Ceiling Fans
Last Updated: 10/01/19
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A non-portable device designed for home use that is suspended from the ceiling for circulating air via the rotation of fan blades. Some ceiling fans also have an integral or attachable light kit.
Product Details
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Federal agencies are required by statute to purchase products as designated or specified under this program.
Federal agencies are required to purchase sustainable products and services meeting EPA’s Recommendations to the maximum extent practicable.
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Procurement Info
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Where to Buy
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Energy Star
Legal Requirements
Lists federal requirements related to the purchase of this item, including applicable Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requirements
Life Cycle Cost Savings
Life Cycle Costing (LCC) aims to quantify the financial impact of a product over its entire life cycle to assist consumers in making decisions that will save them money over the long term.
Ceiling fan products certifying for ENERGY STAR under the Version 4.0 specification will offer consumers a savings of more than 40 percent. If all ceiling fans sold in the United States were ENERGY STAR certified, the energy cost savings would grow to nearly $900 million and nearly 18 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions would be prevented.
For most applications, energy-efficient ceiling fans have the lowest life-cycle cost. For example, EPA has estimated that an Energy Star-qualified ceiling fan can save a typical user $165 in energy costs over the life of the unit, while avoiding 216 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions each year.
An efficient product is cost effective when the energy costs saved over the life of the product exceed the additional upfront cost (if any) of the more efficient model. Energy Star considers both upfront costs and lifetime energy cost savings when setting required efficiency levels. Federal purchasers can assume that Energy Star-qualified products are life-cycle cost effective.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory used computer models to determine the energy-saving potential of ceiling fans, and found that raising the cooling setpoint by 4 degrees F (from 74 to 78 degrees) could reduce building energy costs by as much as 11%. Savings are greatest in the first 4 degrees of setpoint change.
To calculate life cycle cost savings, explore these tools:
- On its Purchasing & Procurement page, Energy Star offers MS-Excel-based calculators to estimate how much money and energy you can save purchasing ENERGY STAR ceiling fans.
- For life cycling costing on specific brand-name products, visit SFTool Product Search by clicking the green box at the top of this page. Once you have created an account, add a product to a project and open the project. The tool displays energy cost savings, adjusting for local utility rates, operating conditions, and the purchase price.
- NREL’s Levelized Cost of Energy Calculator can help estimate the cost of electricity as an input for your lifecycle cost calculations, accounting for both cost escalation and discount rates.
Guiding Principles
Contributes to meeting The Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings
Additional Guidance
Energy Star Version 4 specification for Residential Ceiling Fans and Ceiling Fan Light Kits becomes effective on June 15, 2018. Products included within the V4 specification are:
- Products that meet the definition of a Residential Ceiling Fan (i.e., Standard and Hugger) or LowMount High-Speed Small-Diameter Ceiling Fan as specified.
- Products that meet the definition of a Ceiling Fan Light Kit as specified.
Products excluded from the V4 specification are:
- High-Speed Small-Diameter ceiling fans that do not meet the definition of Low-Mount HSSD.
- Large-Diameter ceiling fans, as defined in 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B.
- Very-Small-Diameter, Highly Decorative, and Belt-driven ceiling fans, per Section 1, are not covered by the definition of a Residential Ceiling Fan for ENERGY STAR certification.
- CFLKs packaged with bulbs that have an ANSI-standard lamp shape and base type that have not been ENERGY STAR certified (e.g., A19 shape and E26 base).
- CFLKs not packaged with a light source.
Smart ceiling fans have sensors that measure temperature and incrementally adjust the fan speed. They turn on and off automatically based on occupancy or predetermined temperatures.
In researching smart ceiling fans for GSA's Proving Ground, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that smart ceiling fans should be considered for open office space with:
- Ceilings at least 9 feet high and interior/desk partitions less than 54 inches tall,
- At least 2,000 cooling degree days and full daytime business hours,
- No features, such as lighting or air conditioning, that will interfere with fan blades, and
- Cooling setpoint lower than 75 degrees, and no prohibition against raising it.
Note that lighting that is part of a ceiling fan does not have to meet low standby power requirements otherwise applicable to lighting.
The ENERGY STAR Most Efficient program identifies the most efficient products among those that qualify for the ENERGY STAR in particular product categories. Product categories were selected and recognition criteria were established to ensure that products that receive this recognition demonstrate efficiency performance that is truly exceptional, inspirational, or leading edge. There are Most Efficient criteria for the following sizes: 52 inches and under, 53-55 inches, 56-60 inches, and over 61 inches.
Included products: Residential ceiling fans, standard ceiling fans, and hugger ceiling fans, as defined below, are eligible for ENERGY STAR® Most Efficient recognition in 2017.
Residential Ceiling Fan: A non-portable device designed for home use that is suspended from the ceiling for circulating air via the rotation of fan blades.
Standard Ceiling Fan: a low-speed small-diameter ceiling fan that is not a very-small-diameter ceiling fan, highly-decorative ceiling fan or belt-driven ceiling fan; for which the lowest point on fan blades is greater than 10 inches from the ceiling.
Hugger Ceiling Fan: a low-speed small-diameter ceiling fan that is not a very-small-diameter ceiling fan, highly-decorative ceiling fan or belt-driven ceiling fan; for which the lowest point on the fan blades is less than or equal to 10 inches from the ceiling.
Potential LEED Contributions
This product may contribute* toward points in multiple LEED v4 rating systems, including areas required for LEED v4 building certification. Primarily, the credits will apply in the Building Design and Construction (BD+C) and Building Operations and Maintenance (O+M) categories. This includes the specialty areas of: New Construction and Major Renovation, Existing Buildings, Core & Shell, Schools, Retail, Data Centers, Warehouse and Distribution Centers, Hospitality, and Healthcare. Specific credits are:
- Energy & Atmosphere - Optimize Energy Performance
* It is important to note that no products, individually or collectively, can guarantee a specific number of points for LEED Category credit. Each credit will need to be matched to the product by a certified professional.
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