In the real estate world, high ceilings are regarded as a premium feature in a home. Called cathedral or vaulted ceilings (in relation to their specific heights and stylings), high ceilings are reserved for homes in the higher price ranges and larger square footage. High ceilings are considered a drain on energy for no other reason than their affiliation with very large homes. But high ceilings alone may not be the energy problem in the home. In fact, with some modern improvements, high ceilings and the homes they are in may be more energy efficient than many homes on the market with standard ceiling heights.
Consider the Area of the Room
One of the most important considerations to make when considering a home with high ceilings is the actual ceiling height. Some homes are regarded as having high ceilings, but the actual ceiling height is only a foot higher than the standard 8-foot ceiling, according to reporter John Handley of the Chicago Tribune. Homes with such ceiling heights only create a slight difference in energy efficiency over the standard home. Other ceilings are two stories high, creating a major obstacle for the homeowner. A good tip to remember is that each foot you add to the ceiling height also adds to the area of the room and the home. The area is the true concern when dealing with energy efficiency.
The Capacity Factor
The American Center for Energy Efficient Economy urges owners of homes with high ceilings to check their heating and air systems. The capacity of the furnace, heat pump, air conditioning, evaporative cooler, and other equipment must be large enough to heat or cool the room or home it is in. Running equipment that is too small for the area it operates in can drain your home energy and wear out the equipment prematurely. The result is a high heating or cooling bill and an uncomfortable home.
Meeting Capacity
The trick is to compare the home or room with high ceilings to the capacity of the equipment you are using. When buying, look at the square footage numbers. The measured square footage of your home is not the true measurement of the area the needs heated and cooled because of the high ceilings. They add more area inside the house. The measurements on the equipment are for homes with higher ceilings. The ACEE suggests adjusting for the added area. In room air conditioners and heaters, find the Btu class for the equipment that fits the square footage of your room. If the room has high ceilings, the ACEE says buy the next largest equipment for the next largest Btu class. For example, according to the Department of Energy, a 1,000-square-foot room requires a 18,000 BTU air conditioner for proper cooling. For a 1,000 square foot room with high ceilings, you will need a 21,000 BTU air conditioner, the next largest unit.
Adjusting for Circulation
Ceiling fans are commonly used to assist heating and air systems. But the systems can’t work if the air doesn’t circulate because of the high ceilings. To increase efficiency, owners of homes with high ceilings install downrod ceiling fans, or fans that hang from poles attached to the ceiling. These fans are better equipped at circulating the air through the room so that the people in the room can feel it. Paddle fans are another option. The large arms of a paddle fan are very wide, creating more air circulation than the average ceiling fan. This helps in the winter to pull more of the heat down from the high ceiling and to cool the room during the summer. These circulation fixes can make the room with high ceilings more efficient than a standard home with little circulation.
References:
“Cooling.” American Center for Energy Efficient Economy
Handley, John. “The Rise and fall of Ceiling Fans.” Chicago Tribune.
“Properly Sized Room Air Conditioners.” Department of Energy.
