06-02-2008, 10:25 AM
The case for ceiling fans highlights the issue of a home that is well designed for themal properties. One one hand people assume that because this is the tropics that a ceiling fan is needed in every room. That means an electric motor running for hours and days. With our electric rates that gets expensive.
In my opinion a big need for such fans is due to the poor design and construction of many homes. With metal roof and no insulation the building becomes a heat sink. A piece of roof metal can, on a 90 degree day, get to 160 degrees in the sun. That heat moves into the building. A few home builders install radiant barriors under the roof metal. That helps.
One the most part though, at this latitude, the use of a fan at ocean level should be occassional to rare in a well designed home.
So this is a case for insulated buildings. It's a energy issue. You can either pay small up front on the material bill or pay HELCO large for decades to come.
In my opinion a big need for such fans is due to the poor design and construction of many homes. With metal roof and no insulation the building becomes a heat sink. A piece of roof metal can, on a 90 degree day, get to 160 degrees in the sun. That heat moves into the building. A few home builders install radiant barriors under the roof metal. That helps.
One the most part though, at this latitude, the use of a fan at ocean level should be occassional to rare in a well designed home.
So this is a case for insulated buildings. It's a energy issue. You can either pay small up front on the material bill or pay HELCO large for decades to come.
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
Punaweb moderator