Tip Sheet 5: Join the fan club

Fans are a great way to cool your home and are inexpensive to purchase and operate. They work by moving air over your warm body, evaporating the moisture from your skin to create a cooling effect.

Ceiling fans are a great option because they can be permanently wired and many have a reverse option for pushing warm air down in winter. They are suitable for all rooms and cost 1¢ per hour to run! Great for the wallet and the environment.

Fans come in different widths to suit differently sized rooms. Here is a table to help you determine what size to buy for the room you want to install it in:

Head clearance for a ceiling fan should be 600-900mm and mounted higher than existing light fittings to prevent flickering shadows (unless, of course, you particularly like this effect).

The other alternative is to buy a fan with a light included. There are many styles of lights and shades available, allowing you to choose a style that suits your home and taste.