I may be wrong about this (just like I totally bought the theory of corn/ethanol decreasing pollution and offering a viable alternative energy source), but doesn't running a fan in the winter in reverse direction conserve energy and make homes more comfortable with less utilization of the heat? Some websites like reliant.com say this:
In the winter, reverse the rotation of your ceiling fans to lift cool air and move warm air across the ceiling and down the walls into the living zone. The fan will bring the hot air down to mix with the cooler air at floor level. This mixing will basically equalize the temperature at floor and ceiling levels, which means that the heat will not be wasted keeping the ceilings warm. The heating system would not need to run as often, and your savings could be significant — all without compromising your comfort level.