Congregants At Philippines Church Worship In Cool Comfort

The Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, also known as the Quiapo Church, is a prominent basilica in Manila, with a history that goes back more than 300 years. The basilica got its name because it is home to the Black Nazarene, a statue of Jesus Christ that is believed to be the source of miracles. The presence of the statue is one reason the church regularly fills with more than 2,000 congregants. But in the city’s tropical climate, all those people crowded together caused indoor temperature and humidity levels to become very uncomfortable.

The Basilica tried cooling the building with 14 smaller fans, but they were noisy and ineffective, and they used a lot of energy. So church officials decided to replace them with three quietly efficient Big Ass Fans. The next month, Physical Plant Administrator Victor G. Mallillin saw the electricity bill plummet by about 70 percent. Equally important is the cooler, more comfortable environment the fans create for congregants. They do the job they were installed to do, silently and unobtrusively. And an added benefit is that the additional airflow throughout the space prevents dust and cobwebs from forming.