Ceiling fans use less energy than air conditioners, but make the temperature seem only four degrees lower.
Fans are cheaper to run than air conditioners. Air conditioners are the units that consume the largest quantity of energy in most homes, so many home owners turn to fans to make rooms more comfortable. Fans evenly mix the air, making the air feel cooler. The rooms feel like they're four degrees cooler. However, homeowners might find that they still want to use air conditioners during really hot weather, despite the cost.
Fan Dimensions
Ceiling fans and other electric fans operate a blade that spins and directs air in a particular direction. Anyone in the wind's path receives a wind chill effect. This works well in combination with air conditioners, since they circulate cooled air throughout the home. Ceiling fans are the most effective types of fans and can create a draft throughout a room. However, the room must be at least be 8 feet tall. Ceiling fans work the best when the blades are 7 to 9 feet above the ground and 10 to 12 inches below the ceiling, states the U.S. Department of Energy. A fan should also be at least 18 inches away from the walls. If fans are not set up properly, you will not save much money using them.
Fans and Air Conditioner
Fans work best when combined with air conditioning, because fans can reduce how hard the air conditioner has to work, thus lowering energy expenditure and subsequently cutting the electricity bill. Ceiling fans allow homeowners to raise their thermostat settings up four degrees without experiencing a reduction in comfort. However, since ceiling and other fans do not actually cool a room, you waste electricity if you keep the fan running when no one is in the room, which makes the fans more expensive.
Fan Size and Speed
The effectiveness of a ceiling fan depends on both how fast the fan spins and how big the fan blades are, with larger fans circulating more air. You should set the fan at a speed that keeps you cool; setting the fan at a higher speed only wastes electricity. Although speeding up the fan can raise the electricity bill somewhat, lowering the thermostat increases the energy bill far more.
Window Fan
Window fans circulate air in and out of the home. They can pull heat out of the house or bring cool air inside. Window fans with the EnergyStar rating can circulate air much more quickly than other fans. By circulating more air with less energy, an EnergyStar-rated fan becomes even cheaper.
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