Ceiling Fans - Do they really save you money.
Jul 7 Ceiling Fans
A home in Atlanta without ceiling fans is akin to swimming in a pool without water. However, there are often misperceptions regarding when to use them and when not.
Ceiling fans do not actually cool the room but help to circulate the existing cool air in the room. Remember early science classes, hot air rises and cool air falls? By lifting that cool air and circulating it in conjunction with the breeze effect of a fan, you reduce the temperature that your body feels by 4% to 6%. This will allow you to raise the thermostat by several degrees and hence, save money simply because your body thinks the temperature is cooler than it really is.
A common mistake most people make is believing that if they leave their ceiling fans running all day in rooms that they are not using, this will contribute to keeping their A/C costs down. This is not the case, when you leave a room you should turn off the ceiling fans. The fan only cools the skin and therefore reduces the body’s perception of what the actual temperature is. You’re A/C bill will be the same with or without the ceiling fans running. However, it will cost you about $7.20 per fan during the course of the month if you leave them running 24/7.
By using the ceiling fans only when you enter the room, you can set your thermostat higher by 2 to 6 degrees and save 20 to 40% on your energy bill.
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