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With the popularization of air conditioners, which feature higher cooling efficiency and more precise temperature control, they seem to have become the first choice for cooling in summer. However, fans still occupy an important position in many scenarios such as homes, offices, and outdoor places. Why is the fan still indispensable in the air conditioning era? What are its unique values?
The reason why fans can still maintain their vitality in the era of popular air conditioners lies in the fact that they have built a multi-dimensional unique value system covering functions, economy, scenarios, health and other aspects with “lightweight cooling” as the core. They perfectly fill the gap in the use of air conditioners and have become an irreplaceable cooling tool in modern life.
1. Cost Advantage: Affordable Attribute Lays the Foundation
From the perspective of usage cost, the “affordable attribute” of fans is the foundation of their foothold. The purchase cost of an air conditioner is usually 10 to 20 times that of an ordinary fan, and its power consumption during operation is extremely high—a 1.5-horsepower air conditioner consumes about 1 kWh per hour, while a floor fan only consumes 0.05 to 0.1 kWh per hour. Even if it runs all day, the electricity cost of the fan is negligible. For renters, students and residents in remote areas, the low threshold of fans makes them a no-brainer choice. At the same time, the maintenance cost of fans is also much lower than that of air conditioners. Cleaning only requires wiping the fan blades, and the maintenance cost after a breakdown is usually only a few dozen yuan, which is in sharp contrast to the maintenance cost of air conditioners that often amounts to several hundred yuan.
2. Flexible Scenarios: Adapting to Areas Beyond Air Conditioners’ Reach
The flexibility of scenario adaptation allows fans to shine in areas beyond the reach of air conditioners. Air conditioners rely on fixed installation and enclosed spaces, while the “mobile gene” of fans enables them to easily cope with diverse scenarios: during outdoor barbecues, a rechargeable fan can dispel oil fumes and heat waves; in the office, a desktop fan can accurately supply air to employees who sit for a long time, avoiding the discomfort caused by direct air conditioning; in the bedroom, the soft wind of a silent fan can be used with air conditioning, which not only reduces the set temperature of the air conditioner to save electricity costs, but also makes the indoor air circulation more uniform. In scenarios without power supply such as power outages or outdoor camping, solar fans and rechargeable fans can even become “life-saving straws”. This feature of not being limited by electricity and space is incomparable to air conditioners.
3. Health Protection: Gentle Cooling Meets Quality Needs
The advantage in terms of health makes fans the first choice for people who pay attention to the quality of life. When the air conditioner is running, it will reduce the indoor humidity. Long-term use can easily lead to dry skin and respiratory discomfort. Moreover, bacteria and mites are easy to breed in enclosed spaces, causing “air conditioning disease”. Fans, on the other hand, achieve cooling by accelerating air flow, which will not change the indoor humidity and air quality, but also promote air exchange between indoor and outdoor, keeping the environment fresh. For sensitive groups such as the elderly, children and patients with joint diseases, the natural wind of fans is gentler, and the wind speed can be controlled by adjusting the gears to avoid the stimulation of sudden temperature drop on the body. In seasons such as spring and autumn, when it is cool in the morning and evening but slightly hot in the afternoon, fans can meet the cooling needs without starting the air conditioner, reducing energy waste and health risks.
4. Functional Upgrade: Innovation Opens Up a Differentiated Space
In addition, the functional upgrade of fans has further consolidated their position. Modern fans have gotten rid of the label of “single air supply”. Air circulation fans can generate columnar air flow through propeller blades to achieve indoor air convection; remote-controlled fans and smart fans support timed on/off and wind speed adjustment, and are compatible with smart home systems; there are also composite fans with both humidification and purification functions, combining cooling with air optimization. These innovations have allowed fans to open up a differentiated competitive space in the cooling market dominated by air conditioners.
In the final analysis, the indispensability of fans stems from their adherence to “pragmatism”—meeting the diverse needs of different people in different scenarios with low cost, high flexibility and strong adaptability. It is not a substitute for air conditioners, but a necessary daily item that complements air conditioners, writing its unique value in the field of cooling.
