A ceiling fan with an Energy Star label can lower your utility bills.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, along with the U.S. Department of Energy, sets energy-efficiency guidelines for appliances that, when met, earn the . This label is awarded to a range of systems and appliances, from furnaces to light bulbs. It is designed to help you, the consumer, make smart, energy-efficient choices. Ceiling fans with fluorescent lights are among the many products that bear the Energy Star if they meet the program's criteria.
Why Energy Star?
Choosing energy-efficient products can lower your utility bills by a third, according to the Energy Star program. At the same time, energy-efficient products help the environment by reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
Significance
A ceiling fan with a fluorescent light that meets Energy Star standards is more than 50 percent more efficient than a ceiling fan that doesn't bear the Energy Star. This can result in utility-bill savings of up to $15 per year and up to $165 for the lifetime of the fan. While an Energy Star-qualified fan can cost more upfront, the energy savings outweigh the initial expense.
Criteria
Energy Star maintains specific criteria for ceiling fans. As of September 2006, these included a minimum airflow of 1,250 cubic feet per minute on low speed and 5,000 cubic feet on high speed, a 30-year motor warranty and a two-year light kit warranty.
Considerations
To reap the full benefit, use the fan year-round. In the summer, running the fan counterclockwise creates a wind-chill effect. In the winter, reverse the motor on your fan -- when it runs clockwise at low speed, warm air is pushed down into the room.
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