How much does it cost to use a fan?

During hot summer months when the temperature outside is high it may be necessary to use a fan in order to get some relief from the heat. In this article we will look at the energy consumption of different types of fans and the resulting electricity costs.

What affects the cost?

There are three things that affect the cost of running a fan. The wattage of the fan, electricity cost and the duration the fan is switched on.

Wattage

The wattage of the fan tells us how much energy it consumes. For example energy consumption of table fans can range between 15-45 watts, whereas for pedestal or tower fans it can be 50-130 watts.

Electricity cost

The electricity cost depends on the area you live in and the electricity provider you use. You can check average prices in specific region of Germany using website like: https://www.verivox.de/strom/strompreise

Duration

The time the fan is turned on. The longer it runs the higher the cost will be.

How much does it cost?

Now that we know what affects the cost of running a fan let’s go through some examples to understand what the actual cost could be. We can calculate the cost by multiplying the wattage of the fan expressed in kW (kilowatts) times the number of hours it runs, times the cost of electricity.

Cost = kW * hours * cost per kWh

To calculate kW we divide the wattage of the fan by 1000.
For example 50 watt = 0.05 kW. If we have a 50 watt fan, our electricity cost per kWh is 0.29 € and we run it for 24 hours, then the cost is: 0.05kW * 24 hours * 0.29 € / kWh ~ 0.35 €. Below is a table that shows cost for different wattages and periods.

wattage	1 day (24 hours)	1 week	1 month (30 days)
30 watt	0.21€	1.46€	6.26€
50 watt	0.35€	2.44€	10.44€
70 watt	0.49€	3.41€	14.62€
90 watt	0.63€	4.38€	18.79€

Are fans cheaper than air conditioning?

Yes, fans are significantly cheaper than air conditioning. Air conditioners can use from 600 watts to several thousands watts depending on the size and type of the unit, whereas fans often use less than 100 watts. It’s important to also keep in mind the installation and operating costs. For split-system air conditioners installation costs start at 1000€. Operating costs are also much higher since the system uses more energy and has to be regularly serviced, once a year or every two years, depending on the usage. With fans there are no installation costs, energy usage is much lower and there is minimal maintenance necessary.

How to reduce the cost of using a fan?

There are many things one can do to reduce the energy consumption of a fan. Here are some useful tips that will help you cut down the costs.

Turn the fan off when you don’t need it

First of all make sure to turn off the fan when you don’t need it. For example in the morning and in the evening when the temperature is usually lower. Some fans have built-in timers that allow you to schedule when the fan should turn on and off, so that you don’t have to worry about it. You can also turn off the fan when you are leaving the room for longer, just like with turning off the light.

Adjust the fan speed

Another way to use less energy is to adjust the fan speed. Fans usually come with multiple levels that you can adjust according to your needs. Try to use the lowest setting possible.

Select a fan with the right CFM

CFM stands for cubic feet per minute and describes how much air the fan can move per minute. CFM of a fan depends on the RPM (revolutions per minute), blade size and blade’s pitch. Usually the bigger the fan the larger the CFM. In order to save on electricity, select a fan that has the right size. For example if you want to cool down a small room, a smaller fan may be enough.

Select energy efficient fan

Energy efficient fans have a good CFM to energy consumption ratio. This means that they can move more air per watt than normal fans. Energy efficient fans usually cost more but allow to save money in the long run thanks to lower energy consumption.

Place the fan in the right place

If the temperature outside is lower than inside your house then place the fan so that it pushes the cooler air inside. If you have a pedestal or a tower fan, put it in the door to the balcony. If you have a table fan, put it on the windowsill next to an open window. Blowing cooler air from outside allows you to cool the room down effectively using a lower fan setting compared to when the fan just pushes air around the room. In case the temperature outside is higher than inside, keep the windows closed and place the fan in the doorway so that it pushes cooler air from the rest of the house into the room.

Clean the fan regularly

Dust accumulates on the blades of the fan quickly when used often and can decrease its operating efficiency. In order to prevent this from happening, clean the blades on a regular basis.

Which type of fan should you buy?

This depends on your needs. Tower and pedestal fans are more powerful and can be used to cool the entire room. Table fans on the other hand are only effective in close proximity, for example when placed on the desk when you’re sitting in front of a computer. Because they’re less powerful they also use less energy. When buying a fan, think whether it’s only for you or for more people. Pedestal fans can be more cost efficient in cooling down multiple people at the same time, for example when the entire family is spending time in a living room.

Summary

The main cost of usage of a fan is the electricity usage. When estimating the cost take notice of the wattage of the device and how many hours per day you plan to have it on. This will give you a rough estimate of the electricity bill. If you want to reduce the cost, you can incorporate one of the cost saving tips into daily usage and consider buying an energy saving fan.