| p>Ceiling fans can help alleviate both the heat and | | | | Fan Sizes and Location: |
| the climbing energy bill. By circulating the air ceiling | | | | Traditional fans should be hung in the center of a |
| fans move warm air toward the ceiling and into attic | | | | room. Fan blades should be 7-8 feet from the floor |
| vents while creating a "wind-chill" effect, which adds | | | | for optimum air circulation. Low profile fans, for lower |
| to the cooling sensation. | | | | ceilings, and lengthening stems, for higher ceilings are |
| Air conditioners are not known to be very energy | | | | generally available with fans to ensure they are |
| efficient. Even the most advanced units use more | | | | mounted at their ideal height. |
| power than other appliances in most homes. Annually | | | | Below a chart shows the approximate size fans |
| air conditioners use almost 20% of the kilowatt-hours | | | | should be based on room size |
| produced in the United States. In other words, air | | | | Room Size-------------------------Fan Size |
| conditioners alone in the United States are responsible | | | | 64 square-feet or smaller---------32-inch or smaller |
| for the consumption of 207,0692,000 tons of coal, | | | | 100 square-feet or smaller--------34-inch or 36-inch |
| 23,074,000 barrels of oil, and over 137,924,800,000 | | | | 144 square-feet or smaller--------38-inch to 42-inch |
| cubic feet of natural gas (based on 2006 national | | | | 225 square-feet-------------------44-inch to 46-inch |
| statistics). That staggering figure translates directly to | | | | 400 square-feet-------------------48-inch to 54-inch |
| an increased energy bill and money out of your | | | | 485 square-feet-------------------56-inch |
| pocket. | | | | 600 square-feet-------------------58-inch to 60-inch |
| Most ceiling fans use the same amount of power as | | | | Nontraditional Fans: |
| a 75-100 watt light bulb. For such a small power | | | | Directional fans, as the name implies, are stationary |
| usage a fan can make a home or office feel 8-10F | | | | fans designed to cool a specific location or area. |
| degrees cooler. According to Florida Power and Light, | | | | Some directional fans swivel to cool a greater area. |
| ceiling fans throughout a home can reduce energy | | | | Generally directional fans have stronger motors and |
| bills by up to 40%. | | | | sharper blade angles to move air more aggressively, |
| While serving an energy saving function, fans can | | | | but otherwise follow the same general quality |
| also accentuate the style and decor in your home or | | | | guidelines as the traditional fans. Directional fans can |
| office. Ceiling fan innovation and style have come a | | | | be great to further cool a room that already has a |
| long way. | | | | traditional fan or on it's own. |
| What to look for when buying a Ceiling Fan: | | | | Rotational Fans are a hybrid of Traditional and |
| At first glance it may be hard to see why one fan | | | | Directional fans. The fan is ceiling mounted like a |
| costs $50 and another costs $600. Part if it may | | | | traditional fan, but in place of fan blades a horizontal |
| have to do with style and appearance, but beyond | | | | stem is attached to directional fans on either end. |
| that the quality of the higher priced fans are | | | | These directional fans rotate around the ceiling mount |
| generally superior. Quality fans pay attention to blade | | | | and are adjustable to different angles as desired. It |
| angle, use higher quality internal components and are | | | | has been claimed that rotational fans move the air |
| better engineered. Cheaper fans will probably function | | | | most effectively, however the movement of air is |
| reasonably well at first, but they can quickly begin to | | | | the objective and which fan is the right fan is a |
| generate noise, and wobble. Wobbling in a fan further | | | | matter of personal choice. |
| speeds up the wear and tear on a fan. | | | | Lastly, an often-overlooked benefit to ceiling fans is |
| Higher quality fans also move more air than a low | | | | they also help with heating. Most fans have a switch |
| quality fan of the same size. Ideal blade angle for a | | | | that will change the direction of the blade rotation |
| traditional ceiling fan is 12-16 degrees. Most cheap | | | | from pulling air from below toward the ceiling (usually |
| fans have a blade angle of 10 degrees or less. On the | | | | clockwise rotation) to moving the warm air from the |
| same size fan this small difference can make a | | | | ceiling toward the rest of the room (usually |
| difference of the cheaper fan moving 40% less air. | | | | counterclockwise direction). Generally the fan will be |
| In other words, a cheap fan with 10 degree blades | | | | set to a slower setting to accomplish this without |
| designed to cool a room effectively cools a room | | | | any "wind chill" effect, but it is a proven and |
| roughly half as large. | | | | undeniable benefit. |