Accessories: Hot Fans, Cool Breezes

Not everybody looks forward to spring and summer the way they once did. Tree and ragweed allergies have become more prominent concerns even as energy costs have made cooling season increasingly ominous. Fan manufacturers are offering options designed to make seasonable problems less pressing. As energy prices stared to bite last year, fan sales gained 9.4%. for ACNielsen retailers in the 52 weeks ended Jan. 27, after three straight down, if moderating, years.

Fan maker Hunter has gotten into the air purifier business but maintains a fan-like airflow with its Hunter Home Comfort Collection QuietFlo 785, which can cope with a 17-by-18-foot room at an MSRP of $198. Not every room can be economically air conditioned, and secondary spaces such as workshops may get steamy, so Vornado has introduced the heavy duty shop fan and clip fan to deal with a range of needs. MSRPs are $110 and $50, respectively.

Lasko, for its part, looked at the outdoor living trend as it developed the appropriately named Outdoor Living fan, with copper details to reflect garden decor and accent lighting for evening use, at a $249 MSRP.