Ceiling fans require little power.
The amount of energy a ceiling fan uses depends on several factors. The motor that runs the fan is the main factor. The larger the motor or the faster it operates, the it requires to run. You can also vary the amount of power that the ceiling fan uses by changing the speed of the fan. However, fans are relatively low power users, taking about the same amount of power as a light bulb.
Size
A ceiling fan will use various levels of power depending on the size of the motor, which varies with the size of the fan. A 36-inch ceiling fan running at high speed uses 55 watts, while a 52-inch ceiling fan uses 90 watts at high speed.
Speed
Most ceiling fans have three to four speeds. The higher the speed, the more amps the motor uses, which equates to more energy use. Different ceiling fan motors are capable of different levels of speed overall as well. For example, the fastest fan motors can run at 0.9 amps while others may run on as little as 0.5 amps.
Light Fixtures
You also need to consider whether you have light fixtures as part of your ceiling fan when you are determining total power use. You simply add the wattage of all the light bulbs in use and add that total to the wattage of the fan itself. For example, a 52-inch fan with four, 60-watt light bulbs would require 335 watts (95 + 240) to run.
Time and Cost
The length of time the fan runs is also a factor in how much energy they require. The longer you run the fan, the more energy it requires. However, running your fan 24 hours a day will still cost you less than running your air conditioner. You are likely paying as little as three cents per hour to run your ceiling fan in comparison to about 50 cents per hour to run your air conditioning.
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