Denise Hammond of Beacon Lighting
o
ers tips for buying ceiling fans:
❖Good basic ceiling fans without a
built-in light start from about $125.
❖Are five blades cooler than four?
There is little di
erence in output
but a five-blade fan will have a larger
motor to propel the extra blades,
which means more energy is used.
❖Blade length has a bearing on airflow
and cooling. Select a fan with longer
blades for larger spaces such as
family rooms or bedroom suites.
❖If your ceilings are higher than 3m,
have fans installed with a 900mm
extension rod to optimise cooling.<^ suit every home, from portable models
for renters to split systems for cooling
one room, multi-split systems to cool
several rooms, and ducted units that
cool an entire house.
Airconditioners have never been more
affordable to buy or operate, says Dave
Smith, general manager of Fujitsu
General. “Our latest airconditioners are
the most energy-efficient models to date.”
Choose an efficient, feature-packed
product to help you manage your power
bills, he says. Look for a reverse-cycle
model with inverter technology that
offers cooling in summer and heating in
winter, seven-day timers to avoid the
unit operating at full capacity for long
periods, and integrated sensors that
switch the unit off or to power-save
mode when no movement is detected in
the room after a period of time.
Other smart advances include wi-fi
control, low-noise mode on the external
unit, and high-tech filtration that’s a
boon for allergy sufferers. Some of LG’s
latest releases feature Active Energy
Control, which allows you to adjust the
compressor frequency to fit the number
of people in the room (40 per cent if you
are alone; 60 per cent if it’s dinner for
two) to reduce power wastage.
Split-system units no longer come as
bulky units only in white; sleeker metal
and black are now available. A good
example is Samsung’s Smart Series II,
which has a slimline triangular shape.FAN CLUB
The humble ceiling fan brings instant
relief and uses a fraction of the energy
of airconditioners (approximately 3c an
hour to run). “A far cry from the cane
blades of the 1990s, fan design and
technology have made some amazing
leaps in the past 20 years,” says Denise
Hammond, a product specialist with
Beacon Lighting.
Both fan blades and motors are
available in an array of finishes,including timber and bamboo, matt
black and transparent acrylic. And
when it comes to features, you can now
choose from models that offer built-in
lights with dimmers, variable-speed
remote controls, as well as energy-
efficient DC (direct current) models that
use far less electricity than traditional
AC (alternating current) ceiling fans.
Manufacturers have worked hard to
reduce noise and buffeting, which has
been an issue with ceiling fans in the
past. Possibly the greatest advancement
in ceiling fans has been the advent of
the retractable blade, says Hammond.
Portable fans remain a convenient
option and continue to sell in big
numbers, particularly during a heat
wave, says The Good Guys appliance
expert, Andrew Foard. “These fans
serve different purposes. The desk fan
is more of a personal fan, while pedestal
fans move air around the room or can
be directed straight at you.”
The portable fan market has seen its
share of innovation. The bladeless
Dyson Cool fan isn’t new but it has
recently had an overhaul. The new
model is 75-per-cent quieter than
previous models and uses 40-per-cent
less energy. How’s that for cool? >AIR SUPPLY
Dave Smith of Fujitsu
General o
ers these
tips to optimise your
airconditioner’s
performance and keep
your energy use down:
❖Set the temperature^
to 24°C in warmer
months and try to
resist the temptation
to go any lower.
❖Use timers to program
the system to turn on
before the peak
temperature of the day.
This will prevent it
from having to operate
at full capacity for long
periods of time.
❖Clean your filters
regularly. Debris and
fine particles can
gather and slow down
the performance of
the airconditioner.
❖Take advantage of
energy-ecient
features such as
human sensor control,
which automatically
turns the airconditioner
down or o
when no
movement is detected.
❖Regular maintenance
checks, organised
through your dealer,
will ensure optimum
performance.Blade runner
H&G ADVICE