Lifestyle
ICYDK, Using Your AC and Fan Together Actually Saves Energy
by Sarah Lopez
Published on May 27, 2025
Summer's here once more. If there's one thing we Filipinos are all too familiar with, it's the relentless heat. By now you're likely bouncing between using the air conditioner and the fan, taking great care to minimize AC use, unless you want a scary Meralco bill to greet you next month.
But did you know that there is a scientifically backed way to stay cool without jacking up your electricity bill? A study by the University of California, Berkeley found that hybrid cooling—or using a fan along with an air conditioner set at a slightly higher temperature—reduces energy consumption by over 30 percent without compromising comfort.
The study, conducted in Singapore by the Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore, involved testing two setups: one with air conditioning set to 24 degrees Celsius without fans, and another with the AC set at 26.5 degrees Celsius paired with ceiling and desk fans. The results, needless to say, were eye-opening. Not only did participants feel just as comfortable in both scenarios, but the hybrid cooling setup consumed significantly less energy.
This 2023 study was shared by one of the researchers Professor Stefano Schiavon during the first Global Heat Health Information Network (GHHIN) Southeast Asia Heat Health Forum which took place last January 7 to 10, 2025 in Singapore. During the GHHIN forum, experts gathered to discuss how our health, livelihood, and overall well-being are affected by rising temperatures all over the region and the rest of the world.
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How The Hybrid Cooling Hack Works
The secret behind hybrid cooling is simple: air movement makes a huge difference. Fans help accelerate sweat evaporation—cue instant relief. According to the study, here's what you have to do:
It's that simple and you'll be just as comfortable as when you just used AC alone—but this time, you saved energy. Professor Schiavon said, "We achieved a remarkable 32 percent reduction in energy consumption without compromising thermal comfort."
It's important to keep in mind, however, that fans don't work in all situations. University of Sydney Professor Ollie Jay emphasized during the GHHIN forum that fans are effective, cooling equipment in hot and humid climates up to 38 degrees Celsius. But in hot, dry places where temperatures play around 45 degrees Celsius, fans can actually increase heat by triple the rate.
"In dry conditions, a person does not sweat, and blowing hot air on the skin would make him feel hotter, increasing strain on the heart as well," the GHHIN report said.
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Stay Cool, It's A Must
In case you aren’t feeling it yet, the heat in the Philippines has actually reached dangerous levels. The temperature was high enough to prompt several cities across the country to suspend classes earlier this March. While the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) happily reports that our dry season this year may be better than last year, Spokesperson and Assistant Weather Services Chief Ana Liza Solis stresses that we could still experience high heat indices.
"Possible din na magkakaroon tayo ng mga matataas na heat index, mga pwedeng pumalo ng 48 [degrees Celsius], 50 [degrees Celsius] and iyong ating temperature na maximum daytime ay pini-predict na posibleng mas mataas pagdating po ng katapusan ng April or iyong first week ng May," she said.
While those of us in Southeast Asia are no strangers to heat, we still have to remain vigilant about how it affects us. In the Philippines, over 70 heat-related health incidents were recorded from January 1 to April 29 last year, resulting in at least seven fatalities. Aside from general discomfort, prolonged exposure to heat or high temperatures can lead to heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and other serious health issues.
Aside from direct health impacts from the heat, the temperatures also affect the rest of your system. The World Health Organization (WHO) explains on its website, "The strain put on the body as it tries to cool itself also stresses the heart and kidneys. As a result, heat extremes can worsen health risks from chronic conditions (cardiovascular, mental, respiratory, and diabetes-related conditions) and cause acute kidney injury."
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Heat Safety Tips
The WHO provides several recommendations on its website to protect people from extreme heat. One is to stay out of the heat as much as possible. Avoid the outdoors and doing strenuous activities, especially when temperatures are at their highest. If you do have to be outside, stay in the shade and, if possible, spend at least two hours during the daytime in a cool place.
If you are not using an air conditioner at night, the WHO advises people to cool indoor temperatures in their homes by opening the windows. During the day, however, close them and cover them using shutters, blinds, or blackout curtains. Again, they emphasize that fans are only useful when temperatures are 40 degrees Celsius and below. If the temperatures are 41 degrees Celsius and above, fans will have the opposite effect on the body.
WHO also advises everyone to wear light, loose-fitting clothes (the same goes for bed and other similar linen). Take cooling baths and/or showers, or cool yourself down quickly by patting your skin with a damp cloth or directly spraying yourself with water.
Parked vehicles are particularly dangerous. Be sure to never leave behind children or animals inside the cars. Regarding infants, the WHO emphasizes that you should never cover a stroller with a dry fabric. While you may intend to shield them from the sun and hot air, doing so would actually make it even hotter inside the carriage. They advise using a wet, thin cloth instead, re-wetting as necessary. This is best used combination with a portable fan.
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Would You Try The Hack?
As temperatures continue to rise and energy costs remain high, hybrid cooling is a simple yet cost-effective way to stay comfortable. However, various factors that could contribute to this method not working for your home such as higher-than-normal temperatures. Plus, there are others who advocate keeping your AC on 24 hours a day, saying that it is more economical to keep your home at a constant cool temperature rather than turning the AC unit on and off intermittently. Ultimately, different techniques and equipment may suit different needs. It's worthwhile to experiment with various cooling methods to determine what works best for your health, comfort, and budget.
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This article originally appeared on Esquiremag.ph. Minor edits have been made by the Cosmo.ph editors.
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