i'm a complete novice/new homeowner, so forgive me if this is a totally crazy or dumb idea ... I live in Houston, where it's quite humid. I'd like to reduce humidity in my home without using a lot of electricity. I've bought a 20 lb bag of calcium chloride but now the problem is - where to put it!! I have young kids so I don't want them poking around in it. I need someplace with good airflow and exposure. And someplace where the wife won't complain that it's ugly. Our downstairs kitchen area has an air intake grill, about a foot off the floor. It's a shaft that goes up to the attic I presume. I am thinking of taking an aluminum try (one of those things that restaurants use to serve food) - filling it partway with calcium chloride, and placing that inside the shaft. It would keep the calcium chloride out of harms way, it would solve the problem of airflow and exposure, and it would dehumidify the air before it goes to the AC and then out to the rest of the house. I thought of filling up a bucket instead, but the tray has a lower profile and might restrict airflow less. ... I thought of putting it right next to/outside the air intake instead of inside, but it would definitely get in the way with foot traffic through that area. Is there any reason I should not do this?

I build a 30x60 metal shop. I'm putting a wall down the middle and putting a ceiling and central a/c. What is the best way to vent the attic?