Tips for fans
Fans are by far the most economical cooling option in terms of both purchase and running costs. Fans are cheap to buy and cost an average of two cents per hour to run.
Fans provide a cooling effect by moving air either around a room or a person. Fans do not reduce actual room temperatures or humidity levels.
Portable Fans
- Available in desk, box or pedestal models.
- Look for a fan that oscillates (changes direction) and has a variable speed control.
- Most suitable for personal cooling
- Average purchase cost $20-$170.
Ceiling fans
- Can be suspended in rooms with high ceilings.
- Should be installed with a clearance of at least 2100mm above floor level.
- Should be located higher than the light fittings to avoid flickering shadows, or you can install a unit with a light fitting attached.
- If more than one fan is required, the spacing between fans should be as least three times the fan width.
- A reversing function enables some fans to be used in winter to bring down the heat that builds up at ceiling level.
- Look for variable speed control and curved blades to produce more air movement.
- Average purchase cost $50-$200, plus installation.
Whole house fans
Whole house fans are energy efficient and economical to run. They are also an energy efficient alternative to ducted air-conditioning, or an energy efficient addition to air-conditioning.
Whole house fans can reduce your cooling costs by up to 60%. They use moving air to create naturally cooling cross ventilation in rooms, while expelling hot air from the roof space.
A single fan unit is installed inside the roof space with a ceiling shutter immediately below. The fan creates a strong updraught, drawing fresh air in through windows. Air from rooms flows through the house and rushes through the ceiling shutter into the roof space. It is then forced out via exhaust vents under pressure created by the fan. Further features of whole house fans include:
- fan size is related to the cubic area of the home.
- System performance is optomised when fan is located over a "walk through" area e.g. hallway or top of staircase.
- Adequate roof exhaust vents should be installed to encourage high volume air flow.
- A roof mounted canopy can accomodate the fan if there is no roof space.
- Read more about whole house fans at the Live Energy Smart website. For more information, contact Breeze Power Natural Cooling on 1800 637 175 or visit www.lowenergyliving.com.
