Saving energy with a ceiling fan
By Sanne / July 19, 2024
Choosing the right ceiling fan can make your home not only cooler, but also more beautiful. Here are a few general things to keep in mind when buying a ceiling fan.
How much can I save?
Heating, cooling and lighting your home can add up considerably in cost. However, a ceiling fan consumes an average of only 0.05 kWh per hour. By comparison, an air conditioner consumes between 1.0 and 2.5 kWh per hour. This means that a fan is much cheaper to run! When a ceiling fan runs for 8 hours a day, you consume an average of 0.4 kWh per day. With an air conditioner, this is an average of 12 kWh per day. Assuming an average kWh price of €0.58 (as of August 2024 in the Netherlands), a ceiling fan costs €0.20 per day, while an air conditioner will cost you as much as €6.95 per day. Count your profits!
Summer mode
In summer mode, the blades of a ceiling fan rotate counterclockwise and the air is blown straight down. This creates a breeze that has a cooling effect. Although the average temperature in the room does not actually drop, the air circulation does make it feel cooler.
Winter mode
In winter mode, the fan rotates clockwise. This causes the cold air to be sucked up from below, while the warm air, which normally stays at the top of the room, is pushed down. This distributes the warm air more evenly throughout the room and allows the heating to be turned down a notch. This not only ensures warm feet, but also saves on heating costs!
How long can you leave a fan on?
A ceiling fan can be left on for long periods of time without problems. Modern fans are designed to work efficiently and safely even when running all day long. However, it is advisable to turn off the fan when you leave the room to avoid unnecessary energy consumption.
