Fan Information

Articles about cooling a home often mention the use of ceiling fans, vent fans, whole-house fans and attic fans. These fans can be a surprisingly effective alternative or adjunct to air conditioning, especially when the air outside the home is cooler than the air within (they can be especially helpful at night). Ceiling fans not only cool things down in the summer, but they also disperse warm air in the winter. There are dozens of models to choose from, but you may want to consider a combined ceiling fan/light with Energy Star certification. These units are 50% more efficient than conventional ones. Vent fans allow warm air to escape from inside and pull in cooler air from outside. According to Consumer Reports, "A whole house fan can do the work of an air conditioner using much less electricity." The Green Guide, however, cautions that whole house fans "provide substantial relief only at night and only in low humidity." The Green Guide goes on to recommend attic fans, which can "save up to 10% on AC costs."

Summaries and links to the best fan reviews are found on our All The Reviews Reviewed page, but we also found the following articles helpful.

The Green Guide has an article by Brian C. Howard called "Keep Your Cool with Less AC" that examines the environmental benefits of using fans.

The Martha Stewart website describes how to decrease reliance on air conditioners by using fans in the article "Staying Cool: Taking Advantage of Air Flow."

A brief article on HowStuffWorks.com answers the question "How Do Fans Make You Feel Cooler?"

Consumer Reports offers suggestions for fan placement throughout the home in an article titled "How to Keep Your Cool."

The following manufacturers' sites also provide helpful information.

Holmes

Honeywell/Kaz

Hunter

Lakewood

Lasko

Patton

Vornado