How to Use Your Ceiling Fan

A ceiling fan is a wonderful addition to almost any room in your house. It can create a wonderful breeze and increase energy efficiency by decreasing your home's overall power consumption.

Energy Star Compliance

While there are many makes and models of ceiling fans, some are more energy efficient than others. Energy star compliant models simply meet government energy requirements. Those that are not compliant, however, are not necessarily less energy efficient; they just do not meet the same requirements.

Energy Efficiency

All ceiling fans can, if used properly and regardless of Energy Star compliance, help to increase your home’s energy efficiency. They do this by distributing either heated or cooled air from your furnace or air conditioner throughout the room. In other words, you can set your fan’s spin direction based on the weather.

In essence, set your thermostat to a higher temperature in the summer and set your ceiling fan’s direction switch in the lower position to distribute the cooler air from the air conditioner. In the winter, decrease your thermostat’s temperature and set the ceiling fan's direction switch in the upper position to distribute the warmer air throughout the room.

Using your ceiling fan in conjunction with your furnace or air conditioner saves you money in energy costs.