Ceiling fans are cheaper than air conditioners and can make summer a breeze

If you weren't one of the thousands who purchased air conditioners last month but want to be prepared for the next heat wave, consider ceiling fans. They'll make summer a breeze.

Valued as much for their style as for their cooling capabilities, paddle fans are being installed in more homes than ever before. Today's ceiling fans come in a variety of styles and colors allowing them to blend with any decor from traditional to high tech

Unlike an air conditioner, a ceiling fan doesn't cool the air it recirculates it. The cooling benefit is from moving air coming in contact with your skin. A ceiling fan will make a room that's 26 degrees feel like it's 22 degrees.

If you already own an air conditioner and don't think you need ceiling fan, you're right! But did you know that if you use a ceiling fan in conjunction with an air conditioner, you'll save 15 to 25 per cent on your energy bills?

Use ceiling fans instead of an air conditioner and you'll save up to 60 per cent.

Another advantage to ceiling fans is that they can be used all year In winter they can improve our heating systems. Simply turn the motor to the reverse mode and the blades will push the hot air back down into your living space.

When you shop for your ceiling fan, don't be fooled into thinking that six blades are better than five. The speed of the motor and the angle of the blade is what counts.

Fans are rated in cubic feet of air circulated per minute. A typical 52-inch fan should move about 7,000 cubic feet of air per minute and cool a 400 square-foot room.

For maximum efficiency, place the fan in the centre of the room, seven to eight feet above the floor. If you have a very long, rectangular room, consider purchasing two fans for optimal air circulation.

If you want a fan that will move a lot of air, look past the inexpensive decorative fans and focus on high performance fans. They start at about $190, but are more energy efficient, move three times the amount of air and last up to four times as long.

Fans come in various colors and styles. The Beverly Hills Fan Company offers 18 designer colors. Companies such as Hunter offer a two-tone system. One side of the blade may be light oak, the other dark oak. Simply flip the blade when changing the decor.

If you purchase a lighting kit for your fan it will serve a dual purpose. These kits range from $10 for a single globe to $1,200 for a high-end model. Think of a fan as a piece of ceiling furniture instead of an appliance. Don't automatically buy white unless the room calls for it. Co-ordinate as you would with other furniture - you'll be pleased with the results.