The scorching summer has resulted in the growing electricity bills. If you have been worried about the extremely high electricity bills, just like me, then this article is for you.
Though the wattage of the ceiling fan varies, mostly they have nearly similar consumption rates. The consumption of power/units is dependent on the weather too. For example, my electricity bills are low in the months of winter due to the low usage of the ceiling fan.
Also, size of the fan is an important criterion for deciding the energy consumption by the ceiling fan.
Ceiling fan wattage and rating in India
It is important to note that the wattage of the ceiling fan decides how much the power will be consumed. It is highly the function of the power of the fan motor, which results in higher electricity bills.
The main aim should be to find a fan with the lowest wattage rating of the motor that doesn’t compromise in terms of the air circulation speed.
The wattage of most of the ceiling fans which are used in India lies in the range of 70 – 75 Watts.
These fans are bigger in size, thus lead to more energy consumption.
With the recent technology shifting towards compact size fans and BLDC motors, the wattage and power consumption are reduced. Atomberg Renesa and Orient Electric Ujala Plus are some of the energy-saving ceiling fan models which consume only 28 – 32 Watts.
How to calculate ceiling fan power consumption
So, how much power units ceiling fans consume usually? Well, it is important to note that the consumption of power units depends on the following factors:
- The length of the fan. More the length of the fan, higher will be the power consumption.
- The number of hours the ceiling fan is operational.
- The rates of operating the electrical appliances in kilowatt per hour
The calculation of the power consumption can be explained using the following formula –
Wattage of the ceiling fan x Number of hours the fan is operational x Electricity consumption rates in kilowatt per hour
The following numbers and terms are used in the entire calculation –
- Fan Wattage = 60 Watts
- Rates = Rs. 3.4/kWh or Electricity Unit
- kWh = Fan Wattage x Hours Used ÷ 1000
kWh is also known as Power Unit or Electricity Unit.
Now, let us compute the electricity consumption of the ceiling fan for –
- Per hour
- Per day
- Monthly
- Per year
Per hour:
Consider that the wattage of the ceiling fan is 60 Watts and you are operating the fan for only 1 hour in a day.
Watt-hour consumption will be equal to –
60 Watts x 1 hour = 60 Watt-hours
If we change it to kilowatt-hour, it is – 60/1000 = 0.06 kWh
As per a recent study in India, the commercial electricity suppliers charge an average of Rs. 3.4 per kilowatt-hour. So, extending the calculation further:
The calculation –
0.06 kWh x Rs. 3.4 = Rs. 0.20/hour
So, if you are using it for 8 hours in a day, the ceiling fan power consumption would be Rs. 0.20 x 8 hours = Rs. 1.6
Per day:
Consider that you decide to keep the fan switched on the entire day, that is, 24 hours. You will end up consuming 1440 WH of electricity in the entire day.
Considering the same above rates for electricity consumption, the charges come close to Rs 4.90 for switching on the ceiling fan the entire day.
The calculation –
60 Watts x 24 hours = 1440 WH or 1.44 kWh
1.44 kWh x Rs 3.4 = Rs. 4.90/day
Per month:
The average hours for which the ceiling fan is operational during the summer season is 12-16 hours if you are a working professional. During winters, the consumption of electricity drastically drops.
As a result, per month consumption of the electricity varies as per the season. For the sake of calculation, let us assume that the fan is operational for 16 hours a day, for all the 30 days of the month.
The calculation –
Watt-hour: 60 Watt x 16 Hours x 30 Days = 28,800 WH or 28.8 kWh
Rate: 28.8 kWh x Rs. 3.4 = Rs. 97.92/month
The monthly consumption of electricity from the ceiling fan comes to Rs. 97.92 per month.
This might seem a very high amount but, keep in mind that we have assumed the fan is operational for 16 hours, which is maximum.
In general, for every working household, the ceiling fan is operating close to 10-12 hours in weekdays and 16 hours on weekends.
Per year:
Extending the calculation, the per year rates will be close to:
Rs. 97.92 x 12 Months = Rs. 1,175
This costs Rs. 1,175 for an entire year. You need to consider that the fan is not consumed in a similar fashion all throughout the year, .
During winters, the households have seen a drop in the operating hours of the ceiling fans. This results in a reduction in the electricity bills year-round, which makes ceiling fans a better alternative compared to the air conditioners.
Does the ceiling fan consume a lot of electricity?
Contrary to the common belief, the ceiling fan consumes the least electricity out of all the other available options.
The following chart can give a better explanation:
From the above chart, we can conclude that for the same hour of operation of three cooling devices, a window AC costs close to 24 times more than a ceiling fan.
How to save electricity while using a fan
While using a fan, it is important to follow these steps that can help you save electricity:
- Using cold towels in the windows will help in circulating cool air to the entire room.
- Keeping your windows open while the fan is operating will ensure proper ventilation in the room.
- Using the ceiling fan only when it is needed is the best way to save energy and reduce the electricity consumption.
- The smooth running of the fan is directly proportional to the electricity consumption. If the fan is not functioning smoothly, it will consume more power. It is better to get it checked if the fan is not properly functional.
- During the summer, the direction of the ceiling fan can be adjusted, such that the air is pushed towards the downward direction.
- Setting the temperature of your room a bit higher during the summer can help in air circulation. As the warm air is lighter and rises up, it gets efficient in air-circulation.
- Often, keeping the ceiling fan off and enjoying the weather outside by keeping the windows open are the best solutions.
Conclusion
There has been a long growing debate about the electricity bills of the ceiling fan. Though it may sound very contradictory, if you keep your ceiling fan switched on for a year and compare the bills with a cooler, it will be cheaper.
Moreover, with the advent of technology, even lighter and sleeker ceiling fans are being manufactured. This results in the reduction of the electricity cost as there is a drastic reduction in terms of wattage of the ceiling fans.
