With the uncontrollable heat outside this summer,  a lot of us feel the need to turn that thermostat temperature setting down low. We may not realize it, until we get the bill, how the rising energy costs are affecting us. Despite the hot weather, there are ways to keep cool inside without relying full force on the air conditioning system. Um hello, have you heard of ceiling fans?

Ceiling fans circulate air. They do not ventilate a room or lower the temperature. They simply create a draft. That draft, or air movement over the skin, provides a wind chill effect on our bodies, increasing the evaporation of sweat off the skin and making the room seem cooler.

Whole house or window air conditioners actually cool the temperature of the air. However, the use of ceiling fans can still help reduce energy bills. Because rooms with ceiling fans feel cool because of the additional air  movement, it allows homeowners to set the cooling temperature on the air conditioner higher, reducing energy bills and possibly prolonging the life of the cooling equipment.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, using a ceiling fan with an air conditioning system will allow most people to raise the thermostat temperature setting about 4 degrees without a reduction in comfort. Raising the temperature is what creates the savings, not installnig and running the fan. For more energy savings, turn fans off when exiting the room. Furniture can't "feel" the effect of the air movement.

For best efficiency, also consider the type of lights used in the ceiling fans. The fan itself may only be used part of the year; many times lights are used every day. A single bulb can be more efficient than many bulbs and fluorescent lights are far more efficient than incandescent.

Heating and air conditioning systems are part of a National Property Inspections general property inspection, which provides the client with information on all major home systems to help you plan for future maintenance and care. NPI will access the current condition and functionality of heating and air conditioning systems as temperatures allow, including checking for air flow at registers throughout the home.