I know, this will seem a simple topic, but the title refers
to a ceiling fan newly installed in our living room. If it performs as we
expect, we should be able to live comfortably with the air conditioning set at
a higher temperature.
You see, we live on the top floor (4th floor) of
a 10-year-old steel and concrete
condominium building. We have large windows, 10-foot ceilings and we face due
west. Afternoon sunshine heats up our unit. Heat from the floors below rise to
keep our feet warm all year long, and heat radiation down from the roof is
noticeable in summer. Although well insulated, we know there is heat loss in winter and
heat gain in summer.
Our AC runs continuously from April through October. Electric
bills are high for a small home (1150 sq ft); our budget plan with ComEd runs
$95 per month year-round. We hope a fan will help de-stratify the air and move
the air continuously. This should make it seem cooler to us.
Now we set the AC at 74 degrees. We’d like to put it at 78
degrees.
Winter should provide reasonable comfort as well, pushing
the warmer air at ceiling level down to the cooler temps at floor level. Thermostat
setting for heat should be good at 70 degrees.
We recently replaced our 12-year old plasma HD TV. It was a
warm sucker! With the new LED TV, the set is cool to the touch and does not
heat up the room as did the old set. We already notice better summer temps in
the house at a higher AC setting. With the fan, we hope for even more comfort
and more savings.
For now, we watch the blades go round and round. It comforts
us. Too early to know if it is saving money, but it already has boosted our
peace of mind. And its totally remote controlled. No chains to yank or switches
to flip. Just a button.
It’s a good thing, this new technology. And all the time I
thought it was love that made the world go round. Well, it does, but there’s
more to it than that, right?
Of course!
June 27, 2018
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