A New Spin on Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans are popular not only because of their good looks but also because they can help make your home more comfortable during summer and winter. But it pays to take note of a few facts that could make your ceiling fan an energy drain instead of an energy boost.

For instance, if you keep those fans turning for cooling power but don’t raise the setting on your air conditioning system, you can use more energy than you need to cool your home. Although the fans aren’t big energy users, if you keep them running at high speed and keep the air cranked up high, too, you’re wasting energy -- as much as 15 percent. However, if you raise your air conditioning thermostat by just three degrees and use your fans, you can cut your energy use by about the same amount.

Many fans come equipped with switches that change the fan’s direction. In the winter months, you can use that adjustment to make your fan push warm air down from the ceiling -- remember, hot air rises -- and help your home feel warmer. In the summer, reverse the switch so the fan brings cool air up from the floor. Check the information on your fan to determine how your model works. If you’re running your fan the wrong way during the heating or cooling season, you’re really wasting energy and not getting the benefits of that ceiling fan.

Would you like more information on how to cut your electric bills? Call your local electric cooperative for more information. As a consumer-owned utility, your co-op is always happy to help you save money.

Source: Rocky Mountain Institute