I received an email the other day from Melissa of www.DelmarFans.com. She wanted to share her knowledge on energy efficient ceiling fans. The following is what she has written on these great products:
Now that Summer is here finding ways to stay cool is on everyone’s mind. It’s important to keep cool but at what cost to our wallets and to our environment? Running the air conditioning can use a lot of electricity and most people today (including myself) are trying to cut back on energy use because of the damage it is doing to our beautiful planet plus the cost of energy usage. That’s where energy efficient ceiling fans come in. An energy efficient ceiling fan helps you reduce your energy usage, electricity costs, and improves your room’s comfort all at the same time. You can reduce your electric bill up to 40% in the Summer and up to 10% in the Winter by using an energy efficient fan. These fans use less energy and cost less to run than A/C units. Ceiling fans with effective air circulation can make you feel 7-9 degrees cooler because they create a wind chill effect. So you can turn up your A/C and still get the same cooling comfort by using one-third less energy. Imagine if everyone used energy efficient ceiling fans. What a BIG difference that would make! By using one of these fans you can do your part for the environment without sacrificing comfort plus you’ll save money. It can’t get better than that. J
What to Look for in Energy Efficient Ceiling Fans?
The main things that you need to look for when buying an energy efficient ceiling fan is the product airflow, electricity use, airflow efficiency, and if the fan has an energy star rating. The product airflow is the amount of air circulation produced by the ceiling fan. It is measured by cubic feet per minute, also known as CFM. You want to look for a ceiling fan with a product airflow of 4500 CFM and above to receive optimal air circulation. The electricity use of a ceiling fan is the amount of watts used by the ceiling fan when in use. When looking for an energy efficient ceiling fan you want to try to find one with a lower usage of wattage. The most important thing to look for is the airflow efficiency of the fan. Airflow efficiency is calculated by taking the product airflow CFM and divides it by the watts used. Energy efficient fans should have an airflow efficiency of 75 CFM/Watts and higher. The last thing to look for is the Energy Star logo. Most energy efficient ceiling fans have an energy star rating although keep your eye out for ceiling fans without the logo because sometimes you can find a more energy efficient ceiling fan that doesn’t have an energy star rating.
Energy Star Ceiling Fans
The best selling ceiling fans in the industry today are Energy Star rated due to the increased awareness of the environment. For a ceiling fan to earn an Energy Star rating it must meet the Energy Star product criteria established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, also known as EPA.
Energy Star ceiling fans move 20% more air effectively and use approximately 50% less electricity than standard fans. Ceiling fans with Energy Star qualifications have improved motors and blades designs that result in lower energy usage which will save you money and help the environment all in one.
One of the most popular Energy Star fan is the Hunter 23856 Original Classic fan.
Hunter Fan 23856 52” Original Classic White Ceiling Fan
Product Airflow - 6947 CFM
Electricity Use - 87 watts
Airflow Efficiency - 80 CFM/watt
Extreme Green Ceiling Fans
Monte Carlo has developed extreme green ceiling fans. These fans combine Monte Carlo’s engineering with energy star standards. These ceiling fans are 300% more efficient than the average ceiling fan! One of the most energy efficient fans on the market today is the new 2010 Monte Carlo 5VSR60BSD Versio 60” fan.
Monte Carlo Fan 5VSR60BSD 60” Versio Brushed Steel Ceiling Fan
Product Airflow - 4646 CFM
Electricity Use - 12.1 watts
Airflow Efficiency - 383.9 CFM/watt
When shopping for Monte Carlo energy efficient ceiling fans look for the Extreme Green Logo.
Other Top Energy Efficient Ceiling Fans
Minka Aire F823-MG 52” Wing Mahogany Ceiling Fan
The unique Minka Aire F823-MG Wing ceiling fan has a sleek, modern design that will add style and comfort to your home while being energy efficient.
Product Airflow - 6000 CFM
Electricity Use - 31 watts
Airflow Efficiency - 193 CFM/watt
Emerson Fan CF252BS 52” Brushed Steel Curva Fan
The Emerson CF252BS Curva ceiling fan has a contemporary design and is UL Wet rated, which makes it suitable for covered and uncovered outdoor locations.
Product Airflow - 5329 CFM
Electricty Use - 45 watts
Airflow Efficiency - 118 CFM/watt
Energy Efficient ceiling fans, when used properly, help you add comfort to your home year-round while cutting down on energy use and costs. The ceiling fan direction in the Summer months should run counter-clockwise to create a cooling downdraft. While in the Winter months the ceiling fan direction should run clockwise to circulate warm air from the ceiling down to the floor to evenly distribute the warm air. Also make sure you buy the right size ceiling fan for your room to ensure the maximum air movement. When you are looking for a light kit for an energy efficient ceiling fan make sure you find an energy saving light kit as well. Go green, save money and stay comfortable with energy efficient ceiling fans. J
Energy Saving Tip: Ceiling fans cool people not rooms so always remember to turn off your ceiling fan when leaving a room.
Melissa O'Connor
Marketing Department
Del Mar Designs
www.delmarfans.com
New Designs & Latest Trends www.bloglighting.com & www.ceilingfan.org
I made the below video almost two years ago, but I have recently changed up the audio. This video is a culmination of facts about our environment as well as ways we can improve the environment. I think you'll learn something. I see it as the video version of the Ways2GoGreen website. Enjoy.
Earth Day is an annual holiday founded by peace activist John McConnell, who also designed the Earth Day Flag. It started as a grassroots effort to inform people to support environmental concerns and create a movement. Now there are millions in the world who celebrate Earth Day each year on April 22nd. If you haven't already, learn more about Earth Day and become involved.
The first official Earth Day was on April 22, 1970. The day was proposed by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson. It marked the beginning of the modern environmental movement. Approximately 20 million Americans participated that year, with a goal of a healthy, sustainable environment. Denis Hayes, the national coordinator, and his youthful staff organized massive coast-to-coast rallies. Thousands of colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment. Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values.
In 1990, 200 million people in 141 countries celebrated the day and lifted the status of environmental issues onto the world stage. Earth Day gave a huge boost to recycling efforts worldwide and helped pave the way for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit. For 2000, Earth Day had the internet to help link activists around the world. By the time April 22 rolled around, 5,000 environmental groups around the world were on board, reaching out to hundreds of millions of people in a record 184 countries. Including, hundreds of thousands of people gathered on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Earth Day 2007 was one of the largest Earth Days to date, with an estimated billion people participating all over the world.
The Earth Flag was designed in 1970 by Earth Day founder and pioneer John McConnell, an early leader in the international peace movement. Inspired by the striking first photographs of the whole Earth taken during America's historic Apollo 10 space mission in 1969, this symbolic creation attained immediate world-wide recognition, including a lifetime association with renowned anthropologist Margaret Mead. Dr. Mead carried what she called "the flag for all people" with her wherever she appeared from 1969 until her death in 1977.
Earth Day originally had a symbol that was a combination of the letters "E" and "O" taken from the words "Environment" and "Organism", respectively. Later a theta was used because of its historic use as a warning symbol, or the peace symbol. Theta is now associated with Earth Day.
Celebrate the planet locally or globally every day, not just on Earth Day. To find Earth Day events in your area, go to Earth Day events.
I, like millions of others, saw the 60 Minutes piece on the Bloom Box. Wow. A small box less than one square foot can power a home continuous for years with little energy input, which would replace the big power plants and transmission line grids. Did I mention that it is wireless? Fed Ex, Google, eBay and Wal-Mart are already testing the Bloom Box with success. Hmmmm … could this really be what every energy consumer in the world has been waiting for, well, forever?
This is the claim anyway of K.R. Sridhar, CEO of Bloom Energy, who came up with the Bloom Box after developing a similar device for NASA. The Bloom Box is made up of ceramic squares which are made from baked sand. The ceramic squares are coated with green and black “inks.” Bloom makes the ceramic discs which it stacks together with metal plates of “a cheap metal alloy.” The more power the Bloom Box makes, the bigger the stack. Bloom Energy is making their official big announcement this Wednesday, February 24.
We shall see if the Bloom Box will deliver as advertised. Only time will tell if we will have Bloom Boxes in our yards in ten years or sooner with no major glitches. Honestly, it all seems pretty much ‘too good to be true’ for millions of consumers, but I am open to be greatly surprised.
So how did Bloom Energy get its name?
So, what do you think of the Bloom Box?
We are pleased to announce that we have partnered with SEES (Solar Energy & Efficiency Solutions, Inc.). One of their many services is a Free Online Energy Audit delivered to your email. You will also receive a Free Energy Guide and Free Green Energy Talk Magazine, all designed to help homeowners lower their energy bills and help the planet go green.
Simply click on the image below or here to signup for your Free Online Energy Audit. You will be presented with a 10-20 page detailed analysis of ways you can make your home more energy efficient. You will also receive a list of all of the incentives, rebates and grants available for your ZIP Code.
There is no cost or obligation and you can opt out of future emailings at any time. Your own Free online energy audit and comprehensive report will show you FACTS for simple improvements to your home or business — save money, save energy, and improve the environment. We hope you take advantage of this service from SEES. Have a great green day.
I've seen many articles and blogs which contain eco-friendly holiday gift ideas. I wanted to place some of them here to be of little help to some of the late shoppers who are trying to get something nice for themselves or their green friend. These suggestions are better than giving fruitcakes. However, I do hear that many fruitcakes have been reused and regifted, so I guess that is pretty eco-friendly.
Go Green this Christmas - gift ideas
Green holiday gifts can bring joy, save money
Joy of green giving: High-tech, environmentally friendly gifts
Inexpensive Christmas Gift Ideas: Save Money and Go Green with Cheap, Earth-Friendly Gifts
Christmas Gifts 2009: Do It Yourself!
Last minute Christmas gift ideas {green products and services}
Happy shopping and have a great holiday season!
I created a CFL bulb testimonial 6 months ago and now I'm updating the status on my orginal claim. I replaced an incandescent bulb with a CFL bulb the week of Thanksgiving in 2008. The previous incandescent bulbs needed to be replaced every month.
I'm happy to report that the CFL bulb is still going after 12 months on the job. I am very happy with these results. The light bulb is in the outside lamp post and is on for a few hours each night.
Orginal CFL testimonial blog post:
For the last few years I’d used incandescent light bulbs in my outside lamp post. They would burn out every month, like clockwork. The light was on about eight hours every day. It was highly annoying to replace a bulb every month. I have since gone to the wonderful world of CFL bulbs.
I replaced an old incandescent bulb with a CFL bulb during the last week of November in 2008. As I’m typing this on May 27, 2009 the CFL bulb is still working. That is six months, which is six times longer than any of the incandescent light bulbs I used. That’s pretty cool, but I haven’t even gotten into the energy I’ve saved. EnergyStar.gov claims that CFLs “will save about $30 over its lifetime and pay for itself in about 6 months. It uses 75 percent less energy and lasts about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb.” I’m a believer.
I’ve replaced all of my old incandescent bulbs in the house with CFLs now. If you haven’t already replaced your old bulbs with CFL bulbs, I would urge you to do so. You will be conserving energy, saving money and saving time of having to replace bulbs.
So, if you still haven't started to use CFL bulbs, I would urge you to do so. At least try out one and put it in one of your most used lights. I bet you'll be happy with your new investment as well. You'll be saving energy and saving money.
I'll post again on this CFL testimonial topic again when the bulb burns out. If that happens.
