In an effort to take advantage of energy efficiency, a number of house of worship specifiers make the switch over to better HVAC systems, yet heating bills still remain high in winter.
“Large overhead fans help by gently pushing the hot air back down without creating drafts. In many spaces, fans can lower heating bills up to 30%.”
—ED QUINN, Vice President, BA Solutions, Lexington, KY.
Ed Quinn, vice president of BA Solutions in Lexington, Ky., notes that as hot air rises to the ceiling in a worship facility, the heater runs at greater capacity to keep the congregation warm at the ground level. To address this, BA Solutions has created four fans, based on it original industrial grade product, that can help a house of worship achieve lower heating bills in the winter and keep things cooler in the summer.
“Large overhead fans help by gently pushing the hot air back down without creating drafts,” Quinn says. “In many spaces, fans can lower heating bills up to 30%.”
Here are the company’s latest products:
Element: Available in 12- to 20-foot diameters, Quinn says that the fan can be customized for any setting. “One Element moves more air than 36 standard 52-inch ceiling fans at one-fourth of the operating cost,” he reports. The idea for the fan came when the company installed an industrial motor gearbox fan in a New York church in the early 2000s, but the ambient noise was too much for the churchgoers. BA Fans then changed the motor and drive for the fan, and changed the platform with the purpose of capturing hot air in winter time, and suddenly it had a product that worked great in the church environment.
Isis: Engineered to circulate large volumes of conditioned air, the fan’s sweeping airfoils revolve slowly and silently to produce gentle yet powerful currents of air for consistent, energy-efficient comfort year-round. In summer, Isis creates a cooling effect of up to 10°F. Quinn notes that in winter, Isis pushes the warm air down, resulting in an up to 30% savings on heating costs.
Essence: Originating in 2014, the Essence does the work of 28 standard 52-inch ceiling fans at just one-seventh of the operating cost, Quinn reports. The fans offer flexible styling and color schemes, and a worship facility can add a logo to the fan if desired.
Haiku 84: Consuming only 60 watts of power, the Haiku 84 boasts an upgraded motor and larger airfoils for powerful performance. The 84-inch diameter is ideal for large worship facilities, and Energy Star ranks it as the most energy-efficient fan on the market today. “They all have different cool features that blend into the ceiling and they all have direct drive fans designed for commercial spaces like churches,” Quinn notes.
