A ceiling fan is one of the most popular home features. You can find it in more than 60 percent of American households. Its primary purpose is to move air around a room.
The fan creates a windchill effect when it blows air across your skin. It makes the room feel cooler, allowing you to raise your thermostat and still feel comfortable. This helps you lower your energy costs. But that's just part of the story. Ceiling fans can also be big energy users. Here's a guide to finding the most energy efficient ceiling fans.
Airflow Efficacy
The efficacy of a ceiling fan is obtained by dividing the rate of airflow per unit time by the rate of energy use. It's expressed in cubic feet per minute per Watt (cfm/W). Make sure you do some comparison shopping and look for the fan models with the highest airflow efficacy at each of their speeds. You'll find these numbers on most fan packages.
Blade Size
All other things being equal, efficacy increases with blade length. Consider buying the biggest fan that fits your space. Such a fan will require less effort or fewer revolutions to circulate air in a room.
For example, a fan that's 52 inches in diameter can run at medium speed and get the same airflow as one that's 44 inches in diameter and operating at high speed. You'll save more energy with the larger fan as well as enjoy quieter operation because of the lower running speed.
Energy Star Qualification
Ceiling fans that meet the qualification requirements of the federal Energy Star program are more efficient than standard models. Make sure you purchase Energy Star-rated fans to enjoy additional energy savings.
By using the above tips, you'll find the right ceiling fan that will help make your home more efficient. To learn more about energy efficient ceiling fans, please contact us at Hartman Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning, proudly serving the Fort Wayne area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in New Haven, Indiana and surrounding Fort Wayne area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about ceiling fans and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 260-376-2961.
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