The image is a classic of cinema. A bar in Texas or a veranda in the tropics, a scorching temperature and a fan that runs on the ceiling, with its chain and its pale in metal. A slightly kitsch vision of a device, which is widely used in many countries of the world, especially in Southeast Asia, but also in the United States, with a rate of use above 60 %. In mainland France, air brewers are less present. For what ?
“It is very cultural, poses Patrice Wolff, manager of the Turbobrise company and treasurer of the French Association of Professionals of Ceiling Fans (AFPVP). In some people, there is the slightly obsolete image of the poor quality fan, which makes noise … “and to add:” In mainland France, we went from a situation where we had nothing, we just opened the windows, to a spoiled child situation where we jumped on air conditioning. “The air conditioning was a social marker, while the fan, considered” the poor’s air conditioning “, was pale next to it,” abounds Claude Pichegru, manager of the Guibb company and secretary of the association.
An ultramarine solution
All of France has turned away from the ceiling fan? In the overseas territories, reality is quite different: the rate of use amounts between 30 and 40 %, according to AFPVP. Indeed, the overseas departments are electrically interconnected areas, that is to say that they do not exchange electricity with the outside. The need to save energy is all the more important.
“The comeback of air brewers in Europe, in France has been largely driven by work done in the overseas departments and territories,” recalls Robert Célaire, a bioclimatician engineer, who points to the role of the “air conditioning lobby” as a factor in the low dissemination of air brewers. He is the co -author of a complete guide on the subject, which notably details the need to integrate the air brewer into a fully thought out construction to adapt to the climate. “We are in an energy alienation: the buildings are poorly designed, so we are forced to press the heating button in winter and that of air conditioning in summer,” he deplores.
For several years, he has collaborated with architects to develop bioclimatic constructions, equipped in particular with ceiling fans or even shutters to limit the sun’s rays. “Many projects are mounting with air brewers only. Within the new Cayenne police hotel in Guyana, for example, the police did not want air conditioning, “he explains.
New standards
With the emergence of the concept of “summer comfort”, faced with the intensity and recurrence of hot weather periods, the air brewer tends to return. Its installation is encouraged by the “RE 2020”, the new energy and environmental regulations which concern all new constructions. And since December, the “fixed ceiling air brewers” have benefited from a 5.5 %reduced VAT rate.
“Things are moving, even if we start from afar. Many collective housing, nursing homes, nurseries, town halls, schools are now equipped, indicates Pierre Lacarrière, president of AFPVP. Everyone is looking for a less energy -consuming solution. The ceiling fan, alone or in combination with air conditioning, is able to provide a solution. On the Mediterranean arch or on a Perpignan axis, Montpellier, Nice, air brewers are increasingly found at the ceilings of housing built by real estate developers.
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And the requests now extend to other areas, from Rennes to Lyon, via Ile-de-France, the South West or the East, lists the president of the association. Especially since the designs adapt: pale vintage style, connected fan, sporting LEDs … An aesthetic aspect which contributes to making it “a slightly boho tool, a cool and ecological alternative to air conditioning”, underlines Robert Célaire.
“People are rediscovering that cycling in town in place of the car is an ecological obvious. The ceiling fan is a bit the same: it makes a service at an ecological, economic, less sanitary cost, provided that the building is adapted. But sometimes it takes a long time for the evidence to come up with the taste of the day, ”said the engineer.
