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Ceiling fans help you feel cool, cut energy costs

July 20, 2008 @ 12:00 AM

Gannett News Service

The Herald-Dispatch

With energy prices rising and summer in full swing, people might want to consider adding ceiling fans to cut down on energy costs.

The American Lighting Association and other experts say that ceiling fans can reduce energy costs by 40 percent in the summer, using the energy equivalent of a 100-watt light bulb.

Ceiling fans rely on a wind-chill effect in the summer. Even if the temperature outside says 80 degrees, a mild wind can make it feel cooler.

"The fan will create a breeze that will make you feel cooler, and you can turn down your air conditioner by a few degrees, which will save you energy and money," says Veronique Sutcliffe, Fanimation's marketing manager.

"The fan does not cool the room itself; it only makes you feel colder. Therefore, it is important to remember to turn the fan off when you are not in the room, saving you even more money."

Fans also offer climate control in the winter, when warm air rises to the ceiling and does very little to keep the room's occupants comfortable. By reversing a fan's rotation and running it counterclockwise, a fan can release the trapped warm air and circulate it around the room.