A CEILING FAN may not seem like a great way to save energy, but it is. Fans use a tenth of the energy consumed by AC and will make rooms feel up to ten degrees cooler. Even if you have central air-conditioning, using a ceiling fan along with it lets you set the thermostat higher. Working with wiring may sound as much fun as defusing a bomb—do you clip the red wire or the black one?—but putting up a fan is, if not a breeze, at least no more than an afternoon’s work. And it’s a good project to do before the warm weather hits.
Fan blades come in different lengths, and the best length depends on room size. Blades too small won’t get your room very cool; too large, and you’ll feel like you’re living in a wind tunnel. Before you buy, get the square footage of the room it will hang in to ensure that you select a model with blades of the appropriate length.
Blade Length Table
ROOM SIZE BLADE LENGTH
Up to 75 sq. ft. 29" – 36"
76 – 144 sq. ft. 37" – 42"
145 – 225 sq. ft. 44"
226 – 400 sq. ft. 50" – 54" (source: energystar.gov)
Pick a fan with a down rod appropriate to your ceiling height. The blades should be eight to nine feet above the floor (but no lower than seven feet) for peak airflow.
When purchasing, keep in mind that models rated by the EPA’s Energy Star program are about 50 percent more energy efficient than conventional units (see energystar.gov for listings). Also, pick one
that can run in reverse to circulate warm air during the winter, which will allow you to lower your thermostat and save on heating.
If you want to keep your overhead light, most fans have lighting options, which require additional wiring.
Although fans come in hundreds of styles, be sure yours suits your room.
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