Article published on the website reporterre.net – June 20, 2025 – Written by Benjamin Douriez
The independent media outlet Reporterre published an article on the ceiling fan solution to better manage the effects of heatwaves.
Present in 2.5% of households in mainland France, ceiling fans (or air circulators) are an economical and ecological alternative to air conditioning. However, not all homes can accommodate them.
Daycare centers, nursery school dormitories, school cafeterias… For the past two years, children have been breathing a little easier during heatwaves in Vénissieux (Rhône). In this city exposed to the urban heat island phenomenon — where temperatures could reach 37°C on Sunday, June 22 — the municipality has installed ceiling fans in some of its buildings.
Objective achieved: these devices, which circulate ambient air, reduce discomfort when temperatures soar. “Feedback has been positive. Even noise is not an issue in dormitories: it does not prevent children from sleeping,” says Cécile Wicky, director of municipal assets. “Now we are starting to be asked to install them in classrooms.” For the local authority, the investment is far more affordable than air conditioning: for 90,000 euros, 150 devices were installed across around thirty buildings. That amount would barely be enough to air-condition a dozen rooms.
An example to follow in our homes? In any case, it would be wrong to think that these devices belong to the past or to tropical countries. While air conditioning has numerous drawbacks (heat rejection outdoors, use of polluting refrigerants, and ultimately contribution to global warming), the ceiling fan (or air circulator) can be an ecological and economical alternative.
A 4°C reduction in perceived temperature
With a relatively low purchase cost, it is also energy-efficient in use: “A ceiling fan consumes 25 to 40 times less electricity than an air conditioner, for a comparable level of comfort. It is a low-tech solution, full of common sense, that should be discovered or rediscovered,” says Robert Célaire, a bioclimatic engineer and former lecturer at an architecture school.
“A ceiling fan provides cooling not by acting on the air temperature measured by a thermometer, but on the temperature actually felt by the individual,” continues Robert Célaire, who is also co-author of a very detailed guide on the subject. The airflow produced helps the body dissipate heat through the skin via evapotranspiration.
“An air speed of 0.8 m/s can achieve a reduction of nearly 4°C in perceived temperature under typical summer conditions,” notes the French Association of Ceiling Fan Professionals (AFPVP), which brings together three specialized distributors (Exhale Fans, Guibb and Turbobrise), sourcing their products from outside Europe. This efficiency is slightly lower in very humid conditions.
Unlike pedestal fans, which produce a strong but very concentrated airflow, ceiling fans create a gentle and steady overall movement that envelops occupants. In other words, a constant breeze rather than a gust.
Included in MaPrimeRénov’
A sign of the growing interest in this equipment: in early 2024, public authorities integrated it into the MaPrimeRénov’ subsidy scheme, which is set to be suspended for the summer. In overseas departments, other financial aid has existed for longer.
However, the solution is not a miracle cure. “Equipping a glass building without solar protection would be like putting a plaster on a wooden leg,” jokes Robert Célaire. He stresses that combating overheating in buildings must begin with good roof insulation and protection against solar radiation (vegetation, sunshades, or blackout shutters on the most exposed windows).
When a ceiling fan is not sufficient, it can also be used in addition to air conditioning, to ease its use. It can delay turning the system on, for example at the beginning of the hot season, and then allow the set temperature to be increased, resulting in lower energy consumption.
Despite its advantages, this equipment remains relatively uncommon in mainland France. According to the AFPVP, the household adoption rate is around 2.5%, compared to 20–30% in overseas departments and more than 60% in the United States.
“Significant progress has been made in design”
Its development is hindered by an outdated image: some see it as a “poor man’s air conditioner” or are reluctant to adopt equipment considered unattractive. Yet the range is much more diverse and appealing than the appearance of entry-level models might suggest: carefully designed blade profiles, different materials, etc.
“Significant progress has been made in the design of these devices in recent years,” says Pierre Lacarrière, president of the AFPVP. There are even blade-less models that, in a way, draw in air rather than push it. However, they do not appeal to everyone: “They are more expensive to purchase, consume more energy, and provide less comfort,” says Robert Célaire.
Installation in homes can sometimes face a very practical constraint: ceiling height. In houses and apartments, it is most often 2.50 m. However, for safety reasons (the risk of hitting the moving blades), the usual recommendation is to leave 2.30 m (sometimes 2.20 m) between the floor and the blades. Only the flattest models (20 to 30 cm maximum between the ceiling and the blades) meet this requirement. In addition, the device must be securely fixed to the ceiling, with at least two anchoring points.
Less noisy than a pedestal fan
Models from major brands rarely cost less than 500 euros, to which 100 to 200 euros must be added if installation by a professional (usually an electrician) is desired. Much more affordable models (under 200 euros, sometimes even under 100 euros), often combined with lighting, are available in DIY stores and online.
There are risks of disappointment, especially if diameter is not taken into account. Many entry-level models do not exceed 60 to 80 cm. This can result in airflow that is too limited and poorly distributed to provide satisfactory cooling. Even for a small room such as a bedroom (10 m² or less), the AFPVP recommends a model with a diameter of 107 to 132 cm. For spaces over 20 m², it advises installing several units.
The organization also warns against large online marketplaces, which host many third-party resellers: “Some of them simply arrange for products to be shipped directly from Asia, based on a dropshipping model, without providing any after-sales service,” laments Jean-Pascal Schaeffer, general delegate of the AFPVP. “You can sometimes find models with electrical safety defects, and others equipped with an LED light that cannot be replaced.”
Last selection criterion: noise level. The MaPrimeRénov’ scheme, which had set performance criteria, only granted subsidies to models with an acoustic power limited to 45 dB at maximum speed (equivalent to a dishwasher) and 35 dB at minimum speed. Unfortunately, sales websites do not always indicate this characteristic. However, even if these levels are slightly exceeded, a ceiling fan remains much quieter than a pedestal fan… and most air conditioners.
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You can find the full article on the Reporterre website: https://reporterre.net/Face-a-la-canicule-la-solution-du-ventilateur-de-plafond
Photo: Energy renovation of the façade of a house in Valence. In 2024, subsidies will favor so-called “multi-measure” renovations. – © Nicolas Guyonnet / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP