Here’s what you need to know about ceiling fans and their impact on energy efficiency.
Ceiling fans are great for circulating air, but can they affect your home’s energy efficiency? There are times throughout the year you can go without using heat or air conditioning and just rely on a ceiling fan, but in the warmer climates, that’s not always the case.
Maximize the Direction of Your Fan
Not everyone is aware that ceiling fans can rotate both clockwise and counterclockwise. What’s the point in two directions? For the most comfortable room, of course.
When you ceiling fan rotates clockwise it pulls the air up toward the ceiling, which allows the warm air that’s up high to get pushed down and circulate throughout the room. This is ideal in the winter to make your rooms warmer when the weather is cool.
When the fan blades rotate in a counterclockwise direction, the opposite happens. The blades create a wind-chill effect by pushing the air downward toward you, so you feel the cool air while it’s also cooling the room.
How Does This Affect Energy Efficiency?
Fans use less electricity than a heating or air conditioning system. When you set your fan correctly for the season, the weather, and the temperatures, it will boost the efficiency of your HVAC because the system won’t have to work as hard to keep the room at the temperature you find comfortable. You use less energy because your HVAC system uses less.
Energy savings equals cost savings. By utilizing your ceiling fan and setting the rotation to the right direction, you can save on your utility bills at the same time you keep your home more comfortable.
For more information on how ceiling fans can work together with the right air conditioning system to affect your energy efficiency, contact our professional team at H.H. Hovey.
