ATTIC AND CEILING FANS COOL AND/OR REDISTRIBUTE HEAT, SAVE ENERGY, AND CAN CUT YOUR AC COST 50%-90%
Why ventilate my attic?
The blazing sun’s rays beat down on your roof causing attic temperatures to soar, sometimes to over 160 degrees! This heat forces its way through the insulation and into your home, then your AC system must remove the heat from your living space… and that will cost you a bundle!
Attic fans draw cooler outside air in through your open windows which lowers the room temperature by as much as 10 to 20 degrees. Furthermore, moving air, blowing through the whole house cools the occupants. The cooling breeze can lower the skin temperature by 5 to 10 degrees F. The fresh, cooler air, after passing through the living space, is forced into the attic which pushes the hot attic air out through the attic vents.
Ceiling fans can bring numerous energy saving benefits to the home. Most ceiling fans use only about as much power as a 100 watt light bulb. When used properly, ceiling fans can save you money in utility bills in both the winter and summer months.
BENEFITS OF CEILING FANS IN WINTER MONTHS.
Remember: Warm air is lighter than cool air. In any given room there are layers of air with varying degrees of temperature, the warmest air near the ceiling. In the winter months, you should run your ceiling fan in a clockwise direction. This pushes warm air up against the ceiling and then down the walls, gently recirculating warm air through the room without causing a chilling breeze. This technique has been proven to lower home or office heating costs by as much as 10% by offsetting the HVAC work load.
BENEFITS OF CEILING FANS IN SUMMER MONTHS.
In the summer months, your ceiling fan offers the greatest energy saving benefits when run in a counter-clockwise direction. While a ceiling fan does not necessarily lower the temperature, it does make the room feel cooler by providing a circulatory breeze. If the outside temperature is not too high, you might be able to achieve a comfortable environment by turning off the HVAC altogether, by opening a few windows and allowing the ceiling fan to circulate warm air outdoors. Effective circulation can make you feel up to 8 degrees cooler, and reduce air conditioning bills by up to 40%.
ENERGY STAR CEILING FANS.
For maximum energy saving benefits, you might consider an Energy Star ceiling fan. These fans circulate an average of 15% more air than other ceiling fans, without sacrificing style or attractiveness. Energy Star ceiling fans are 60% more efficient than a 150 watt incandescent bulb.
INSTALLATION OF CEILING FANS FOR OPTIMAL EFFICIENCY.
In order to reap the optimal energy saving benefits from your ceiling fans, it is important to install fans placed in key locations. For optimal performance, the blades of your ceiling fan should be at the appropriate height and ceiling/wall clearance. Ungerman can help you assess your situation and make appropriate recommendations.