I have the 36" Delta Breeze - a custom version of the Triangle Engineering "Comfort Cooler" that is made specifically for Fanman here in Sacramento.

http://fanman.com/whole_house_fans.html

It qualified for the rebate.

This is my second Fanman - I put the 30" in my last house back in like 2000, and then I put the 36" in my new house in 2005. It's an incredible & quiet fan.

Not the cheapest - but the best of all that I've found. Solid built, all steel, belt driven, true 2-speed motor - did I mention quiet?

The Delta Breeze gives you a 1/2 HP, 6-blade fan instead of the standard 1/3 HP, 4-blade.

I've had several friends all install either Delta Breeze's, or Triangle Engineering fans (if they only wanted a 24" fan).

Thanks for the recommendation, I was quoted around $800 for the 30" fan, and an additional $1000 for the install. I have to see what it costs to add an AC to compare.

I have a recommendation for whole-house fans, and that is to go with the ones made by Triangle Engineering of Arkansas (made in the USA!).

These things move more air than any other brand. As an example: the 36" belt-drive model sold at Lowes & Home Depot moves 6,900 CFM on its highest speed. The 36" one that Triangle makes moves 10,600 CFM.

I just put one of these in last week and am so taken with it that I'm evangelizing for Triangle now.

These things are much higher quality than the other brands too -- these are made with very heavy-gauge solid welded steel (as opposed to the thin, flimsy metal - often aluminum - that other brands use). They use a very solid motor made by Emerson, the best of the top three motor-making companies (the other two being Fasco and A.O. Smith). They come pre-framed on a wood frame for installation, AND they have sponge-rubber noise-dampening material between the fan and the frame, so they are much quieter than the other brands. Also, Triangle holds a patent on an automatic belt-tensioning system these things use, so you don't have to worry about getting the tension right when you install the fan (or in the years thereafter as the belt loosens up).

Also, they come in more sizes than the other companies -- from 24" all the way up to 48" blade diameter (which moves a ridiculously whopping amount of air; no one else makes one that big).

They're sold online at Southern Tool amongst other places that ship nationwide, so they're available wherever you live.

Also, Triangle re-brands some of these as a private label for Dayton, which is the "store brand" of Grainger - so if you have a Grainger store near you (check your phone book or their website), you can buy one there. I will say this, though - Grainger/Dayton makes their own shutters, and those shutters are much better than the one Triangle makes. Triangle makes great fans, but crappy shutters. Luckily, they're sold separately -- so buy a Triangle fan and Dayton shutters; money can't buy better products.

They also re-brand some for a company out in San Francisco called "Fanman" (a/k/a "Delta Breeze").

A word to the wise -- these fans move a lot of air, so make sure to install at least the recommended minimum amount of attic exhaust space (gable vents, soffit vents, roof vents, some combination thereof, whatever works for you) - if you don't have enough, the fan will operate at reduced capacity, and there will be a backpressure which will cause the shutters to rattle when the fan is in operation (any time you hear whole-house fan shutters rattling, you know there isn't enough exhaust space). Oh, and one other thing -- only buy a belt-drive whole-house fan, don't EVER buy a direct-drive model...the direct-drive models are at least five times louder, they sound like standing on an airport runway next to an old prop plane getting ready to take off.

Several of the dedicated whole-house fan installing companies have chosen to use Triangle fans; that should tell you something. These companies want satisfied customers, so they use Triangle and only Triangle.

Refer to http://www.trianglefans.com/wholehouse.html for more info

Here is a link that might be useful: Triangle whole-house fans

I agree with fasola-shapenote regarding the information on Triangle Fans, however Southern Tool wanted to charge a ridiculous $174 for shipping to a residential address. Instead, try industrialfansdirect.com, they only charge an additional $40 for residential delivery for a net savings over Southern Tool of $159.

Here is a link that might be useful: Industrial Fans Direct

1. IMO belt driven models just require a belt adjustment/changing once in a great while. Direct drive models have the motor mounted right in the middle with the bladess mounted to it. Simple.
2. Moving alot of air isn't necessary. In fact, I run mine fairly slow with the windows cracked a bit. I get a nice breeze that way.Mine's 36" moving air in a 1300 sf space.
3. $800 seems outragious to me. Mine was 150 13 years ago. They aren't rocket science. A tubular steel frame, a louver assy, a motor with fan blades, and wiring to the switch. Get a timer switch, you can retire at night with it on, turns itself off.

So much information was useful from all the above commentators. Bought my Triangle Fan via Industrial Fans Direct http://www.industrialfansdirect.com/SFNT.html in order to get free shipping. While Southern Tool Supply was lower, with added shipping, it was higher. Grainger, for the EXACT fan, was approx. $200 more expensive. I took fasola-shapenote's advice and purchased a Triangle fan but Dayton shutters (the shutters, via Grainger, were the same cost as everyone else had been advertising).

I live in SoCal and look forward to a summertime of cool breezes running through my home! Thanks for the advice!