.

Do you have fans at the peak to force hot air down in winter etc?