How to increase HVAC energy efficiency using ceiling fans
When temperatures rise, so do cooling costs. Fortunately, ceiling fans are a secret weapon in the battle against inflated air conditioning bills.
Learn how to incorporate ceiling fans into your facility’s air conditioning system to help your building occupants keep energy bills low when temperatures rise.
Run ceiling fans and air conditioning together to save
The primary reason why ceiling fans save energy is simple: By moving air, ceiling fans create a wind-chill effect in which the air feels cooler to the skin than the actual temperature. This means thermostats can be turned up to a warmer setting and the air in the room will still feel as if it were being cooled.
When properly installed, ceiling fans allow building occupants to turn up their thermostats by about four degrees warmer than the normal setting without sacrificing comfort.
The closer a thermostat’s setting is to the outdoor temperature, the less frequently the air conditioner will run. In turn, this saves money by reducing energy consumption.
Bonus tip: On average, ceiling fans with an ENERGY STAR® certification are 20% more efficient at moving air than those without the certification, according to Energy Saver. Opting for ENERGY STAR certified ceiling fans will give your building occupants even greater energy savings.
Ceiling fan tips to lower cooling costs
Proper ceiling fan installation and use are key parts of achieving energy savings. Energy Saver offers a few tips for using fans to help keep your building occupants’ energy bills as low as possible while also keeping them cool.
Consider room size and placement.
The correct placement of the fan will help maximize airflow.
Fans should be installed so that the blades are no higher than nine feet from the floor, but no closer than eight inches from the ceiling. For tall ceilings, install the fan with an extension rod to lower the height of the fan.
The diameter of the fan should correlate to the square footage of a room. For rooms measuring 225 square feet or smaller, a 44-inch diameter fan will provide effective cooling. Rooms larger than 225 square feet will require a larger fan.
For rooms measuring more than 18 feet in length, multiple fans will be required and should be spaced evenly between six to 10 feet apart.
Bonus tip: The number of blades a ceiling fan has does not correlate to how much air it moves. Instead, focus on the pitch of the blades when making your selection. Blades that have a sharper pitch will increase air circulation in a room.
Use the right installation equipment.
A fan that is installed with the wrong electrical and mounting equipment works less effectively and can also present a safety hazard. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper fan installation.
Be aware that not all outlet boxes are made to be used with ceiling fans, so double-check that the outlet box you are using is appropriate for ceiling fan installation.
Set the fan’s motor to spin counterclockwise.
Setting a fan’s motor to spin counterclockwise will push air down, which is what creates the wind chill and makes the room feel cooler. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to determine how to set the motor’s direction.
Make it easy to turn on and off.
Ceiling fans increase energy efficiency by making people in a room feel cooler, not by cooling the air in a room itself. Though energy-efficient fans don’t use a lot of electricity, leaving a ceiling fan on when nobody is in the room is a waste of energy.
Install wall-mount or remote-controlled ceiling fan switches with multiple speed settings to allow building occupants to easily control the indoor climate and turn off the fan when they leave a room.
Discover more energy-saving ideas
Consider Ferguson your partner in the facility maintenance and property management industry. For more ways to save energy and lower operating costs at your facility or property, visit Green Ideas.