Keeping warehouses and other large commercial buildings comfortable during the summer months is a challenge, especially without breaking the bank on energy costs. Personnel need good temperature regulation to work at their best, and many products need some degree of temperature control as well. A traditional approach to cooling warehouses is to install fans or move in portable box or barrel fans to help move air. While such fans are a step in the right direction, they have been surpassed by newer technology in the form of “high volume, low speed” fans, or HVLS fans.

Comparing HVLS to Other Fans

Design of HVLS fans started in the dairy industry, where it is well known that keeping livestock comfortable is good for optimal milk production. The attempt to use small box fans proved energy inefficient, raised dust, and made a lot of noise. It was discovered that a much larger fan running at slower speed could keep barns cooler with very little noise and dust contamination, while using much less energy. Early tests discovered that one HVLS fan could replace up to 50 box fans, while only using about as much electricity as a single box fan. The technology for HVLS fans has only improved since then, reducing the number of blades for even better energy efficiency while moving the same or greater volumes of air. Continued innovation and testing of designs has led to increased ventilation performance and energy savings. Today’s HVLS fans are a highly engineered product.

Choosing The Right HVLS Fans

Any model of HVLS fan can reduce energy costs in a commercial building while maintaining or improving comfort and air circulation. Newer innovations from some companies make HVLS fans even more energy-friendly while still moving the same volumes of air. The Kelley WAVE HVLS fan designed by 4Front Entrematic (NAME CHANGE DUE TO A COMPANY ACQUISITION) has been improved by a new airfoil blade design which reduces drag and increases lift, optimizing airflow and fan performance. The new design uses five blades rather than six or more as is common in most fans, reducing weight on the building and stress on the fan motor, which increases both energy efficiency and the lifespan of the HVLS fan.

Tests have shown that the use of a HVLS fan can reduce the perceived temperature of an ambient temperature warehouse facility between 7 and 11 degrees. Major cost benefits have been realized by the use of an HVLS fan in air conditioned large buildings. This enables facility managers to adjust thermostat settings to save on energy costs due to the decreased use of energy- hogging air conditioning system. They found that the HVLS fans drastically improve the circulation of the cool air in a much more efficient manner than the A/C could ever achieve.

To manage energy costs while keeping commercial facilities cool and comfortable, an HVLS fan is the best way to move more air for less money. Contact McKinley Equipment today to learn more about our line of Industrial fans for cooling your warehouse.