In the course of running our homes, we are constantly looking for the ways of cutting down on cost. One of the areas where you can cut on household costs is by reducing the amount of energy consumed through the choice of appliances to install. Shockingly, it has been proven that about 25 % of all energy consumption in a home during summer is as a result of the use of the air conditioner. As a result, many people today are considering what should they choose too cool their homes, a ceiling fan or an air conditioner. In this article, we will find out how feasible this is.
First of all, it is important to look at how each of these appliances work. An air conditioner cools your body by cooling the air in your room. Moreover, a ceiling fan draws heat from your body through evaporation by pushing air towards you. A ceiling fan has the potential to cool your body by up to 8°C.
From a quick comparison between a ceiling fan and an air conditioner, you will notice that there are significant differences in energy consumption. In fact, experts say that, for every 38kw of energy used by an air conditioner, a ceiling fan consumes only 1kw. That is a big difference that is going to be manifested on the electricity bill. Many experts estimate that the cost of using a ceiling fan is less than $10 per month while that of running an air conditioner is more than 10 times over. In that respect, you are better off with ceiling fans.
Another perspective to look at is their costs of installation and maintenance. It is much cheaper to purchase and maintain a ceiling fan than an air conditioner. Air conditioners have more parts and are more complicated which increases their cost. However, the affordability of ceiling fans will enable those with limited funds to still be able to cool their homes. On the other hand, the costs of ceiling fan accessories are also less than air conditioner.
Unlike an air conditioner which takes longer to cool the whole room, a ceiling fan will have an immediate cooling effect on your skin. This is especially when it is located above your head – the ceiling fan will push air towards you leading to a cooling effect. On the colder months, you can reverse its rotation and have air pushed to the ceiling and back down along the walls. As a result, warmer air under the ceiling is pushed downwards.
You can make further savings with the ceiling fan as you can instantly turn them on and off as you go into and out of the room. In addition, it is more difficult to do this with the air conditioner since it needs more time to warm or cool a room. In that regard, the ceiling fan would serve you better.
You may also drift towards the ceiling fan for its aesthetic beauty. Most air conditioners are installed in hidden areas and may not be readily visible. However, with ceiling fans, you can make them a part of your home decoration by putting them in strategic areas. Some ceiling fans are actually pieces of art. They can beautify your home through lights, attractive designs, harmonious colors or artistic structure
Although ceiling fans will bring you a lot of cost savings and cooler temperatures, you are probably still going to need air conditioners in summer and winter. By using both of them, you are going to spread warm air in a room quicker in winter or cool the room quickly in summer. Using them together may help you feel more comfortable and saving money. Having said that, it is important to maximize on what each can provide. This will get you maximum comfort at your home while at the same time reducing your energy costs.