Cheat Sheet: Bring the cool with you, save money, with fans

Want to reduce your carbon footprint and lower your summer electric bill at the same time? Consider portable fans. They're relatively inexpensive, and you can take the cool with you - as long as there's an outlet close by, of course.

Need to know: Where you will use the fan. That will help determine what you buy. Room size is one factor. Style is another.

Location, location, location: For kitchen counters, desks or tabletops, fans with blade sizes ranging from four to seven inches are ideal. Larger, pedestal-style fans, with blades ranging from 12 to 19 inches, are useful for creating cooling breezes in big rooms. A fan with an oscillating head provides a 90-degree optimal airflow, and the height can be adjusted for convenient operation.

Box set: Box fans can be positioned right in a window, allowing you to cool a room before the summer's heat overtakes it.

Floor model: Floor fans can be tilted toward you, to maximize personal refreshment.

Operating manual: Portable fans, like ceiling fans, are designed not to cool rooms, but to cool the people in them. If an empty room is hot, a fan simply turns the air into a hot breeze. In fact, a fan in operation will generate a certain amount of heat itself.

But when you occupy a room with a fan, the motion of the air makes it easier for perspiration to evaporate from your skin. The more evaporation, the cooler you feel. A portable fan with at least three speed settings (low, medium and high) is perfect for handling different cooling needs.

Blade runner: Look for fans with scooped or angled blades, for better air circulation. Scooped blades carry more air per stroke, for better cooling in large rooms.

Quiet charm: The noise a portable fan creates during normal operation - even at its highest speed - should not be louder than a soft buzz. Look for one with a small motor and plastic grills to minimize noise, especially in spaces such as bedrooms, where turning up the volume on the TV is not a good option.

What will it cost: Depending on size of the blades and style, portable fans are priced from $10 to more than $200.

An ounce of prevention: Most people don't know how to use portable fans safely, the Consumer Products Safety Commission reports after a study. For example, such fans should be not be placed in the bedrooms of small children, or left operating even in other rooms with little ones left unattended.

People often leave fans operating when they aren't at home, which may become a hazard if something goes wrong with the equipment. According to the commission, fire can result if a fan motor overheats, if the cord is frayed or damaged, or if a bad extension cord is used.

Maintenance checklist: Because of dust in the air, fan blades can become caked with grime; heavy accumulations may result in slower speeds and increased drag on the motor. So look for a fan that allows easy removal of the protective cage that encloses the blades for quick and thorough cleaning.

Removing dust may simply involve wiping with a clean cloth. If grease and grime become built up on the blades, check the manufacturer's directions before using a cleaning solution that could mar the blades' surface. Wash dust from the protective cage with warm water and soap, then dry before replacing it. Be sure the cage is tight, so the fan and blades don't wobble.