How Ceiling Fans Save Energy

Ceiling fans like the Hunter Classic Original 52, Casablanca Panama XLP, and Minka Aire Supra Ceiling Fan, are a beautiful accessory that help you stay cool and save money all year round. Besides accenting an ideal atmosphere with its beauty, they can also play an important role in saving energy. To find out how you can optimize your energy saving from a ceiling fan, read the following!

The air movement created by ceiling fans evaporates moisture collected on the skin and thus making a person feel cooler. This allows the individual to raise their thermostat by three to four degrees while still feeling just as comfortable as they did while it was on. Ceiling fans save energy!

For every degree you raise your thermostat you can save between 7 and 10 percent of your monthly air conditioning bill. Using the previously mentioned method, you could save nearly 25% on your cooling costs just by turning the fans on and the thermostats up! Remember that they work hand-in-hand. You have to raise your thermostat a bit to save energy and money - turning on the ceiling fans won't do it alone!

To save energy most efficiently, make sure you choose a fan that is the right size for the room you intend to use it in. A fan too large will need too much energy (defeating the purpose of saving energy) and a fan too small will not move enough air to perform its duty.

Ceiling fans generally come in sizes between 34" and 56" (diameter). The size you need is dependant on what size room it will be installed in. For rooms that are 9' x 12', a 36" fan should do the trick (see the Hunter Orbit Ceiling Fan). For rooms 12' x 15', a 48" fan may be the most practical (See the Hunter Paxton Ceiling Fan). And lastly, rooms larger than 12' x 15' generally need a fan that is 56" (See the Minka Aire Cabella Ceiling Fan). Depending on the size and shape of the room, you may require more than just one ceiling fan to achieve optimum air movement.

Reversible Ceiling Fans

Reversible ceiling fans are the same as the fans you're used to with the added feature of being able to spin in the opposite direction. This is a feature that people use in the winter months to save energy. Since heat rises, a ceiling fan spinning in the reverse direction pulls the hot air from the ceiling and lowers it to the rest of the room. Since it also creates wind to circulate in the room, you generally will not feel any warmer; however, you will be able to set your thermostat lower to save energy and heating costs by 6 to 9 percent.

It is also a smart idea to use two different portable fans, such as the Hunter Century Portable Fan, Casablanca Zephair Desk Fan, or Minka Aire Retro Fan, on the cooler nights of the spring and fall. Using one near a low open window to bring in the cold air and another near an opposite wall's higher window to expel the warmer air will create a nice cool draft throughout the room.

Ceiling Fan Size Compared to Watt-Usage:

36" = 55 watts
48" = 75 watts
52" = 90 watts
56" = 100 watts

Running a 48" fan for 10 hours a day would only cost $.75 per month. Combining this with raising the thermostat to feel the same level of comfort could save you up to $150 in a six-month period. Depending on the cost of your energy efficient ceiling fan, you could easily gain back your money spent by saving money on your cooling bills every month.