Keep ceiling fans on in an empty room4 of 8The ceiling fan is a great alternative to -- or accompaniment to -- air conditioning, right?Not unless you are in the room, says Gregory Karp, personal finance columnist and author of "The 1-2-3 Money Plan.""(People) leave ceiling fans on in rooms where there are no people -- but ceiling fans don't cool rooms at all, they only cool people," Karp says. "They create a wind chill factor that makes human skin feel cooler. It has nothing to do with cooling your sofa in an empty room."And in the winter, running a ceiling fan in the opposite direction doesn't offer many benefits, Karp says. In houses with high ceilings, the fans can push the heat down -- but otherwise, they will often create a wind chill and waste electricity.And the cost can be significant, setting you back $35 per year on your utility bill to leave a large ceiling fan set on high through the night each night. Related Articles:6 ways to get air milesCut your commuting costs5 great second jobs5 ways to save on weddingRelated Links:2010 Frugal Living Guide100 money tips for 20107 ways to save when movingMake frugality fun advertisement
The ceiling fan is a great alternative to -- or accompaniment to -- air conditioning, right?
Not unless you are in the room, says Gregory Karp, personal finance columnist and author of "The 1-2-3 Money Plan."
"(People) leave ceiling fans on in rooms where there are no people -- but ceiling fans don't cool rooms at all, they only cool people," Karp says. "They create a wind chill factor that makes human skin feel cooler. It has nothing to do with cooling your sofa in an empty room."
And in the winter, running a ceiling fan in the opposite direction doesn't offer many benefits, Karp says. In houses with high ceilings, the fans can push the heat down -- but otherwise, they will often create a wind chill and waste electricity.
And the cost can be significant, setting you back $35 per year on your utility bill to leave a large ceiling fan set on high through the night each night.
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