Most homes utilize the AC or heater to control the temperature, so a new ceiling fan installation may seem unnecessary. But as temperatures rise this summer, so will cooling costs for your household.
Fortunately, ceiling fans are a secret weapon in your Chicago home during the summer! Energy-hungry AC units account for roughly 25 percent of household energy consumption – a number which may only rise as global temperatures do each year.
At Arnold Electrical Services, we know how exciting summer adventures can be, and how easily inflated AC bills can ruin them. Let’s look at the ways ceiling fans can lower AC costs and keep your summer cool!
How Fans Cool Your Home
Ceiling fans cool your home by moving air to create a wind-chill effect in the area directly below them. This process is also known as evaporative cooling. Evaporation cools your skin by removing heat from its surface and scattering it into the surrounding air. By increasing the amount of moisture that evaporates from your skin, ceiling fans help you feel cooler without actually lowering the temperature of the air in your home.
As seasons change, it is important to understand how your fan affects air circulation and remember to change the direction the blades spin. For cooling effects during summer, they should turn counterclockwise. This directs all air down towards you. During winter, they should turn clockwise. This pushes the warm air that has risen toward the ceiling down to you and draws cooler air upward.
Energy Use
Compared to a central AC system or a window unit, ceiling fans use 10-75% less electricity to operate. This makes them the most energy-efficient way to cool your home.
By making the air in the room feel cooler (because of the wind-chill effect), you can set your thermostat to a temperature that is closer to the outdoor temperature, so your AC unit will run less. This reduces your home’s energy use even further, without sacrificing indoor cooling effects or your AC unit’s long-term efficiency.
Cost
Knowing how much fans reduce your energy consumption is great, but knowing how much they cost (per hour) to operate really puts things into perspective.
An AC unit capable of cooling up to 1200 square feet costs about 20 cents to operate. A window AC unit capable of cooling up to 900 square feet can cost more than 17 cents to operate. Depending on a ceiling fan’s size and power level, they can cost less than one cent to operate.
Combining the savings produced by using ceiling fans and, at the same time, reducing AC use makes them one of the most energy-efficient ways to lower temperatures indoors, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Chicago’s Energy Experts
Including ceiling fans in your home’s AC system is a great way to combat high utility bills and keep your household energy-efficient. Our team offers a multitude of services to ensure your home is as energy-efficient as possible and has kept Chicago-area clients safe since 2008. Contact us to install ceiling fans and make your home more comfortable this summer. Our skilled electricians can handle any of your home’s electrical needs!
