If you're a renter with a ceiling fan in your pad, or you just never thought about which way the thing was turning, the Simple Dollar says you should check to make sure it's running for optimum temperature control. While the weather's warm, do this simple test:
Most fans have a "clockwise" setting and a "counterclockwise" setting, each appropriate for a different season. Stand beneath the fan and turn it on. If you immediately feel a breeze from the fan, then it's set on the "summer" setting, usually counterclockwise. Otherwise, turn off the fan, climb up near the base of the fan, and look for a little button or switch that sets the fan to run in the opposite direction.
In general, you want your fan to run counter-clockwise at higher speeds in the summer to move a breeze around, and clockwise at lower speeds to help distribute heat in the winter. While you're optimizing your wind pushers, try a littleTLC to rejuvenate a stand-up fan.
Ceiling Fan Hacks: Save Big on Energy Use[The Simple Dollar]