Posted by Dave in Eagle Independent Newspaper Column | 3-1-2009
This month I would like to share some info on ceiling fans. With the change of seasons coming, a good ceiling fan can bridge the gap between heating and cooling as well as making your home more comfortable. On average, Americans purchase about 16 million fans each year! (I just wish they all bought good quality ones and installed them properly!) I want to thank Idaho Power for providing the following facts.
Many ceiling fans save energy in winter as well as summer. Their secret? Their motors can run in “reverse.” Warm air caught near the ceiling can be pushed down to where you can feel it. In winter, set the fan on low speed so it pushes room air up against the ceiling, forcing warm air slowly down the walls to the floor. This reversing switch is usually located in the housing just below the motor and blades. Only reverse the rotation when the fan is stopped.
How much difference can that make? Some rooms in your house can be 15 degrees warmer at the ceiling than at the floor. A well-placed ceiling fan can reduce this difference to only 3 degrees.
Ceiling fans (without lights) consume as little energy as a 60-watt bulb—which is about 98% less energy than most central air conditioners use. If your ceiling fan does have lights, remember to turn off the lights when you leave the room.
Ceiling fans are often used instead of air conditioning. But it’s not necessarily one or the other. Fans produce air currents that carry heat away from the skin, so even air-conditioned rooms feel cooler when one is running. Remember: Fans cool people, not rooms—be sure to turn off the fan when the room is unoccupied to save energy.
If you’re shopping for a ceiling fan: Look for an ENERGY STAR qualified unit. You can find some ENERGY STAR qualified fans at home improvement stores, but they will most likely be found at lighting showrooms or through special order. Visit www.energystar.gov for a list of qualified models.
Compare models by looking for a fan with the highest airflow efficiency, (written as CFM/watt) at each of the three speeds. If looking for a fan with lights, look for an ENERGY STAR qualified light kit which uses more efficient compact fluorescent lighting instead of incandescent lights.
Match the size of your fan to the size of the room. For rooms 12 feet by 12 feet or less, you can use a 36-inch or 42-inch fan. For rooms up to 12 feet by 18 feet, use a 48-inch or 52-inch fan. If the room’s bigger than that, you’ll probably need at least two fans.
My thanks to Idaho Power for sharing this great information.
I would also like to invite you the reader to check out my newly launched website www.joeprin.com for other tips like these from Idaho Power, past columns I have written, Podcasts of the HomeFix radio show, product reviews, a Resource Directory of my recommended trades people and companies, and photos and videos I find interesting and think you might like. Check it out!
Joe and Vicki Prin own Joe Prin Remodeling LLC, Idaho Registered Contractor #RCE-23530, and can be contacted at 573-1082 or by email- joe@joeprin.com. Listen to the HomeFix Radio show hosted by Joe, Saturdays, 8-10 AM on 580 KIDO
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