User:Straws12!/Fan (machine)

Before the widespread accessibility to fans, fans embodied the social divide between social classes. In Britain and China, these fans were initially only installed in the buildings of Parliament and in noble homes. Fans have symbolized of the difference between the working class and the top percent of the world. In Ancient Egypt (3150 BC), servants were required to fan Pharaohs and important figures, showing the social divide between the powerful and common class.

Adding to History: Heian period (794-1185)

During the Heian period (794-1185) in Japan, fans adapted the role of symbolizing social class as well as a mechanical role. The Tessan, a Japanese fan used for the Feudal times, was a dangerous weapon that was hidden in plain sight in the shape regular fan. What started off as a mechanism to cool oneself and a symbol of respect and wealth soon became a weapon used by samurais when Katanas were not ideal. The weapon paralleled the mannerisms of the Japanese.

Social Implications
Electrical fans users have reduced their use of electricity as the cost to run them is between 50 to 100 watts to run whereas an AC unit use between 500 to 4000 watts to run. There are arguments for both switching to using only fans, and switching to only using AC units. The cost to run a commercial fan is less than an AC unit on average $5.50 per month. The cost to run an AC unit runs from on average $14.40 to $211.40 per month. Commercial fans are louder than AC units and are reported to disrupt a common environment. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, reported incidents related to box fans include, fire (266 incidents), potential fire (29 incidents), electrocution (15), electric shock (4 incidents), and electrical hazard (2 incidents). Injuries related to AC units mostly include AC units falling from buildings.