Most people think of hot summer days being cooled by a ceiling fan but in truth, this type of fan is also a great way to cut down on energy consumption and costs during cold winter months too. Keep in mind that while ceiling fans do not produce cool or warm air, they do circulate existing air and depending on the rotation of the blades, the result would be a cooler or warmer room.
For many years, ceiling fans were chosen solely for functionality but today, you can find literally hundreds upon hundreds of designs and styles to fit with any decorum. For instance, if you wanted to use a ceiling fan in a little boy’s room, you could choose one with a globe that resembles a baseball and blades that look like bats. For a little girl’s room, a white ceiling fan decorated with pink hearts would add charm to the room while still making the environment more comfortable.
If you wanted to create a better environment in a formal living room, you might consider a fan made from rich mahogany and embellishments of the Old World or for a family room, a fan with triple globes and blades that look like palm leaves would keep to the casual look while adding personality. Just remember that regardless of the style, design, material, or size of ceiling fan interested in buying, it is critical that it provide both clockwise and counterclockwise operation. In fact, you could also purchase fans designed specifically to help with energy efficiency.
To enjoy the energy efficiency of ceiling fans, operation would involve the blades going in a clockwise direction during the summer. With that, air in the room, whether from the air conditioning unit or an open window on a cooler day would be circulated so within minutes, the entire room feels cooler. Even if the temperature never changes, because of the continual air movement, any perspiration on the body would be cooled, which in turn makes everyone more comfortable.
However, to benefit from better energy efficiency in the winter, operation of the fan would involve the blades being run in a counterclockwise rotation. As most people know, warm air automatically rises. That means heat from the furnace during the colder season stays closer to the ceiling. By using a fan and running the blades in the appropriate direction, the warm air residing near the surface of the ceiling is forced downward, which in turn creates a warmer environment.
For ceiling fans to reduce energy consumption, save money, and make the home more comfortable, it is critical that the right fan be purchased. For one thing, ceiling fans come in a variety of sizes so you want to make sure you purchase the appropriate size for the room. That way, the fan would circulate the most air possible for the space, which in turn would make it more energy efficient. In addition, make sure the blades are the right size and pitch, again based on the square footage of the room.
Although ceiling fans would make any room in the home a more comfortable place, remember that for energy efficiency, fans have to work in coordination with the air conditioning or heating. Considering the benefits that ceiling fans offer, and the aesthetics found in today’s market, this one device is an extremely beneficial addition to any home and any room within the home.
