Ask the Energy Expert

Fan confusion: your top ceiling fan questions answered

Our inbox has been filling up with questions about ceiling fans. Do they save or waste energy? What direction should they spin? And should you leave them on when you’re not in the room? There’s a lot of fan confusion—so let’s clear things up.

Turn it off when you leave
The biggest mistake people make is leaving fans on in empty rooms. Ceiling fans don’t cool the air—they cool people by creating a breeze. If no one is there to feel it, the fan is just wasting electricity. Turning off fans when you leave can save up to $7 per month, per fan.

Can fans help lower A/C costs?
Yes—but only when used correctly. The breeze from a ceiling fan helps you feel cooler, which means you can set your thermostat a few degrees higher while staying comfortable. That small adjustment can cut A/C costs by up to 15%.

What direction should your fan spin?
Warmer months: Set your fan to counterclockwise to create a cooling breeze.
Cooler months: Switch it to clockwise at a low speed to push warm air down, helping to circulate heat more evenly.

These quick adjustment help keep energy use in check year-round.