By There are all sorts of smart devices that you can purchase to make your home run a little bit smoother. Alexa lets you order from Amazon without ever opening your laptop. Smart thermostats can help you lower your home’s energy cost by allowing you to program your HVAC system to shut off when you’re away. You can even get a smart controller for your garage door—which is great if you’re one of those people who only remembers to close the garage door when you’re already pulling into the parking lot at work.
One new smart device that is growing in popularity is smart ceiling fans. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular options and what they can do for your home.
[1] Haiku L Fan
The Haiku L from Haiku Home is a sleek ceiling fan that makes a perfect addition to every home. Available in either black or white, the fan features a silent motor and a solid airfoil design that is easy to clean—no little nooks and crannies for all the dust to hide in on this fan. It is an Energy Star-certified fan as well, so it uses less energy than traditional options, in spite of its upgraded controls.
The optional Wi-Fi control module adds $50 to the cost and makes it easy to control your fan from anywhere, without even getting up. This option enables control of the fan with your smartphone or even with Alexa commands through your Amazon Echo.
The motor and airfoils on this fan are perfectly balanced from the factory, so even at the highest setting, you’ll never hear the fan. You’ll just feel the cool, comfortable breeze that keeps the temperature in your home moderate. And the fan’s unique “Whoosh” mode generates a variable breeze effect that can be very satisfying.
While it isn’t a feature available on this fan, some of Haiku’s fans are equipped with SenseMe—a sensor that works with smart thermostats offered by Nest and ecobee to sync your ceiling fans to your home’s HVAC system. This way, neither system has to work as hard to keep your home comfortably cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
[2] Hunter Symphony Fan
For a more affordable option, the Symphony fan by Hunter is a great option. The fan itself is equipped with sleek black or white airfoils centered on a bright, energy-saving LED light. The lamps, a pair of 9-watt LEDs, are dimmable—making it easier for you to control the light levels in the room where it is installed. The reversible three-speed motor works silently so you won’t hear it, even on the highest speed setting, and the motor itself is covered by a limited lifetime warranty.
In addition, the fan is equipped with a Wi-Fi controller that works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. It features an integrated remote control that can be placed anywhere, as well as a companion app that you can use on your smartphone. Why use the remote when you can just ask Alexa to turn the fan on and off for you, though?
The fan also comes with a two-position mounting system to make it easier to install on nearly any ceiling.
[3] Home Decorators Collection Gardinier fan
If you love the idea of a smart ceiling fan with an integrated LED light but can’t see yourself spending more than $500 on one, the Home Decorators Collection Gardinier fan is a great option. While it doesn’t work with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, this smart ceiling fan comes with its own remote and can also be controlled with the Wink app on your smartphone.
The black airfoils and brushed nickel body are perfect for adding a bit of modern aesthetic to nearly any home. The integrated light is fitted with a single 17-watt dimmable LED you will never need to replace, and the motor is covered by a lifetime warranty.
[4] Olibra Bond Smart Controller
This isn’t a fan, but the Bond smart controller from home automation company Olibra is a neat option if you have a lot of remote-controlled ceiling fans installed in your home. It integrates with your existing fan remote controls and enables you to control up to six ceiling fans from a smartphone or by issuing Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands. It’s also a lot easier than installing new ceiling fans—this device is quite literally plug-and-play. Just plug it in, point your fan remote at it and enjoy the convenience of being able to control your ceiling fans from anywhere.
Olibra says they will be adding more devices that can be controlled by the Bond, such as motorized window shades and window air conditioning units.
[5] Ecobee4 Smart Thermostat
Ok, so what does a smart thermostat have to do with smart ceiling fans? The Ecobee4 smart thermostat is a multi-purpose tool that can help you make your smart fans a little bit smarter. This thermostat comes equipped with built-in Amazon Alexa voice services that don’t require a separate speaker, and can be programmed to sync with your smart fans once you have them installed. In addition to all this, simply having a smart thermostat can save you upwards of 12 percent on your heating costs, and more than 15 percent on your cooling costs.
Among the smart fans that can be integrated with Ecobee4 are the Haiku and Haiku L fans from Haiku Home, as well as conventional fans connected to the Bond smart fan controller.
If you’re still using an outdated conventional thermostat, upgrading to a smart option like the ecobee4 can help make your home a little bit smarter overall.
Fresh Fan Breezes, Smarter Fan Breezes
Whether you’re trying to reduce your home’s heating and cooling costs or simply need to upgrade your fans that haven’t been replaced since the house was built, smart ceiling fans are a great option if you can work them into your budget.
There aren’t a lot of options to choose from right now, but there are plenty of gadgets to help turn even your old-school remote-control fans into smart alternatives.
More About This Topic:
Are smart homes normalizing energy-efficient living?
4 indoor air quality monitors for a healthier smart home
5 Apple Watch apps for smart home mastery
More from Digitized House | Guide to the Connected Home
