True - have bought 2 Chinese electric fans in the last 2 years that only last for a summer then the bearings or brushes wear out and they have to be thrown away and still have an old Japanese one that is over 50 years old .
As for food we grow enough for about 6 local house holds due to living on the land .
As an aside by painting our roof white and having fly screens to allow cross ventilation with no insects , it has meant we are quite comfortable just using fans rather than having AC