Why should we use a Fan with our ACs?

Did you know that the humble ceiling fan is the best defense against the sweltering heat that has swept across the country? When we feel hot our first reaction is to turn the air conditioner on. But a ceiling fan used along with the air conditioner can make the room feel comfortable faster and also help reduce your electricity bill.

Let us explain how. The normal temperature of the human body is around 37 deg celsius. In the summers when the temperatures increase, the body cools itself down by sweating or by releasing water through evaporation to the surrounding air. But this only works when the humidity levels are low. But as soon as humidity increases sweating does not work, making us feel uncomfortable and sick. This is because the air already has enough moisture and is slow or unable to absorb any more water than our body is releasing.

But here the fan can help. Although a fan does not cool its surroundings, the draft of air that it pushes can help remove hot air from over the skin and help in evaporation of the sweat making you feel comfortable. We know that air conditioners are energy guzzlers and very bad for the environment. But the impacts of air conditioners can be reduced when used along with a fan. India’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency or BEE says that the cooling effect of an air conditioner plus a ceiling fan with its thermostat set at 26 deg celsius is the same as an unaided air conditioner running at 22 degrees celsius. The energy savings of the air conditioner plus fan could be as high 12-20%. So it makes sense to switch on a fan along with the air conditioner.

Down to Earth is Science and Environment fortnightly published by the Society for Environmental Communication, New Delhi. We publish news and analysis on issues that deal with sustainable development, which we scan through the eyes of science and environment.

[yadaKiKhula]

Cold air is heavier and hence settles on the floor. The fan helps blow this and circulate it around the room in all directions.

[bandana_rathore]

We are using AC at 27°+ fan. Feels really cool.

[SURVEJAYDEEP]

Always use this combo.. good to know the science

[Mirsab]

Yes, literally have them both on right now.
What can also do is turn the AC on at high cool for 30 minutes and once the room turns cold, turn on the fan and turn off the AC, and keep the door and windows closed this should keep hopefully keep the room good for hours

[Mike-oedv]

AC increases temperature outside houses, this makes environment hot too.

[Himanshu.Harleyx]

When body temp is 37 why to use ac at 22. 27 28 is more than sufficient

[Himanshu.Harleyx]

I always use ac at 28 or higher becoz below that doesn't make you comfortable but makes you adapted to it. So I save much by using it along with fan

[forefatherofmankind]

Last year i was in Delhi preparing fr exam. Summer temp @night touch 35°c. I neither used AC nor fan, I would just sleep on floor. this used to help me sleep less & get up before 1.15 AM & to start studying ..
Best time of my life 🐥

[mitchrich]

I keep ceiling fan at lowest speed of 1.
Room temp at 23.5 to 24 celcius
Humidity around 40%
I have a room clock which shows these readings.

Electricity consumption when used for 3 to 4 hours work out to roughly 0.4 units an hour with a non inverter ac.

[lupteinduchhura]

Knowledge In Each video.. Of down to earth
Respect Respect and Respect 🙏

[marksilvestre]

Agree with this. I usually set my AC at 26C with Eco Mode on then supplement it with a solar rechargeable desk fan which helps circulate cool air from the AC, rendering less stress on the compressor. 😊

[Sagar-wnpo]

i always use fan at speed 2 and AC at 26 C. Sometimes, i use AC at 25.

[manakgoyal]

Try using AC on dry mode during monsoons along with a fan on medium speed....

[srikarsowbhagya]

till now, i thought that people who were doing this were wasting a concept of Forced Circulation..now i remember my Heat Transfer for the information..

[puNKSTER]

Temperature nearing 34 at midnight... What to do.... The top body of a particular building remains hotter as sooner as I turn off the ac ..

[willm]

My wife and I spent two months in Costa Rica - it was beautiful but hot! Thankfully other gringos 😉 told us to leave our AC off and just use fans - this was awesome - at night we would have our fans plus open all our windows at let the winds blow through - felt amazing - also not using AC led to our bodies acclimating to the warmer temperature 👍

[gesubdivisionnayagarh]

What about dust accumulation at filter of AC as rotation of fan will lead to movement of dust in air and thus deposit dust in filter.

[italianalcapone]

I am seeing this video while living in a room with this combo working

[qeuickshots]

I never thought about this though i prefer to keep the AC at 27 with the fan on.

[hotshotx]

Meanwhile cooler gang is thinking cooler k pani me baraf dalu ya ni