by Rob Purifoy

Created on: December 10, 2008

In the house there are two types of electrical pull from the main power source which is your home's electricity. The regular plug outlets, lighting and ceiling fan power pulls 110 volts of power from the main power breaker of a home. The bigger things such as clothes dryers and HVAC units pull a heavier load of power from the home. Thus it stands to reason that a ceiling fan will pull about half the power than using the A/C in the summer.

In the old days (1950's and 60's) homes were equipped with attic fans in some parts of the country. For those not familiar with this efficient yet antiquated type of cooling system, there were louvers fitted to the ceiling that opened when switched on to provide full house cooling. The windows were opened during the running of the attic fan which served to draw outside air through the house and through the attic while also depleting radiant heat from the roof. This was the utmost of efficiency but with the onset of allergies and southern heat this cooling method became obsolete with the onset of central heat and air conditioning.

It is debatably true that a digital timer thermostat along with human intervention during the hottest times of the summer can save at least a hundred dollars a month. One example that may apply to about 20% of you is as follows; if you have a pool and are swimming during the afternoon, turn the whole A/C unit off during the day. There is no reason to cool a house if no one is in, or if kids are running in and out. At the end of the day at the pool everyone is cold once they get out anyway and usually want to shower off. You just saved 5 or so hours off the bill for one day.

Back to the digital timer, it is imperative for those who work outside the home have one of these and program them to be set at 80 or above during the day and begin cooling an hour before arriving at home. Ceiling fans only serve to circulate air at the current temperature so there is no reason to leave them on when you are not home. In other words, the areas in which typical ceiling fans are located inside the home are non ventilated meaning they don't lower the temperature, they only circulate and amplify the current temperature.

Having said all the technical jargon, ceiling fans do save money because they pull less electricity as well as amplify and circulate the air inside the home. With autonomous thermostats and a little human intelligence there is much to be saved. Also don't forget that most fans have a reverse mode for the winter time. If you switch the black toggle on the fan it will reverse the motion of the blades to enhance heat convection.

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