(Welcome again to Elka, one of the finalists in our Editor search for the upcoming Apartment Therapy Green blog. She's writing from Oakland, California. Comment away!)
When hot and bothered homeowners flip on the air conditioning during the summer, they often create peak power loads, which can cause blackouts that knock out power to millions of homes. To avoid that collective situation this summer, try to only turn on the AC when absolutely necessary.
I'm a lo-fi kind of gal, and that's why I'm a big fan of, well, fans.
I especially love the look of the Casablanca Zephair fan, which could blend seamlessly into a scene with Bogie and Bacall.
I grew up in the sticky, humidity-saturated Midwest, and did so without any type of home air conditioning. We kept cool with lots of swimming trips, popsicles (mm, blue raspberry), and fans: desk fans, ceiling fans, and hand fans we'd fold out of pages of comic books (which weren't anything as lovely as these hand fans used by ancient Egyptians).
Since the elderly are particularly vulnerable to excessive heat, we recently encouraged my grandmother to install an Energy Star-certified air conditioning unit at her farmhouse in Wisconsin.
We did some research, and realized that she could keep her energy bills lower in the summers by using an electric fan to supplement the AC. With the use of fans, my grandma can raise the thermostat up 9 degrees Fahrenheit and still achieve the same temperature she would from AC alonewhile saving up to 30% of her energy consumption.
Oh, the wonders of the humble fan.
That's a lovely fan... a link to where one could find it would help tremendously, though!
view melanie's profile
Whole house fans are a great alternative to air conditioning are more effective than window or floor fans and are installed in the floor of an attic. Typically they are used for short period of time in the morning and evening when outside air is cooler than indoor air, however they can be used throughout the day for air movement. The cost to buy and install as well as run is MUCH less expensive and energy draining then A/C. Another bonus is that it is concealed in the attic so you do not have to pock up your windows and floors with free standing fans.
view -*-*-'s profile
you have an attic?
view jens's profile
Hi Melanie--sorry about not linking to the fan! Here's a link to the desk fan whose photo I featured:
http://www.casablancafanco.com/product/period_decor/zephair.html
And RachelW: I agree about the whole house fans--an excellent choice for cooling! Here's a link to an EERE PDF on whole house fans: www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/info/documents/pdfs/26291.pdf
And finally, if you're in a climate that's lacking in humidity, the new evaporative coolers are an amazingly cost- and energy-efficient alternative to air conditioning, and they work great, too.
view elkanikkole's profile
Very much appreciated; it's relevant to many city-dwellers, good images...and since I grew up without AC but with fans, I still try to use fans instead of AC when I can.
view Susanna's profile
That fan is WONDERFUL.
I have one in my den. I've had it three years now. The sucker is built like a *tank*. Very solid, very much a good quality build. Worth every penny in my opinion.
I bought mine here :
http://www.lampsplus.com/Products/Desk-Fans-and-Floor-Fans/01393/
view boomer's profile
I think they have those at restoration hardware also, in a few different sizes and even a tall one, like a floor lamp. They're on sale now...
http://www.restorationhardware.com/rh/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod2070019&navCount=7
view Tiffany's profile
Ha, no I don't have an attic, I actually LIVE in a "finished" attic. But almost all of the projects at the architecture firm where I work have whole house fans integrated into their HVAC systems. If designed properly, and the client is willing, we can sometimes forgo A/C altogether.
Whole house fans do require some type of attic space, meaning it's not exactly suitable for an apartment.
There is another alternative cooling system, Thermal Energy Storage, that apartment, condo, or house dwellers can use. A company called Ice Energy makes a system called Ice Bear. To simplify how it works: It is ice, that during the day melts and works in conjunction with an A/C condenser. Then at night, during OFF PEAK hours it turns back into ice. It's another good alternative to reduce energy bills and lessen the demand on the energy utilities during peak hours - very important. For more info check out these sites:
http://www.ice-energy.com/pages/markets/residential/tabid/92/Default.aspx
http://www.eere.energy.gov/inventions/pdfs/iceenergy.pdf
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/08/ice_bear_therma.php
And FINALLY for those whole have outdoor space, misting systems are great for staying cool outside. They cause no wetting or noticeable increase in humidity, and can be integrated into any outdoor deck or patio. The concept incorporates water and heat to provide cooling through "flash evaporation". Specially designed mist nozzles operate under high pressure to produce tiny water droplets that instantly evaporates upon contact with hot, dry air, resulting in a cooling of the surrouding air temperature.
Rapid Cool offers a variety of options. http://www.rapidcool.net/?gclid=CPjbhoXUwIwCFQGPWAodpioXaA
view -*-*-'s profile
Tiffany,
Knowing the quality of restoration hardware products, I would stay as far away as possible from their fans...
view joebelt's profile
Joe - Restoration Hardware does *not* make the fans.
A company called Casablanca makes them.
Restoration Hardware is just a retailer/reseller.
As is Lamps Plus, another retailer/reseller.
Like I said above, I own one of these fans.
I use it daily in the warmer months, I've had it 3 years.
The think is *very* heavy, *very* well made, and I have no doubt that this will still be running when I retire in 20 years.
I'm very happy with the one I have.
view boomer's profile
I understand that RH does not manufacture their products however in my experience the products they sell are very poorly made.
view joebelt's profile
You're entitled to your opinion but in the case of this fan, I can assure you that's *not* the case.
view boomer's profile