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And it’s not a silly question.
Fan vs air conditioner: how do they work?
An air conditioner actively cools the air in your room
Fans come in various types, including ceiling fans, table fans, pedestal fans and tower fans.
(For more on this, see our articleCan fans cool a room?).
Air conditioners, on the other hand, actively cool the air using a more complex process.
An air conditioner actively cools the air in your room
This results in a tangible drop in room temperature.
There are four main types.
Split systems consist of an outdoor compressor unit and one or more indoor air-handling units.
Fans are cheaper to buy and to run
Window air conditioners are single units that are installed in a window or through a wall.
Finally, portable air conditioners are freestanding units that can be moved from room to room.
For instance, a ceiling fan typically consumes about the same amount of energy as a 100-watt light bulb.
Air conditioning is great at cooling, but can exacerbate allergies
This makes them much cheaper to run.
Air conditioners, in turn, consume far more electricity.
Some estimates suggest that air conditioners use up to 100 times more energy than fans.
Air conditioners, on the other hand, have a higher upfront cost and can be expensive to install.
There’s no doubt about it: air conditioners are much better at providing consistent and controllable cooling.
Air conditioners also reduce humidity, creating a more comfortable environment overall.
There are, however, some people who find air conditioners quite uncomfortable.
Air conditioners can worsen conditions such as asthma, allergies, and other respiratory troubles.
Fans, in turn, can be very effective at cooling you when used at close range.
Unfortunately, they will not provide adequate cooling in very hot or humid conditions.
On the other hand, fans can still be sufficient at keeping you cool in moderate climates.
Air conditioners, in contrast, make a far bigger contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.
As well as damaging the global environment, they also cause problems in the local environment.
For moderate climates with occasional heat, however, a fan may be perfectly sufficient.
If you live in a hot, humid climate, that may not be sufficient to keep you cool.
