Reversing ceiling fan direction can save 10 percent on heating bills, but study shows few people taking advantage
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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – MEMPHIS, Tenn. — As you reach for your clocks this Daylight Savings which is Sunday, Nov. 1, one company that knows a thing or two about saving, Hunter Fan, is asking those of us with ceiling fans to also reach for the sky. That’s because you can save up to 10 percent on your heating bills when reversing the direction of your ceiling fan and turning down the thermostat five degrees. Unfortunately, only one in five homes with a ceiling fan are taking advantage of this simple way to save, according to Hunter.
“One of the most economical ways to save energy during the winter is to run your ceiling fan in the proper direction,” said Jeremy Tarr, director of ceiling fans for Hunter. “Many people cringe at the notion of lowering their thermostat when it’s cold out to save energy and lower utility bills. That’s why the ceiling fan is so important. Operated correctly, a ceiling fan that’s sized appropriately for the room can save you hundreds on your energy bill without sacrificing comfort.”
As Tarr explains, most ceiling fans have a switch that controls the direction of the blades. When the fan runs counter-clockwise, it blows air down, providing the cooling effect desired during warmer months. By running the fan clockwise during colder months, it circulates the warm air near the ceiling. This circulating effect makes the room warmer, which decreases demands on heating systems and allows you to comfortably turn down your thermostat to save on energy costs.
“Turning down your thermostat just one degree can save you two percent on your energy bills,” adds Tarr. “What makes the ceiling fan even more economical is that it only costs a few pennies a day to operate.”
Another way to save on heating costs is to upgrade to a programmable thermostat. According to industry studies, while many homes today have a programmable thermostat, approximately 70 percent of consumers find it too difficult to operate and, as a result, lose out on energy savings.
“Forgetting to turn down your thermostat just one time before you leave for work can mean several dollars in lost energy savings,” says Erich Schroeder, thermostat product manager for Hunter. “People have enough on their minds, and that’s why a programmable thermostat is so useful—it doesn’t forget.”
Programmable thermostats save energy by offering convenient, pre-programmed temperature settings that allow you to scale temperatures back as you leave and warm things up upon your return. When used properly, a programmable thermostat can save you as much as $150 annually in energy costs, according to the EPA.
“Most people perceive that a programmable thermostat is difficult to program and therefore don’t use it appropriately, but it can be as easy to set as an alarm clock. The only difference is an alarm clock won’t save you hundreds of dollars each year in energy savings—a programmable thermostat will,” adds Schroeder.
Hunter’s energy efficiency push is part of a larger campaign the company started last year called “Look Up.” The campaign’s mission is to make people aware of the simple ways to save energy in the home, starting with the ceiling fan.
According to the Energy Information Administration’s Residential Energy Consumption Survey, nearly 80 percent of single-family homes in America have at least one ceiling fan. Couple this with research from Hunter that shows fewer than 20 percent are using it effectively to save on energy bills year-round—savings that can result in a reduction of up to $500 on energy bills.
“Everyone knows to turn your clocks back to save time. Our hope is to make reversing your ceiling fan’s direction just as routine,” says Tarr. “You wouldn’t think that your ceiling fan, which is known to keep you cool, can also keep you warm in the winter, but it’s designed to do both. And in today’s tough economic times, every bit of savings helps. The fact that most people already have a ceiling fan in their home should make this solution a no-brainer.”
For more information on how to save on energy bills using a ceiling fan and programmable thermostat and to find energy saving Hunter products, including Energy Star rated fans and thermostats, visit www.hunterfan.com.
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