Despite what the Republican presidential candidate and his running mate may be saying, climate change is a very real problem. Faced with drought and rising sea levels, climate change stands to (and has begun) threatening our ecosystems, wildlife, freshwater supplies and our very existence. There are ways we can combat these disastrous effects.
Academic and environmental activist, David Suzuki, says there are 10 ways we can help reduce our consumption and save the planet. For our purposes, let’s look at one of Suzuki’s most imperative principals: being energy efficient.
The State of Planet Earth
It has been estimated that Americans spend over $22 billion a year on air conditioning. With Americans relying so heavily on air conditioning, we are releasing around 100 million tons of carbon dioxide into the air every year. As we know, carbon dioxide increases the earth’s greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect traps heat in the atmosphere and changes the earth’s natural regulating temperatures. This in turn causes global warming. If climate change is not addressed as an issue, The Guardian reports that we could lose one in six of the planet’s species.
Having a More Energy Efficient Home
The good news is you don’t have to sacrifice your personal style to be energy efficient. Some people shy away from using energy-saving products like ceiling fans in their homes because they don’t think they add to the beauty of the house. But if we don’t make the necessary changes, the beauty of the world will be lost forever.
According to Energy Saver, ceiling fans are the most effective fan type in circulating the air and producing a wind chill effect in the room. The wind chill effect is so strong, that we are able to raise our thermostats by as much as 4 degrees Fahrenheit.
Ceiling fans also aren’t the eyesores they once were. Companies like Casablanca Fans have designed contemporary, modern-styled fans that circulate the air in your home and help to eliminate energy waste. Energy Star rated, Casablanca has developed a ceiling fan that helps us to cut down our energy consumption. But before you go to your computer or the nearest store to buy your new ceiling fan, you need to think about the climate you live in.
There is no one universal ceiling fan that will perform well in every climate. A fan made for a damp and muggy area will not give the same results in a dry and hot one. Good ceiling fan design takes into account all of the outside forces that could affect the fan’s performance. This is why design companies such as Casablanca have begun to design fans with specific climates in mind. Take Casablanca’s Caneel Bay Outdoor ceiling fan. This fan has been designed for indoor and/or outdoor use. It can withstand the heat, cold and rain. Its distressed blades and downlight make it functional and appealing, two words you don’t often see together to describe a ceiling fan.
Always Check the Rating
There are other ways to determine if a ceiling fan can handle your area’s weather conditions. Most ceiling fans sold in stores now have what is called the wet/damp rating. The wet/damp rating will tell you how much moisture your ceiling fan can withstand before it will no longer be able to provide the services you demand of it. A wet-rated ceiling fan will work best in a wet climate. A damp-rated fan can handle limited moisture. This means if you live in an area like Seattle, a damp-rated ceiling fan will not last you as long as the wet-rated fan.
To help reduce our energy waste, all we have to do is make some minor adjustments in our home. Besides, who doesn’t like buying something new to change up the space?
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
We definitely utilize our ceiling fans in our home to try and cut down on our A/C bill.
Thanks for the info will use it
I never knew that there was a switch on ceiling fans to reverse the direction until my husband told me recently. duh.