American Lighting Association

Issue No. 10, August 2010

 

MCA-2498
Photo courtesy of Monte Carlo Fan Company

 
 
COMFORT ZONE
Keep Your Cool
 
EXPERT ADVICE
Get Answers to Your Questions
 
BRIGHT TIPS
Win a $5,000 Lighting Makeover

Beat the Heat with a Ceiling Fan
Save yourself mega-bucks by using a ceiling fan during these hot summer days and nights.

Send us your design questions
For more great lighting ideas view our Lighting Videos
COMFORT ZONE: Keep Your Cool 

A ceiling fan can make a room feel 10 degrees cooler. It runs on a fairly low amount of energy that is equivalent to a 100-watt bulb - and even less if it is an Energy Star®-qualified fan.

The best place to install a ceiling fan is any room where you will be spending a lot of time. There really is not an area in the house where people are not installing ceiling fans, including the family room, bedroom, recreation room, bathroom and garage. With outdoor spaces gaining popularity, many people are also installing ceiling fans in covered porch areas.

Deciding where to install a ceiling fan is just the first step. Today, a wide variety of ceiling fan sizes, styles and types makes choosing one an important part of room décor. One of the biggest advantages of buying a ceiling fan from an American Lighting Association-member showroom is that they have expert sales associates to help with the selection process.

 

For expert advice on choosing the right ceiling fan for your space, visit your local ALA-member showroom.

 

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Emerson - this one
Photo courtesy of Emerson Ceiling Fans

EXPERT ADVICE: Get Answers to Your Questions 

Does it matter how many blades a ceiling fan has?

No. Believe it or not, what's more important is selecting a ceiling fan that is the right size for the space. Rooms that are approximately 150 square feet or larger require a 52-inch diameter fan to be most effective. Smaller rooms can use either a 42-inch or 48-inch diameter model. Larger great rooms may require bigger fans with up to a 72-inch span.

Most ceiling fans sold have five blades, but this is more of an aesthetic consideration rather than a practical one. A fan with fewer blades actually moves more air. That is why fans located high in a space, such as a warehouse, will typically be industrial-grade, three-blade fans. Unless a home has extremely high ceilings and the objective is to move a significant amount of air, it is generally acceptable to buy a fan with four or five blades.

Do you have lighting or ceiling fan questions? 
Click here to submit your questions for an ALA-member professional.

 

To get all the answers to your lighting and ceiling fan questions, contact an ALA-member showroom.

 

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Fanimation-2
Photo courtesy of Fanimation

BRIGHT TIPS: Enter to Win the $5,000 Home Lighting Sweepstakes 

Click here to enter the ALA Lighting Makeover Contest. You might be one of four lucky winners to receive a lighting makeover by a Certified Lighting Designer.

  • Grand Prize: $5,000
  • Second Prize: $2,500
  • Third Prize: $1,500
  • Fourth Prize: $1,000

Enter by Sept. 30, 2010. All prizes will be awarded as lighting packages that include product and design services.

 

To learn more about the ALA Lighting Makeover  Contest, or to enter in person, visit an ALA-member showroom near you.

 

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WAC Lighting
Photo courtesy of WAC Lighting