“The Way You Make Me Feel”: Why it is a Bad Idea to Leave Fans On

Published April 11, 2011

by Melisa Camp, M.Ed., LEED Green Associate

Leaving a fan on with no one in the room is a waste of energy and does not help keep the house any cooler. Turn it off when you leave the room! After touring about 75+ properties over the last few weeks I noticed a lot of people leave fans on with no one in the house. The way the fan works is to cool the skin upon contact, not to cool the room or even lower the temperature in the room. Although while in the room with a fan on you can make the room FEEL about 2 degrees cooler.

If you leave the fan on at home for your pets that is also a waste of energy. Most pets have fur and they are unable to experience the cooling effect of the fan like human beings are. They do not cool themselves by sweating and evaporation, they cool by panting so leaving a fan on for them is not helping them.

Finally, after not running heating or air conditioning in my house for over a month, the best way to heat and cool is to take advantage of the temperature outside at various times of the day and use natural ventilation. Open up the windows and let the fresh warm or cool air in to help make your home or office as comfortable as possible while improving the indoor air quality inside for all. The added bonus is you will see a reduction in your energy costs with reduced use.

Keep it green!

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