AirIQ: How Whole House Fans Keep People Cool While Cutting Costs

 

When it comes to keeping cool this summer, many people will reluctantly turn on a costly A/C unit. But smart homeowners will activate their whole house fan, designed to lower temperatures within a living space at a fraction of the cost of mechanical cooling.

On today’s episode of AirIQ, Tim Barton, director of ventilation & west regional sales at Field Controls, shared his insights on whole house fans that are gaining popularity with building owners.

So how does it work? It’s quite simple – “The driving element is air, bringing it into the house and exiting out the attic,” Barton said. As the air moves across the body, it evaporates moisture on the skin to deliver a pleasant sensation.

Barton counts three benefits to the system: a low initial cost, utility savings, and increased personal comfort. Today’s models are quiet and aesthetically pleasing, making them great for building owners and occupants seeking a cool environment without the use of artificial air conditioning.

While high humidity areas are not ideally suited for a whole house fan, certain places like California and areas of Colorado that have enacted strict building efficiency codes encourage these energy saving installations.

Maintenance is simple compared to other mechanical systems. Barton assures that as long as the motor is operating, you just need to keep the easily accessible grill clean and you’re good to go.

Feedback so far has been remarkable among customers who’ve installed a unit, which can be outfitted with timers and even WiFi connectivity for remote operation. “The system is simple, and it just works. I have yet to find anybody that was unsatisfied.”

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Building Management Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @BuildingMKSL
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Higher Education
From Measuring Memory to Measuring Thinking: How Simulation-Based Learning Could Reshape Higher Education
June 15, 2026

As artificial intelligence continues reshaping the workforce, higher education faces growing pressure to demonstrate its value beyond content mastery. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report, employers expect 39% of workers’ core skills to change or become outdated by 2030, while 69% identify analytical thinking as the most essential workforce skill. As…

Read More
safer HVAC chemicals
The Future of the Trades Depends on Mentorship and Industry Veterans Passing Down the Craft
June 15, 2026

Across the United States, industries are grappling with a skilled labor shortage. According to industry research, millions of trade jobs are expected to go unfilled in the coming years as experienced workers retire faster than new ones enter the field. At the same time, trade school enrollment has steadily increased. The conversation around skilled trades—once…

Read More
outlet
From Power Shopping to Place-Making: Tanger’s Stephen Yalof on the New Outlet Experience
June 15, 2026

For decades, the outlet trip had a familiar rhythm: get in the car, drive beyond the city, hunt for deals and come home with bags full of discounted finds. But that old model is giving way to something more layered. As retailers reinvest in store experiences to give consumers more reasons to visit, outlet…

Read More
career
How Relationships Build a Career, Deepen Service and Define Purpose
June 10, 2026

In a workplace still shaped by hybrid schedules, remote communication and shifting expectations around professional growth, relationships have become more than a soft skill — they are a career advantage. Gallup’s latest workplace reporting shows that global employee engagement has fallen to 20%, reflecting a broader challenge for organizations trying to keep people connected,…

Read More