Whether you’ve been enjoying warm weather for months now in Florida or are still waiting for the beginnings of hot sunshine in Wisconsin, one thing’s for sure: we all love air-conditioning during summer, don’t we?

Yet the thing we often forget to consider is how much goes into producing electricity for everyone in America to use this comfort! A 2000 article in Sierra Magazine gave the following stats:

• Each year, one-sixth of the United State’s electricity consumption is attributed to air conditioners.
• 70% of the nation’s acid rain comes from the electricity generation by fossil fuels (11.6% due to air-conditioning).
• 29% of the nation’s greenhouse gases come from the electricity generation by fossil fuels (4.8% due to air-conditioning).
• Coal-fired power plants produce harmful gases such as:
  – Nitrogen Oxide (smog and acid rain)
  – Sulfur Dioxide (acid rain)
  – Mercury (contaminates waterways)
  – Carbon Dioxide (global-warming gas)

Installing ceiling fans will not only be more energy efficient, but by doing so, you will also save money on your utility bills! And you can still control your new cooling system with the push of a button or the pull of a chain.

Q: Why should I use a ceiling fan instead of air-conditioning?
A: There are a ton of reasons! Here are the top three:

• Ceiling fans are quiet. You don’t hear anything when you turn it on or off, or even when it is running constantly.
• Ceiling fans save energy. They only use 50-75 watts of power. That is the same as a light bulb and less than one-tenth of the power it takes to run a medium-sized air conditioner.
• Ceiling fans save money. Running a fan costs almost $25 less per month than it does to run an air conditioner.

Q: How are ceiling fans beneficial in the summer?
A: Although a ceiling fan will not lower the temperature in your home, it will make a room feel cooler. When you open doors and windows, warm air is circulated from inside the room to the outside of your home. This action can make you feel up to eight degrees cooler! Inside tip: During the summer, run your ceiling fan in a counter-clockwise direction for maximum efficiency to lower electricity costs and to conserve energy.

Q: What kind of ceiling fan should I buy?
A: Energy Star ceiling fans are a good choice. According to the company website, Energy Star ceiling fans can save you up to $15 per year on your electrical bill, and they are fifty percent more efficient than conventional fans!

Q: What size ceiling fan should I buy?
A: It is a grave mistake to install a huge fan in a big room or a tiny fan in a large room. Not only will it look awkward, but you might not get enough airflow.

• Large rooms (15-by-15+): Use a fan with a blade span of 50 – 56 inches.
• Medium rooms (12-by-12): Use a fan with a blade span of 42 – 44 inches.
• Small rooms (8-by-8): Use a fan with a blade span of 32 inches.

Q: Where should I install a ceiling fan?
A: You should install ceiling fans in the rooms that get the most use. Once you choose the rooms, you should hang your ceiling fan in the center of the room, 10 to 12 inches below the ceiling. If the blades are too close to the ceiling, the air will not circulate.

Check out some more energy-saving and green-living tips here on the Buy Owner Blog!