Ceiling Fan Energy Use

Consumers should read and understand manufacturer instructions before attempting to install a ceiling fan.

Ceiling fan energy use.

Window fans are best used in windows facing away from the prevailing wind and exhausting hot air from. Fans range in size from 36 inches to 56 inches using 55 to 100 watts a typical 48 inch ceiling fan will use 75 watts. Exact energy amounts vary based on the size of the fan s motor but most whole house fans use between 120 and 600 watts according to the national renewable energy laboratory but this is still much less energy than a central air conditioner uses. Given their size it s not surprising house fans consume more power than ceiling fans.

Most fans that fall within the lower wattage categories draw little to no power and are typically an energy star rated ceiling fan or a dc motor ceiling fan. Ceiling fan power consumption is the draw in watts of the ceiling fan on the highest speed excluding the light fixture. Window fans use little energy and can provide effective cooling in many climates. Fans that earn the label move air 20 more efficiently on average than standard models.

Then you add back in the energy that you re using for the ceiling fans and you start to see how difficult it is to save energy this way. When buying ceiling fans look for the energy star label. When set at low speed fans use between 15 and 30 watts and at high speed they consume between 50 and 100 watts. In other words if you run a ceiling fan 12 hour per day on average and use your ceiling fans 6 months out of the year you are likely spending 10 to 40 per year per ceiling fan.

Ceiling fan installation and usage tips. Here are a few tips to ensure quality and product performance. Energy usage of about 40 watts at medium speed is typical. Ceiling fans help cool a room by moving air which causes evaporative cooling.

Click calculate to find the energy consumption of a 48 inch ceiling fan using 75 watts for 3 hours a day 0 10 per kwh. For one fans stay on all the time whether people are in the room or not. If you look at how people actually use fans in their homes you see that they re not doing those three things above. Smaller fans and lower fan speeds do not necessarily translate to practical energy savings.