Lighting and Ceiling Fans

Solving Two Issues at Once

For those looking for a solution that offers both lighting and energy efficiency, many people choose ceiling fans that also provide light. Many homeowners realize the benefits of installing lighted ceiling fans. These dual-purpose fixtures are a great solution for overhead lighting, and ceiling fans come in many styles that can enhance a room’s décor.

Today, more people want to conserve both energy and natural resources. Some people install solar panels, start a vegetable garden or find other ways to reduce their carbon footprints. In warmer weather, a ceiling fan on its highest setting can replace an air conditioner, which uses 10 times the energy and costs about 15 times more than a fan. An air conditioner also uses chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which deplete the ozone layer, damaging the environment. Ceiling fans, however, don’t emit chemicals into the air.

As a lighting solution, these fixtures can be fitted with compact fluorescent lights that, according to Consumer Reports magazine, greatly reduce energy use and offer more savings to homeowners. Most fans allow different setting for the brightness of the lights, which serves the many lighting needs of homeowners. There are some facts about lighted ceiling fans for consumers to consider when they are in the market for a new ceiling fan fixture:

  • When installing a ceiling fan, it should be in the center of a room. There should be at least 18” of space between the blade and the nearest wall.
  • For optimal cooling, the blades of the fan should spin counter-clockwise. This downdraft can significantly cool off a room.
  • When using an air conditioner on a low setting, a ceiling fan can move the chilled air around, making the air conditioner more effective and more efficient.
  • Because the air is about 15 degrees warmer at the top of the room, the blades of a fan should spin clockwise in winter months to create a warm updraft.

In addition, using the lowest setting is most effective in colder months. With a variety of settings for fan speed and brightness, people love the convenience of fan lighting. Ceiling fans that include lighting fixtures let homeowners light up a room with comfort and style.