Sanctuary: Ceiling fans

A central aim of designing or retrofitting a sustainable home is to minimise heating and cooling needs. By paying attention to the building envelope and passive strategies like cross ventilation and thermal mass, dramatic reductions in energy use – and bills – are possible. But even well-designed homes often require some mechanical cooling to keep comfortable in summer. Ceiling fans are a good option as they are relatively low energy users; they can also boost the effectiveness of your heating in winter.