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Using a fan to cool yourself down during hot weather is straight-up dumb, according to new study
New research from the University of Ottawa has demolished the idea that using a fan in hot weather effectively cools you down.
We all have our own tips and tricks for managing blistering hot weather, with the most popular undoubtedly being incessant complaining. Despite being another primary form of hot-weather care, fan systems might actually work against you as 2024s summer rolls around.
Why fans are rubbish during hot weather
The new study was led by Robert Meade and Dr. Glen Kenny of physiology and was recently published in the Lancet Planetary Health journal. Ultimately, they concluded that most fans are practically useless in the home during hot weather.
Fans do improve sweat evaporation, but this effect is not strong enough to significantly lower your bodys internal temperature when its already really hot (above 33-35�C). In older adults, who may have a reduced ability to sweat, fans provide even less cooling benefits, explained Meade. In fact, even in younger adults, fans only provide a small fraction of the cooling power of air conditioning.
As such, the researchers have advised public health authorities to spread awareness while also pushing forward the validity of air conditioning units. Meade also pushed for great access to such technology.
Its not all bad news
Thankfully, the study did highlight a few instances where using a fan might actually be beneficial. This is usually in cooler temperatures when the air conditioning unit might feel like an exaggerated response.
Keeping indoor temperature cool is important for vulnerable individuals, but cooling strategies like air conditioning can be costly and harmful to the environment. It is crucial that we improve the accessibility and sustainability of air conditioning and other forms of ambient cooling to protect those in need, said Meade. Fans can still have an important role in this, since they can be effective for cooling at lower temperatures, meaning we dont have to set our air conditioners so low. However, when it gets really hot, a fan alone is not going to cut it.
