Energy efficient fans.

Robos A Go Go

It's getting to be pretty hot, so I'm looking for ways to keep cool in spite of the weather. I don't have a ton of money, though, and I'm hardly handy enough to craft any of the DIY air conditioning solutions I've seen online.

So, it looks like I'm just going to buy a fan, but having come to that I don't really know what to buy.

My primary concern in choosing a fan, aside from wanting it to do its job and keep me alive through a season, is how much power it uses. I don't really want something that will put too much of a hurt on the power bill, since that obviously translates to more expenses for my roommate who, in all his graciousness, takes care of the entire thing himself.

It'd also be cool if I could order the thing online, because I don't have a car and lugging the the thing home via the subway doesn't appeal to me at all.

So, given all this, what do you have for me?

Improvolone

Most fans will draw a ridiculously low amount of power.
Fans CAN get expensive though, so what kind of budget do you have? I can't find it now, but about a week ago I read an article about fans in Consumer Reports, and their concensus based on their tests, tests from others, and Amazon reviews, is these two.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000CGQYA/ref=ord_cart_shr?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000BYDUC/ref=ord_cart_shr?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

I just picked up that second one from Walmart last night for like, ten bucks. You can use the small fans to angle air at you, or up into the ceiling (this will help spread out the heat and cool the whole room). The window fan is great for increasing the rooms air circulation, more so if you set one fan blade to pull air in, and the other to push air out.

Robos A Go Go

I guess I'll go with the latter, being cheaper and not requiring me to remove the screens on my window.

Thanks!

Since it's a Sunday, I won't place the order until tomorrow in case anyone else has recommendations.

Improvolone

Like I said, Walmart has it cheaper (but you might hate Walmart and be able to get free shipping from Amazon...)
For a window fan you don't remove the screens, it sits on the windows ledge, for the most part. If you've got the money, I would suggest you go with both options. It might depend on where you live, however. If you live someplace where it's just too bloody hot, then you won't want to open the windows at all.

FyreWulff

During the day you usually want the fans blowing outwards (so they are not just sucking hot air in), and at night face them inwards so they bring in the cold air.

Robos A Go Go

Improvolone wrote: »

Like I said, Walmart has it cheaper (but you might hate Walmart and be able to get free shipping from Amazon...)
For a window fan you don't remove the screens, it sits on the windows ledge, for the most part. If you've got the money, I would suggest you go with both options. It might depend on where you live, however. If you live someplace where it's just too bloody hot, then you won't want to open the windows at all.

One of the ratings for the latter fan said you'd need to remove the screens on your window, but I guess the writer could have been mistaken.

And yeah, the nearest Walmart is kind of far.

JebusUD

we used to have two big "wind tunnel" fans. Put one facing in and one facing out down the hallway at night. That makes it cool in there in no time.