This summer, choose fans before you resort to aircon: they use around 10 times less energy.
It's a waste of energy to leave fans on in an empty house however, as their cooling effect is primarily effective when rooms are occupied. They help to blow heated air away from the body, and cause cooling by increased evaporation of sweat.
Fans do also help to pull in fresh air from open windows and circulate it, which is good for improving your indoor air quality.
- Olivia Rose-Innes, EnviroHealth Editor, Health24, October 2012
Got a good green or event tip to share? Email me at oroseinn@sa.24.com or post on the EnviroHealth Forum – if it's a planet-saver, we'll publish it.