Ceiling fans are often thought of as a solution for unconditioned spaces. But today’s fans go far beyond barns and warehouses.
Adding HVLS fans to spaces with heating and a/c brings 3 key benefits:
High Volume Low Speed
Energy Savings
Thermostats can be set higher, leading to carbon reduction.
Indoor air quality
Dilution of air keeps it safer to breathe.
RESILIENCY
Helps aging equipment, reduces equipment needed for new projects.
ENERGY SAVINGS
Every degree the thermostat is offset
saves
3% to 6%
on HVAC costs.
Fans also increase
THERMAL COMFORT*
*An occupant’s level of satisfaction with the perceived temperature of their surrounding environment
6 factors affect thermal comfort:
Dry bulb temperature
Relative humidity
Radiant temperature
Air speed
Metabolic rate
Clothing level
*ASHRAE Standard 55: Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy
When occupants feel hot or cold, they typically reach for the thermostat. But… As the air speed is increased, the cooling sensation is increased.
Ceiling fans can make people feel cooler without cranking up the a/c.
Energy retrofit of 5-story senior living facility
- Flexible mixed-use space
- 1967 built
- 2007 renovated
- Built of SOLID CONCRETE MASONRY
- With NO INSULATION
- 97° ASHRAE 1% summer design conditions
Franco Center
Stockton, California
CASE STUDY
FAN INSTALLATION
Energy SAVINGS
Thermal comfort
smart ceiling fans
35
were installed in common areas of the building
Total energy use decreased
60%
Savings per month in electricity during summer
$1,000
by the numbers
of occupants comfortable at 72°F
82%
of occupants comfortable at 80°F
92%
A/C ONLY
A/C PLUS FANS
FAN INSTALLATION
Energy SAVINGS
Thermal comfort
The temperature was 8°F warmer, but occupants felt more comfortable. This is due to providing elevated air speeds to deliver thermal comfort via an evaporative cooling effect.
YES, ceiling fans consume energy. BUT the energy saved by reducing the burden on the HVAC system is far greater.
END-USE ENERGY
2%
used by fans
hours
750
of annual cooling offset by this system
The fans allow higher cooling setpoints to reduce HVAC reliance, when combined with automated windows for passive cooling and to provide natural ventilation and fresh air.
More efficient buildings help companies hit their carbon reduction goals.
indoor air quality
As well as making indoor air feel more comfortable … Ceiling fans also
improve indoor air quality.
“Solution by dilution”
Uses entire air volume as a buffer for contaminant source
Contaminants spread out and no longer exist in high enough concentrations to be harmful.
“Solution
by dilution”
Uses entire air volume as a buffer for contaminant source
Contaminants spread out and no longer exist in high enough concentrations to be harmful.
“Solution by dilution”
RESILIENCY
HVLS fans make buildings
MORE RESILIENT.
Resilient design improves the safety of occupants during periods of crisis:
WILDFIRE
Extended power outage
PANDEMIC
Biological hazards
HVLS fans aid resiliency by…
Decreasing power needed to run the building
Heat waves: Ceiling fans help aging a/c equipment hit building set points.
Power outages: Elevated air speed is a low-power cooling option.
normal periods: These steps also ensure a building is saving energy, lessening impact on climate change.
Reducing construction materials
Ceiling fans do the “final mile” delivery instead of ductwork
- Fewer ductwork “branches” needed
- Load reduction
- Right-sized equipment
Net-zero energy building for 100+ employees
- 66,700 square feet
- 3 stories
- Atlanta (Climate Zone 3A)
- 1970s-era construction
ASHRAE global headquarters
Atlanta, Georgia
CASE STUDY
SUMMER
Fans blow cool air downward
Fans blow upward to eliminate hot and cold spots
WINTER
This combination improves efficiency by helping panels perform better which requires fewer radiant panels.
What’s the ROI for HVLS fans?
What’s the ROI for HVLS fans?
18 MONTHS
New construction
2 years
Retrofit
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