CleanTech Talk — EVs, Solar, Batteries, AI, Tesla Slash Energy Consumption Costs while Safeguarding the Planet
Oct 12, 2025
Richard Halsall, the innovative Founder and CEO of Exhale Fans, shares his journey from Army aviator to HVAC inventor. He discusses the unique bladeless design of his ceiling fan, which optimizes energy use while ensuring comfort in various indoor spaces. Halsall highlights how his product can enhance air quality, reduce humidity, and maintain thermal comfort at higher thermostat settings. He also delves into market strategies, the challenges of changing consumer perceptions, and the potential environmental impacts of energy-efficient solutions.
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Invention Born From Flight And Hotel Frustration
- Richard Halsall conceived the idea while spending long hours as an airline pilot and living in uncomfortable hotel rooms.
- His flying time and hotel discomforts drove him to design a 3D air circulation solution for comfort and energy savings.
Three-Dimensional Air Distribution Matters
- HVAC systems deliver in two dimensions (force and volume) while spaces are three-dimensional, causing comfort imbalance.
- Circulating air vertically to remove the cold-floor/hot-ceiling gradient stabilizes temperature and improves comfort.
Bladeless Centrifugal Design Creates Gentle 360° Flow
- The Exhale fan uses a disk-based, bladeless centrifugal design inspired by Tesla and turbofan principles to create laminar, 360° flow.
- It lifts cool, dense air from the floor and redistributes it smoothly to stabilize room temperature without direct drafts.