Use a ceiling fan with the air conditioner

by Narayanan
(Kerala, India)

Ceiling fans use less energy than air conditioners. But if it'too hot, the fan just blows hot air at you. Using AC along with a ceiling fan is a good compromise.

The best way to save on the cooling costs is to keep the thermostat at a higher value, say 85 degrees Fahrenheit (~29 degrees Celsius), and use the ceiling fan at a low speed along with it. There is a huge difference in the energy needed to keep a room at 78 degrees as opposed to 85 degrees (could be double or more). The light flow of air from the fan will make you feel as if it is around 5 degrees cooler. The additional electricity needed for a ceiling fan is very small in comparison.

You only need the fan in the room you are currently in, as the cooling effect of the fan is almost immediate. So you can switch on the fans only when you enter a room. The whole house is then kept at 85 degrees and the room you are in now feels like 80 or so.

The main factor that makes us turn the thermostat down is our mind and not the body. We tend to set or reduce the temperature when we move in from outside, when we feel the need for a quick cool down from the heat outside. Our body gets used to any reasonable temperature that we set and the thermostat stays at 78 or lower! Turn your fan speed up for a while when you get home, and then go back to the slow speed. You will feel absolutely comfortable and the flow of air is indeed refreshing. It is also far better for your body, as you are not subjecting it to huge fluctuations in temperature.

I live in a coastal town with very high humidity, and the fan by itself does not seem to have an effect most of the time. However, the combination is extremely effective, and if it gets cooler outside at night, I just open the windows and switch off the AC. With the fan and open windows, I get the fresh air, a comfortable temperature, and a low electricity bill at the end of the month.

Of course, using energy efficient air conditioners and fans, good thermal insulation for the houses and a reflective paint on your roof will all add up and you will notice that the compressor of your air conditioner will be off most of the time.

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