A ceiling fan is a fan suspended from the ceiling of a room. It usually has a light associated with it to replace any displaced light or to provide additional light. These devices are used in two ways: To create a breeze for an apparent cooling effect ("wind chill"), or reversed to force warm air near the ceiling downward to the occupied part of the room. Ceiling fans can reduce heating costs by reducing the load on heating equipment, and they can reduce cooling costs by making warmer air comfortable.
The ceiling fan was invented in 1886 by father-and-son team John and James Hunter. This device was powered by water, as electric power was still scarce. Several years later, the Emerson Electric Company introduced the world's first alternating-current fan motor, which opened the doors to a major improvement upon Hunter's design. In 1903, the Hunter Fan and Motor Company began producing its "Original" line of ceiling fans, which quickly became a mainstay in the industry and underwent very few changes in design until 100 years later.
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